Finding the Off-beat Flavors of Fiesta

Fiesta isn’t only about music, food, dance, and arts and entertainment reflecting Santa Barbara’s Spanish cultural past and present, there’s also a pretty healthy dose of rock and roll, pop, and more in outdoor locations around town. Most notable are the twin Mercados at De La Guerra Plaza and Mackenzie Park, both returning for the first time in three COVID-complicated years. While Area 51 seems to be MIA after countless years at the midtown marketplace, most of the regulars are back for the evening events that follow dance performances all day long. At the Plaza, that includes False Puppet, Doublewide Kings, Tony Ybarra, Mezcal Martini, the Roosters, and Spencer the Gardener, along with relative newcomers Jackson Gillies, Flannel 101, and Molly Ringwald Project, the latter of which might have blown the roof off at Chase Palm Park at their Concerts in the Park show in mid-July, that is if there was one. The more family-friendly Mackenzie Park, which is also bringing back the carnival with rides and games, will boast the likes of Dusty Jugs/Rincons, Chill Point, Vibe Setters, Heart and Soul, Soul Kool, and Grooveshine, among others. As always, admission is free. 

Meanwhile, still in July, the Westside gets into the unofficial Old Spanish Days spirit 5-8 pm on Thursday, July 28, with its pre-Fiesta social business mixer Tardeana con Mariachi co-presented by Opera Santa Barbara, the Greater SB Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Westside business owners. Besides making connections old and new, attractions include dinner, drinks, and live music by Mariachi Orgullo de Mexico in the heart of the Westside at La Bella Rosa Bakery’s parking lot at 1411 San Andres Street.

Heart and Soul will also serve as the musical entertainment for the final official pre-Fiesta event La Recepción del Presidente, which includes dinner and dances by both the 2022 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta at the Carriage and Western Art Museum on Sunday, July 31. 

Then it’s on to La Fiesta Pequeña at the Old Mission on Wednesday, August 3 (and the rehearsal night on August 2 that’s become a massive popular if unofficial preview); Celebración de los Dignatarios (aka DIGS!) featuring small bites, premium bars, and local breweries and wineries at the Santa Barbara Zoo on August 4; Las Noches de Ronda at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens, and the Fiesta Stock Horse Show at Earl Warren Showgrounds, both Thursday-Saturday, August 4-6; the horse-crazed parade on August 5 and kids parade on August 6, and, well, all the other trimmings of the city’s biggest annual event. 

Visit sbfiesta.org/events-calendar or call (805) 962-8101 for more details and a full list of events. Viva!