El Mercado De la Guerra takes on a special look for 2024 Old Spanish Days
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Old Spanish Days will have some "surprises" for 2024 when the El Mercado De la Guerra opens and many traditional activities also take place as part of the 100th anniversary celebration.
From De la Guerra Plaza and De la Guerra Street there will be an effort to encourage the public to visit the nearby businesses and see the next closest stage which will be set up at the Paseo Nuevo Mall.
The public has strolled from the plaza to State Street as part of the festivities or, in the past, parade activities as part of a natural connection.
This year there will be more of an emphasis on engaging the Fiesta visitors with the surrounding blocks of retail, restaurants and entertainment.
El Presidente Brian Schwabecher welcomed directors of the 2024 Old Spanish Days celebration to also talk about the other event venues and some of the special plans the public will see.
Sean Malis will be the director of Mercado De la Guerra. "We have ten non profits that will be raising funds for their efforts at our mercado and we appreciate your support for their efforts and the fabulous food that we have provided. We are also sold out in our merchants in the street and here in the placita."
The main stage will open Wednesday July 31 at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and dances by the Spirit of Fiesta and Jr. Spirit of Fiesta. Each day dancers from studios throughout the city will perform. In the afternoon and evenings live bands will perform until 10 p.m. A list of performers can be found on the Old Spanish Days Facebook page.
Schwabecher also said there are many family friendly events during Old Spanish Days. This includes Fiesta Pequena the official start of Fiesta, July 31 at 8 p.m. at the Old Mission. Viewing in person will be from chairs on the Mission asphalt and the lawns around the property along with the Rose Garden Park across the street. Set ups begin at 6 a.m. but Old Spanish Days says anything out before that will be taken away.
Throughout the event highlights include Las Noches de Ronda at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens, El Desfile Historico and the Children's Parade.
Thousands of people are expected to line Cabrillo Boulevard for the Fiesta parade, and it will be televised on NewsChannel 3 at noon on August 2. There will be 60 entries including three marching bands, and about ten floats. It starts at Castillo St. and ends at Calle Puerto Vallarta. It will have 400 horses. Special ticketed seating is available on the sidewalk in the first portion of the parade route. Historic carriages will be decorated and enter the parade from the Carriage and Western Art Museum nearby.
The Fiesta Stock Horse Show and Rodeo is also taking place at the Earl Warren Showgrounds Thursday August 1 through Sunday August 4.
The Old Spanish Days staff says it will be supporting other event sites presented by area shopping sites such as the Camino Real Marketplace, La Arcada Court and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
For more information go to: Old Spanish Days
