Excitement Mounts for Fiesta Carnival and Pancake Breakfast in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - After some off and on years, the carnival during Old Spanish Days will take place at The Downtown Club in Santa Barbara on Canon Perdido Street serving boys and girls.
The staff says the back field will be full of rides, entertainment and food including the talented performers from area dance studios.
It will take place August 6th - 9th from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Old Spanish Days begins August 5, with the De la Guerra Mercado opening and Fiesta Pequena at the Old Mission.
The carnival is not an official Old Spanish Days event but is taking place during the popular Fiesta days.
It is also not far from the mercado and festivities at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church which also takes place during Old Spanish Days but is not under the direction of the Fiesta board.
At the Downtown Club, traditional rides, including a Ferris wheel, and lower level roller coasters, will be operating.
The event also brings back the traditional Saturday morning pancake breakfast prior to the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department Children's Parade which takes place on Cabrillo Blvd at 10 a.m. on August 8. The Downtown Club will serve up the pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee inside the gym.
The parade will draw thousands of people and the combination of the pancake breakfast and the kids parade has rich history in the town.
For years it was held in Alameda Park on Fiesta Saturday with the parade on State Street.
That was run by the Kiwanis for 65 years until 2016 and attended by thousands.
This year's pancake breakfast will come at no charge and only donations to the Club will be accepted.
Shevon Hoover is the Director of Operations for The Downtown Club. "A lot of people feel nostalgia about the club in general and to be able to host it here is like bringing it home. It is bringing it back to the downtown area, the east side area which I feel like everyone has a special place in their heart for."
The facility has been around since 1938 and is serving kids year round with after school and summer activities such as music, sports, arts, homework and education assistance and good citizenship training.
"Growing up here, it was kind of a staple in our family to participate. I think providing some family fun for the community is really important. We are very excited to be able to host that. To include many of our kids in many of the festivities," said Hoover who wants Old Spanish Days to be all inclusive across the city.
One of the kids at The Club this summer is Manny Remigeo who said he likes to cook and while he won't be on a grill this year, he will be helping out along with other kids at the breakfast.
The first wave of breakfast dishes will go out in time for everyone to make it to the beach area for the parade.
To support the Downtown Club’s fundraising, visit: www.boysandgirlssb.org/donate
To learn more about The Club of Santa Barbara, visit: www.boysandgirlssb.org
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