Old Spanish Days Fiesta returns with five days of dancing, music, food, parades, family activities and celebrations at some of Santa Barbara’s most recognizable landmarks.
Santa Barbara is officially in Fiesta mode.
The 103rd annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta runs from Wednesday, August 5, through Sunday, August 9, bringing traditional music, colorful dance performances, community gatherings, food, historic pageantry and family activities to locations throughout the city. Major events will take place at Old Mission Santa Barbara, De La Guerra Plaza, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, the Santa Barbara Zoo and along Cabrillo Boulevard.
Wednesday’s opening events included the return of El Mercado de la Guerra, the downtown food and entertainment marketplace, followed by La Fiesta Pequeña in front of Old Mission Santa Barbara. The opening-night celebration traditionally introduces Fiesta’s performers against the dramatic backdrop of the Mission as the sun sets over Santa Barbara.
Here is what residents and visitors can expect during the remainder of Fiesta week.
Thursday, August 6: Mission Traditions, the Mercado and Noches de Ronda
Thursday begins at Old Mission Santa Barbara with La Misa del Presidente, held from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Roman Catholic Mass has been associated with Fiesta since 1936 and is followed by a reception in the Mission’s Sacred Garden. People of all faiths are invited to attend.
El Mercado de la Guerra continues from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at De La Guerra Plaza, across from Santa Barbara City Hall. Visitors can expect Mexican and Mexican-American food, crafts, souvenirs and live entertainment throughout the day.
Thursday evening also brings DIGS! Celebración de los Dignatarios to the Santa Barbara Zoo from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The ticketed, adults-only event includes food from local restaurants, margaritas, beer, wine, live music and dancing from the Zoo’s hilltop. Guests must be 21 or older, and the organizers state that tickets will not be sold at the door.
At 8:00 p.m., Las Noches de Ronda, or “Nights of Gaiety,” begins its three-night run in the Courthouse Sunken Gardens. The free performances feature flamenco, Mexican folklórico dancing, music and appearances by Fiesta performers beneath the illuminated courthouse. Performances continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Friday, August 7: The Fiesta Historical Parade
Friday’s centerpiece is El Desfile Histórico, the Fiesta Historical Parade, beginning at noon along Cabrillo Boulevard.
One of the country’s largest equestrian parades, the procession features horses, historic carriages, community organizations, dancers and floats portraying scenes connected to Santa Barbara and California history. The parade travels along Cabrillo Boulevard from Castillo Street toward Calle Cesar Chavez and is scheduled to run until approximately 2:00 p.m. Public viewing is free, with reserved shaded seating available separately.
People planning to attend should arrive early. The public may begin placing chairs along the route at 5:00 p.m. Thursday. Major closures along Cabrillo Boulevard begin Friday morning, with portions of the waterfront closing as early as 6:00 a.m. Roads are expected to begin reopening at approximately 4:00 p.m. after the parade.
Friday evening offers two opportunities to experience traditional performance at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens. Flor y Canto, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., presents songs and dances associated with 19th-century Spanish California, accompanied by historical narration and replica acoustic instruments. Las Noches de Ronda follows from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Both events are open to the public, and Flor y Canto is listed as a free event.
Saturday, August 8: A Full Day for Families
Saturday begins with El Desfile de los Niños, the Children’s Fiesta Parade, at 10:00 a.m. Young participants, families, dancers and decorated wagons will travel along Cabrillo Boulevard from Calle Puerto Vallarta toward Casa Las Palmas. The parade is expected to conclude around noon, with surrounding roads beginning to reopen at approximately 1:00 p.m.
The Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show will be held along Cabrillo Boulevard near West Beach from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Local artisans will display handmade artwork, jewelry, decorative pieces and other locally created goods near the waterfront.
Back downtown, El Mercado de la Guerra continues from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
At the Courthouse Sunken Gardens, Tarde de Ronda takes place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The free family program showcases Fiesta’s youngest dancers, including performers under the age of 13. The final evening of Las Noches de Ronda follows from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 9: A Relaxed Fiesta Finale
Fiesta winds down Sunday with the second day of the Arts and Crafts Show along Cabrillo Boulevard from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday provides a quieter opportunity to stroll the waterfront, shop from local artisans and explore downtown after several days of large performances and parades. Free docent-guided tours of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse will also continue during the day.
Courthouse Tours and a Photography Contest
Throughout Fiesta, free one-hour docent tours of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse are being offered every hour between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tours continue through Sunday and provide a closer look at the Spanish-Moorish landmark that serves as the setting for many of Fiesta’s best-known performances.
Old Spanish Days is also holding a Fiesta 2026 Photography Contest LINK HERE: https://www.sbfiesta.org/fiesta-event/old-spanish-days-fiesta-2026-photography-contest/2026-08-05/ through Friday, inviting photographers to submit images representing the people, activities, traditions, and atmosphere of this year’s celebration.
Plan Ahead for Traffic and Parking
Large crowds and substantial street closures should be expected, particularly around the Mission, De La Guerra Plaza, the Courthouse and Cabrillo Boulevard.
The City of Santa Barbara recommends walking, bicycling or using other transportation alternatives when possible. Downtown garages and waterfront parking lots remain available, but normal parking charges and enforcement rules apply. Additional bicycle racks have been placed along Cabrillo Boulevard and around the Harbor.
Visitors attending evening performances at the Courthouse may place blankets and chairs beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the day of each performance. The city cautions that plastic or nylon materials may be removed, so attendees should check current event guidelines before setting up seating.
Schedules, ticket availability and transportation conditions can change during a large public celebration. Attendees should review the official Old Spanish Days Fiesta calendar and City of Santa Barbara Fiesta information before leaving home.
For five days each August, Fiesta transforms familiar Santa Barbara landmarks into stages, gathering places and reminders of the many communities and traditions that have shaped the region. Whether someone comes for the dancing, the horses, the food, the children’s events or simply an evening beneath the courthouse tower, there will be opportunities throughout the week to join the celebration.
Visit SBFiesta Org.
