In order to maximize your enjoyment of Fiesta you first have to realize that everything will take much longer than you think, so to start out, before you even leave your house, adjust your attitude so that you have an abundance of patience. We have compiled a list of the top ten things which will make this fiesta GREAT! Viva La Fiesta!
1)
LA FIESTA PEQUEÑA - On Tuesday at lunch go put a blanket out at the
Old Mission on the lawn so you can watch the show on Wednesday. All the locals already know this, so competition for a spot is fairly intense. TIP: Put a blanket across the street and stage left. The event starts at 8 pm, but you will want to get there at least an hour early. If you are a local, think Concerts in the Park, only in Spanish. Bring a picnic. Some people discretely bring a bottle wine. There will be tons of people and little kids. But the show is a huge tradition and the music, dancing and sheer showmanship is unrivaled. Santa Barbara local performers work all year for their 5 minutes on stage.
2)
MERCADOs - There are two markets. They aren't really markets, but rather a place to go to get good food and entertainment. There are two of these venues:
Mercado Del Norte at McKenzie Park on the corner of State street and Las Positas. This one is the calmer of the two, more family oriented, less drinking, etc. Tons of people, but great entertainment. It has gotten pretty commercialized lately, but still a good event. There is also
El Mercado de la Guerra which is downtown in De La Guerra plaza, next to the Newspress building. This is a pretty fun, less commercial, more adult venue. Hard core, and a little bit rougher than downtown. These "markets" are open from 11 am to 11 pm. You can hear their music all over the city.
3)
CELEBRACIÓN DE LOS DIGNATARIOS - This event is held
at the zoo on Thursday night. Some people pass on this event, but the band is Soul City Survivors and they make seriously danceable music. You have to go to this event at least once. This starts at 5 pm and runs until 10 pm. The cost is $85 per person in advance, $100 at the gate. Tickets available online at
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70512; at participating Albertsons, or at the Santa Barbara Zoo. A must-see event. At least once.
4) EL DESFILE HISTÓRICO / PARADE - The entire city usually shuts down at lunch for the Friday noontime parade. Check the map above. The green line is the Parade Route. Get here early Friday (like 11 am) along the parade route for good seating. Bring an umbrella for the sun and a comfortable chair. There is always lots of waiting for the parade to start and get to you. This is a Top-Notch event and people come from all over the country for this event, so don't miss this one. A lot of people go directly from here to the downtown de la guerra mercado and stay until late into the night.
5)
KIWANIS CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST - This is a great way to end your Fiesta weekend with a great Saturday morning breakfast from 7 am to noon
at Alameda Park. Pancakes (of course!), sausage, OJ, milk, coffee. Delicious, and dirt cheap. Kiwanis is a great community group worthy of your support. And - it's ALL YOU CAN EAT!
6) Parade Marshalls - These folks will keep you out of trouble. Listen to what they say. We have had horse deaths because the animals were startled by people, so don't do anything dramatic or anything that makes loud sharp noises. If you live in Santa Barbara you should volunteer to be on the team next year. There are some great before and after parties that make it worth it to be a Parade Marshall.
7) Take a Cab - Whether you are drinking or not, take a cab. There are already too many cars downtown and if you happen to drink, you wont be a menace on the road. And yes, all 12 police agencies including SB County Sheriff, SBPD, and CHP will be watching you, so be safe.
8)
Listen to the Symphony - West Coast Symphony- Free Admission, Sunday 3:30pm.
Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens. Bring the family, snacks, & lawn chairs for an afternoon of great music. Conductor: Christopher Story
9) Break An Egg - There is a tradition that you have not really begun to enjoy Fiesta until you have had a confetti-filled egg cracked on your head by a friend. They are sold by street vendors for usually 25 cents each, sometimes 5 for a dollar.
10) Private Parties - We can't really tell you where these parties are because it would ruin it. There is one party on the Mesa for Fiesta that is amazing, by invitation only, and it is THE place to be. Word of mouth is strong on this one. It's all I can do to not tell you. But if you get there, and you get in, you will know that it's all that and more.