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Our 167th Year
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VIVA LA FIESTA! DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS
The ribbon is cut Wednesday to launch Fiesta. From left on the stage in De la Guerra Plaza are El Primer Vice Presidente David Bolton; Mayor Pro Tem Meagan Harmon; La Presidente Maria Cabrera; Francisco Cabreara, the honorary presidente; Spirit of Fiesta Tara Mata and Santa Barbara City Councilmember Kristen Sneddon. Standing behind Mrs. Cabrera is Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez.
De la Guerra Plaza ceremony launches Old Spanish Days By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Los Ninos de las Flores shout, “Viva la Fiesta!” during La Fiesta Pequeña at the Santa Barbara Mission.
“10 … 9 … 8 .. 7..” The audience in De la Guerra Plaza enthusiastically counted down late Wednesday morning with La Presidente Maria Cabrera and Mayor Pro Tem Meagan Harmon and a stage full of dignitaries until the moment Mrs. Cabrera and Ms. Harmon cut the ribbon with giant scissors. “Viva la Fiesta!” La Presidente Maria Cabrera yelled, standing next to her husband — Francisco Cabrera, the honorary presidente — and Spirit of the
Fiesta Tara Mata. And with that, the first fullfledged Old Spanish Days since 2019 began in Santa Barbara. Before the ribbon cutting, La Presidente Cabrera addressed an audience that would keep growing during a day full of very rhythmic dancing and consistently upbeat music in a plaza full of food booths and smiles. The crowd’s enthusiasm would grow as the day continued, following the tone for Fiesta set by La Presidente Cabrera. “We are here today because Please see CEREMONY on A4
Mercados return for first time since 2019 Enthusiasm soars at De la Guerra Plaza, Mackenzie Park
At left, Garcia Dance Studio performs. At right, Josue Hernandez sings at La Fiesta Pequeña.
La Fiesta Pequeña wraps up first day of full-fledged festival By JARED DANIELS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
La Fiesta Pequeña colorfully capped off the opening day of this year’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta on Wednesday with around 200 dancers performing a variety of dance styles including flamenco, folklórico, early California and fusion Colombian. Nearly two hours before the dancing began, locals and tourists alike were already streaming up Laguna Street to either settle into spots claimed earlier in the evening, or hopefully find one in the sea of blankets and folding chairs that already covered both lawns of the Santa Barbara Mission. As the sun began to set on mission prior to the dancing,
crowds were serenaded by a mariachi band. Numerous vendors were on hand to supply event goers with flowers, hats, silly string and cascarones (a Fiesta staple of hollowed-out eggs filled with confetti or — for the truly brave of heart — glitter). And on the upper lawn closest to the mission, Timbers Roadhouse of Goleta featured offerings of burritos, churros, nachos, tacos, and tri-tip sandwiches. The event allowed for some bipartisan rejoicing, with both of the city’s state Assembly candidates expressing their pleasure at the official return of in-person attendance at the event following the 2020 and 2021 Fiesta Pequeñas, which were officially
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closed to the public. (A crowd showed up anyway last year at the mission.) “Fiesta’s a wonderful tradition, I love joining all of our neighbors in the sense of community here on the opening night of Fiesta,” Democratic candidate and 2nd District County Supervisor Gregg Hart told the News-Press. “It’s a wonderful tradition, and I’m so glad we’re able to join with each other to celebrate this tremendous tradition.” “It feels great to be back to normal after COVID and that we can all be here together as a community celebrating Fiesta Pequeña,” added Republican candidate and former EPA regional administrator Mike Stoker. “It’s been too many years
and what a great time bringing the whole community together. It’s a beautiful thing.” “It’s an event that the whole community can come out and enjoy, and I think everyone is just loving being able to come together and enjoy Fiesta,” he said. Also there to speak to the News-Press was this year’s La Presidente, Maria Cabrera, who also expressed her joy at seeing crowds return in force to Fiesta’s signature opening event. “I mentioned earlier today that it’s time to get out of the house and stop the Netflix binges, and time to get going with being together with familia,” she said. “Todos juntos en familia!” email: jdaniels@newspress.com
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Wednesday began with dancers in colorful costumes and ended with rock ’n’ roll and even more dancing to a faster beat. That was the scene at El Mercado de la Guerra, where nonprofits and businesses operated booths selling everything from tamales to ice cream and where enthusiastic crowds watched the Fiesta action on stage. Meanwhile, across town at Mackenzie Park, El Mercado del Norte featured dance performances by Spirit of Fiesta Tara Mata and Junior Spirit Layla Gocong. There was also the spirit of flight as carnival rides there brought riders of all ages up in the air. There’s no ceiling on fun at the
Fiesta. That certainly was the case at the first El Mercado de la Guerra since 2019, where friends and relatives of dancers of various ages cheered for them on stage. After the ceremonial ribbon cutting for Fiesta, Cruz Dance & Entertainment performed, followed by Alma de Mexico, Grupo Danza de Quetzalcoatl and Maria Bermudez Flamenco Performing Arts. Dancers performed in the colorful and magical folklorico dresses as well as simpler dresses with equally bright colors. The styles of dance varied as much as the costumes on a day that saluted the upbeat tempo of Latino music and the dynamics of the dancers’ footwork. The choreography also varied, with no two acts alike. Please see MERCADOS on A10
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. A6 Life...................... A7-8 Obituaries.............. A10
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-10-24-25-43 Meganumber: 5
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 0-6-3-3
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 10-14-25-37-63 Meganumber: 14
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 7-12-13-24-25
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 03-07-06 Time: 1:42.70
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 9-21-56-57-66 Meganumber: 11
Sudoku................... B8 Weather................ A10
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 4-6-5 / Wednesday’s Midday 9-2-8