Our Lady of Guadalupe offers a taste of home cooking during Old Spanish Days Fiesta in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - If you like tamales, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado and Festival is the place for you.

“They’re not cooked so they’re actually cooked here we start at 4 o’clock 

 in the morning ten pots at a time so check this out," said safety officer Anthony Rodriguez of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The volunteers prepared thousands of tamales for the annual fiesta in Santa Barbara.

“Coming off the pot get them ready put them in there get them ready to sell," said Rodriguez.

Organizers of the fiesta believe these home cooked meals bring the community together. 

"I’m here to help volunteer with the game groups and this is really good it’s very sweet and very filling," said volunteer Lynn Mendez of the fiesta.

Over at the corn booth, Yesicca Vasquez found the love of her life during the fiesta. 

"This fiesta is special to me because I started volunteering at thy e corn booth when I was first getting to know my now, husband … he proposed here at Guadalupe during fiesta," said Vasquez.

Now her son is volunteering to carry on the tradition of preparing corn for the fiesta.

This year organizers are seeing an increase in volunteers.

Most of them are families that grew up right here in Santa Barbara.

"It’s about family the community and just give me back to the church," said volunteer Elizabeth Murillo Medina of the fiesta.

"It’s nice being here with family food watch performances just have a good time," said dancer Dalilah Aris Garcia of the fiesta.

The mercado is considered a best kept secret during fiesta.

Now hundreds of visitors come to the church as a priority during this week's festivities.