With the historic Lobero Theatre as a backdrop, 2025 Fiesta El Presidente Fritz Olenberger announced this year’s Old Spanish Days theme “Capture the Spirit”.

“As the Fiesta photographer for many years, my passion is in the dancing,” El Presidente Olenberger said in making the theme announcement. “Time and again, I’ve found myself getting goosebumps behind the lens, feeling a deep connection with the dancer. In Flamenco, there’s a word for this feeling: ‘duende.’ It means ‘Spirit. The feeling of awe and inspiration; the overwhelming sense of beauty and magic’ — that force that fuels the art of Flamenco. But it’s not just in Flamenco—it’s in every form of Fiesta dance, in the music, the pageantry, and in the community, Fiesta brings together every year”.

Flanked by Old Spanish Days officials, and the 2024 Spirit of Fiesta Georgey Taupin and the 2024 Junior Spirit Aleenah Soriano, El Presidente Olenberger also announced that this weekend’s 2025 Spirit Auditions at the Lobero are sold-out. The Auditions will be live streamed via the Old Spanish Days You Tube Channel.

 With a goal of overseeing all aspects Santa Barbara’s beloved community Fiesta, this year’s Old Spanish Days Leadership Team includes a cross section of community volunteers. From administration to fundraising, from on-site logistics to community relations, the OSD Leadership Team helps to assure a safe and memorable Fiesta for the entire community.

 2025 El Presidente Fritz Olenberger will be joined on the Leadership Team by Primer Vice Presidente Colin Hayward, Segundo Vice Presidente Tony Miller, la Secretaria and Division Chief of Pageantry Casie Killgore, la Tesorera Denise Sanford, and four additional Division Chiefs: Christopher Gusman (Celebrations), Melissa (Missy) Robledo Pulido (Dance and Entertainment, David Bolton (External Relations and History), and Sean Malis (Marketplaces/Mercados). 

Mr. Castillo Remained Involved in OSD and was Named 2024 Parade Grand Marshall

 An Empty Saddle

 It is with heavy hearts that Old Spanish Days announces the passing of 1976 Fiesta El Presidente Rudy Castillo. 

 While serving as the organization's presiding officer in 1976, Mr. Castillo began the tradition of that year's Old Spanish Days El Presidente designing the Fiesta poster, which he did with great enthusiasm as Santa Barbara celebrated that year in conjunction with our country's bicentennial celebration. 

 Over the years, Past Presidente Castillo remained active in Fiesta, continuing to serve on the board of directors. He was named Parade Grand Marshall during this past year's 100th Anniversary Fiesta. 

I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your tireless efforts and dedication throughout the past year. The 100th anniversary of Old Spanish Days was a truly remarkable celebration, and it would not have been possible without the collective passion and hard work that each of you brought to the table.

As I mentioned last night, the heart and soul of Fiesta is something I hold close, and I am continually inspired by the traditions and deep-rooted customs we have the honor of celebrating. Together, we keep this cherished legacy alive, ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate the rich cultural history of California.

As our South Coast Summer is nearing its end, I’d like to take a moment and express my sincere and humble gratitude as I wrap up my term as El Presidente for our Fiesta’s 100^th Anniversary. It was a remarkable and memorable celebration that I will always appreciate and cherish—especially knowing that so many of our board members, volunteers, community leaders and community members worked so tirelessly over many years to bring this milestone to our community. Our Fiesta isn’t always guaranteed and some of our traditional venues and celebrations do change over the years for factors that are sometimes largely outside of the control of a group of community volunteers.

The 2024 Fiesta Parade Grand Marshals were announced during a gathering at the Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Art Museum. Long-time local radio personality Catherine Remak and 1976 Old Spanish Days El Presidente Rudy Castillo will each serve as a Parade Grand Marshal during the 100th Anniversary Fiesta.

Since Fiesta's first year, and the 1924 historic parade El Desfile Histórico, a Grand Marshal has been selected to lead the Friday afternoon crowd favorite event. From business leaders to politicians, from a Chumash Elder to a close friend, the Fiesta Parade Committee in collaboration with that year's El Presidente selects the Parade Grand Marshal, and this year there will be two.

A highlight every Fiesta are Los Niños de las Flores, the young ambassadors for our summer festival. Originally created by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, the Los Niños program was added to the plethora of events and committees that make up our Old Spanish Days Fiesta.

For decades, Los Niños de las Flores were called Fiesta Flower Girls, but as boys joined the celebration, the program updated its official name in 2019.

Each year the official Los Niños de las Flores photograph is taken on the steps of historic Old Mission Santa Barbara. This year more than 100 youngsters gathered for this special occasion. At the end of the photo shoot, they all yelled, “Viva la Fiesta!”

Fiesta 100th Anniversary Poster Unveiled

With Old Mission Santa Barbara as a backdrop, the 2024 Fiesta 100th Anniversary poster has been unveiled to the community.   Titled, Four Nations, One Spirit, the poster captures the rich tapestry of cultures that have shaped California's history.  In traditional fashion, El Presidente 2024 Brian Schwabecher provided the vision for this year’s Fiesta poster and was joined by artist Holli Harmon for the unveiling.  “This year’s poster process started with a good deal of anxiety due to the high expectations of finding a visual image that represents our rich history going into our 100thAnniversary,” said El Presidente 2024 Brian Schwabecher. “The stars aligned, and I was so fortunate to find an image from Past Presidente Tim Taylor that led me the painter of this year’s poster, Holli Harmon.

