Viva La Fiesta!

Hola Amigos! Okay, that’s it for my lame Spanish, for the moment. But, be warned, since I am of Mexican descent, and since I am in the Fiesta mood, random Spanish phrases may be blurted out without warning (and possibly without making any sense).

Of course the reason for the foreign greeting is that it is just about Fiesta time here in something-fun-always-going-on-Santa-Barbara! From July 30 through August 3, we celebrate Old Spanish Days here. Olé!

Honestly though, most people aren’t really thinking too much about honoring and preserving our grand old heritage of the early ranchero days. What’s on their minds are all the fun and festivities going on. And we’ve got plenty going on! Here are my Top Five Fiesta Favorites:

1. Confetti Filled Eggs
2. Music
3. Food
4. Strolling Mariachi
5. People watching

Where in the world do they get those eggs? How long does it take them to stuff all those eggs with confetti? Is it their only job? Regardless of whether or not I ever find the answers to those three deeply disturbing questions, the fact is you just haven’t done Fiesta unless you’ve smashed a confetti egg (cascarone) on a friend’s unsuspecting head. So don’t miss out. Extra points if you do this to a total stranger.

During Fiesta, the nights are filled with music from local and not-so-local bands. It’s free, it’s loud, and it’s a great way to spend a summer night. It does get a bit crowded and some people’s dancing looks more like they are trying out their new mixed martial arts moves, but just go with it and be ready to put your hottest dance moves to work.

The food!! For some folks, this is IT. This is what Fiesta is all about. Tacos, tortas, tamales and churros . . . the smells alone are enough to have you drooling. So many food vendors (more than 40 in the Mercado), it’s just so hard to pick which one to visit. Lucky for us, Fiesta goes on for five days. We’ll have time to try out a bunch.

I love the strolling mariachis you see up and down State Street. They just wander about serenading people as they eat at the restaurants or they just stop on the street corner and play for whoever may pass by. I wish this part of fiesta lasted all year long.

The people-watching opportunities are vast, enumerable, and never ending. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but with all the events, parades, music and food, people are everywhere. And . . . well, let’s just say quite of few of them are going to drink and thereby making for even better people watching.

Here’s the way to enjoy Fiesta to it’s fullest - - get into the spirit. You just gotta dress up. The bare minimum is a nice big sombrero. Please don’t go any more basic than that. Plenty of people are arrested each year at Fiesta and the number one offense is “Failure to Dress for Fiesta.” Don’t let that be you. In fact don’t even take a chance, take your Fiesta look up a level by adding a serape or poncho and a nice mustache.

If you are hitting any of the musical events or parties on State Street, you should really do it up right and show up as a Sexy Senorita or as the most everyone’s favorite Spaniard Zorro.

Whichever way you choose to celebrate Fiesta, just get out there and do it. Andalé, muchacho! Visit our store on Helena St., get into your costume, and get into Old Spanish Days. Adios!