Thea Palencia

Thea Palencia is a third-generation Fiesta board member and a Director for Old Spanish Days, Inc., having served on the board since January 2015 as an Associate and 2017 as a Director. Thea has had the honor of being Co-Chair of Las Noches de Ronda and Tardes de Ronda since 2015, in addition to being the Director of the OSD Californio Canto~Baile History and Arts Education Outreach Program. The pilot program was extremely successful in 2011 and 2012 and is currently on hiatus. Thea has served as Chair of Primavera and on the Parade (Awards), Fiesta Pequeña, Recruitment, Governance, Grants, Strategic Planning, and the Fiesta Fridays Concert Series Committees. 

Though several events were canceled at the last minute due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Palencia’s contributions for the 2021 Fiesta season included serving as Chair of Flor y Canto, Co-Chair of Las Noches de Ronda and Tardes de Ronda, Fiesta Ranchera Committee, and Performer Coordinator for such venues as De la Guerra Plaza Mercado, Camino Real Marketplace Performance, Los Arroyos, The Nugget, and the Pre-Fiesta Concert at the Carriage Museum. 

In 2022 Thea is serving as Chair of Flor y Canto, Co-Chair of Las Noches de Ronda and Tardes de Ronda, and on the Strategic Planning Committee. Thea also enjoys being on the Spirit of Fiesta Audition Committee and has done so for the last five years. In addition, Ms. Palencia is a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West Reina del Mar Parlor #126 in which she participates on the History and Landmarks Committee and enjoys being the Emcee for the Presentation of Saint Barbara or Pre-Fiesta Tea each year.