Long before California gained statehood on September 9, 1850 coastal, valley and mountain areas were inhabited by indigenous tribes - then along came Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Spanish explorer who is credited with being the first to discover the state’s west coast at San Diego Bay in 1542, having most likely also sailed to the Channel Islands and Point Reyes. California’s expansion was peppered by fascinating people from all walks of life that include Father-Saint Junipero Serra, ranchers, loggers, Gold Rush miners, oil and real estate magnets, William Randolph Hearst - and the rich and continued contributions by those with ancestry and connections to the culture and history of Spain, Mexico and Native Americans.
Sebastian Vizcaino visited many of Cabrillo’s coastline hangouts and continued to explore and map areas that included Santa Barbara Channel in 1602 – named after a namesake saint – although the town wasn’t officially called Santa Barbara until over 150 years later. So let’s fast forward to 1924 when the city presented the first Old Spanish Days Fiesta which coincided with a renovated reopening of Lobero Theatre, California’s oldest running theater. This year’s Fiesta is scheduled for August 3-7 at locations around the town of which Spanish Revival architecture adds an air of atmospheric charm to event happenings.
Old Spanish Days President Maria Cabrera describes the Fiesta as a community based festival that celebrates a tradition of the California Rancho period. “That was a time when Spanish was spoken, hospitality was king and when the population of Alta California was made up of Native Americans and Spanish-Mexican and Mexican-American citizens. Family celebrations were very important as it was an opportunity to share traditions, culture, just relax and enjoy life together for a few day,” says Cabrera.
Fiesta events include the Historical Parade, El Mercado De La Guerra and Noches de Ronda that will feature traditional music and dances from Mexican Folklorico and Spanish Flamenco. Of course, there will be plenty of displays with local arts, crafts, cuisine, carnival rides for kids of all ages and a Fiesta Stock Horse Show and Rodeo at Earl Warren Showgrounds.
Old Mission Santa Barbara will host La Fiesta Pequeña music and dance extravaganza on August 3, an appropriate venue considering California’s 21 missions remain an enduring part of the landscape – that began when Junipero Serra founded San Diego de Alcala in 1769. Another highlight includes Flor y Canto on August 5, created by Erin Graffy de Garcia, a local California historian who has written Old Spanish Days: Santa Barbara History through Public Art - a beautifully illustrated book about the Rancho Period of California that she describes as “a vivid portrait of an exceptional era of California’s history that explains what made it so unique and why people were renowned for their hospitality, extraordinary horsemanship and exhilarating love of music and dance.”
De Garcia comments on the significance of this event. “Flor y Canto gives us a rare opportunity to learn and experience how people lived in Santa Barbara during the Rancho Period. The show takes audiences nearly 200 years back in time to experience the music, dance, costumes and customs of that life.”
She mentions that Flor y Canto is based on cultural and historical information in her book and features a folk orchestra with period instruments such guitars, guitarrone, vihuela, flute and harp. “Together with dancers and singers, the ensemble recreates a party scene from the greatest hits of 1836 with fascinating narrations in between the numbers. The songs describe everyday life, what people saw and experienced, some lyrical and even onomatopoeic.”
Cabrera mentions, “Old Spanish Days offers a variety of free venues for the entire family” – so ven a la fiesta. Que le vaya bien.