Fiesta Pequeña kicks off Old Spanish Days celebration.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— It was a night filled with dance, music, and community.

Thousands of people gathered outside of the Old Mission in Santa Barbara to watch Fiesta Pequeña Wednesday evening.

The event kicks off the Fiesta festivities for the rest of the week.

Fiesta Pequeña translates to little party, but Wednesday’s celebration was far from small.

“Turn around and look at the community at large out there is amazing to have,” said Santa Barbara native Diana Vestal.

The celebration wouldn’t be complete without the hundreds of children dressed in vibrant colors.

“This is Luca, and this is his third fiesta, which we're so excited about because I grew up visiting and it's such a part of our Santa Barbara community and culture and how I am so proud to raise my son celebrating every year,” said Gabriella Garcia.

Local vendors were selling everything from hand-painted fans to floral hair accessories. They also had dozens of confetti-filled eggs called cascarones on full display.

Gabriella Garcia, Lives in Santa Barbara
“He's obsessed with them. So it's so fun. We love to crack them on all of our friends and family heads and yell “Viva La Fiesta” right, Luca?”

As the sun went down, the dancers took to the stage.

Next year will be the 100th year of Fiesta, marking a century of Old Spanish Days traditions.