Georgey Taupin is chosen Spirit, Aleenah Soriano is selected Jr Spirit

In front of boisterous sold-out crowd at the historic Lobero Theatre, Georgey Taupin was chosen 2024 Spirit of Fiesta and Alleenah Soriano was selected as this year’s Junior Spirit of Fiesta. The Spirit of Fiesta Auditions kick off the 100th anniversary of Santa Barbara’s beloved Old Spanish Days Fiesta.

Georgey Taupin was previously Junior Spirit in 2018. She is a 16-year-old 10th grader at Oaks Christian School Online. Aleenah Soriano is a 9-year-old fourth grader at Roosevelt Elementary School. Both dancers train with the Zermeño Dance Academy.

Official Theme for Fiesta 2024, the 100th Anniversary, Announced with Great Fan Fare at the Lobero Theatre Where Fiesta Began in 1924

With the historic Lobero Theatre in the background, Old Spanish Days unveiled the 2024 Fiesta theme for the exciting 100th Anniversary of our community’s beloved festival: Viva el Centenario

“The 100th year of Fiesta is going to be big,” said 2024 El Presidente Brian Schwabecher in making the announcement. “We are focused truly on collaboration for our community events. The announcement of the theme of Fiesta’s 100th Anniversary is an exciting moment for our community.

The 2024 Leadership Team for Old Spanish Days Fiesta 2024 gathered for its official picture as the community looks forward to this year’s 100th Anniversary Celebration.

The Leadership Team, with 2024 El Presidente Brian Schwabecher at the helm, coordinates with a board of nearly 50 members all of the official Old Spanish Days events of Fiesta.

“As one of Southern Santa Barbara Counties largest all working volunteer board of directors, we could not continue to plan and execute such large free and fundraising events without hundreds if not thousands of board and volunteer hours,” said El Presidente Brian Schwabecher. “As we enter the 100th Anniversary year, we ask that any and all that are interested in supporting our events please visit http://www.sbfiesta.org.

It has been an honor to serve as El Presidente 2023. As we look back, it’s important to thank our sponsors and collaborative partners, our many community volunteers, and the City and County of Santa Barbara. Everyone contributed to making Fiesta 2023 a memorable, fun and safe community event. Thank you!

Fiesta is extremely important. It supports local businesses and non profits. It provides a platform for our local youth arts dance community. It keeps alive the history, traditions and culture that make Santa Barbara a special place. Fiesta brings together friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. Fiesta unites our community. 

For the first time ever, an elder of the Chumash community has been selected as the Fiesta Parade Grand Marshal. Ernestine De Soto, whose ancestors have been a part of the Santa Barbara community for generations, will have a prominent position in this year’s El Desfile Histórico (Historical Parade) as it travels along Cabrillo Boulevard and passes her ancestral village, Syuxtun (also known as Ambassador Park), and known to be one of the largest Chumash villages on the South Coast. 

In announcing his selection of Ms. De Soto, 2023 El Presidente David Bolton said that honoring history, culture and traditions was fundamental in the Parade Grand Marshal selection. The announcement took place at the site where the important Chumash village Syuxtun meets the modern-day parade route on Cabrillo Boulevard at Ambassador Park.

The 2023 Old Spanish Days Board of Directors gathered on Cabrillo Boulevard
for an Iconic Photo.  Volunteers for the  99-year-old organization give their time and talent for the good of the community.  

Old Spanish Days (OSD) in Santa Barbara, Inc. is a 50l(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and preserving Santa Barbara's history, spirit, culture, heritage, and traditions. The 99-year-old organization is unique among festivals in that it is run entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by only one full-time staff member.

The Board of Directors represent a broad cross-section of the community and is responsible for planning and producing over a dozen major events during the week of Fiesta, several fundraising events leading up to the week and organizing over 500 other volunteers, participants, and performers.  

Jack Harwood is the 2023 Spirit of Fiesta and Olivia Nelson is the 2023 Junior Spirit of Fiesta.  

An important Santa Barbara tradition continued as a sold-out crowd watched history being made at the Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta Auditions at the Lobero Theatre on Saturday. The audience was treated to incredible performances by 12 Spirit finalists and 10 Junior Spirit finalists.

At the end of the amazing show, for the first time ever, a male Spirit of Fiesta was selected.  Jack Harwood,19, was chosen among the Spirit finalists as the 2023 Spirit of Fiesta and Olivia Nelson, 10, will serve as the 2023 Junior Spirit of Fiesta.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta is thrilled to announce the release of the 2023 Fiesta poster.  After months of creative planning, the historic tradition of releasing an annual commemorative poster continued as this year’s El Presidente, David Bolton, unveiled the 2023 Fiesta poster today.

The 2023 poster features a beautiful dancing couple at the foot of Stearns Wharf with Santa Barbara’s iconic waterfront in the background. The scene combines the vibrant colors of Fiesta with the stunning coastal view that is enjoyed by countless locals and visitors alike.

On the steps of the historic Lobero Theatre, where in 1924 the beloved community festival known as “Fiesta” started, board members from Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara (OSD) and the Lobero Theatre unveiled the official poster for the 2023 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta Auditions. This marks the third year in a row that the Lobero has generously partnered with OSD to bring the Auditions to their historic stage.   

A highlight for Fiesta 2023 is sure to be La Primavera returns to the Historic El Paseo Restaurant for one extraordinary evening.

This not-to-be-missed event begins with a reception at Casa De La Guerra, the former home of José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega, the last Commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara. Later, guests dressed in their finest Fiesta attire, will stroll down the “Santa Barbara Street of Spain” and arrive at the El Paseo Restaurant to enjoy an elegant "Four Nations Dinner" honoring the Chumash, Spain, Mexico and the United States.