Bonnie Carroll
By Bonnie Carroll
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum became a Fiesta night to remember for guests who arrived to enjoy the exquisite Project Fiesta exhibition highlighting the history of Fiesta with video, photos, and rare artists renditions. Entering guests walked through a visual confetti stream to view a stunning historic flower girl display, and dignitario costumes, flamenco dresses along with historic carriages used in past Fiesta parades.
The second gallery is filled with precious Santa Barbara Mission art, a statue of Saint Barbara, historic photos, posters, paintings, and personal belongings of past Fiesta participants. I especially loved a beautiful personal box belonging to Pearl Chase, who was a renowned leader in Santa Barbara.
The reception in the garden was a gathering of friends and sponsors of Old Spanish Days Fiesta, where delicious small plates and margaritas were savored as guests reminisced about past events and were very happy to be together once again despite the pandemic year. Although the annual Fiesta Parade and the El Mercado De La Guerra were cancelled for health concerns, Old Spanish Days Fiesta El Presidenta 2021 Stephanie Petlow and the board have worked to retain many of the events that the community hold dear which did include the Tablao Flamenco.
Timo Nunez (Photo: Bonnie Carroll)
The magical Andalucia provided a lively, yet intimate Flamenco show under the stars in the elegant courtyard, where guests sitting at small tables enjoying wine, were skillfully taken from Santa Barbara to Spain by talented musicians and dancers including Manuel Gutierrez, Gerardo Morales, Andres Vadin, Timo Nunez, Maria “LA Chacha” Bermudez, Talia Orgeta Vestal and local dance company, Flamenco Santa Barbara, sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, investic, Bella Vista Designs, American Rivera Bank, Community First Bank, First Republic Bank and Tour Spain.
It was the most magical evening I’ve ever spent in Santa Barbara. The music and dancing were exceptional and watching some local talent from Flamenco Santa Barbara was inspiring. The dances by 16-year-old 2021 Spirit of Fiesta Ysabella Yturralde and 9-year-old 2021 Junior Spirit of Fiesta Savannah Hoover took everyone in the room on a journey to the very heart of Fiesta.
Many thanks to Old Spanish Days Fiesta and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum for this amazing evening under the stars to experience the happiness of Fiesta Santa Barbara. For event information please visit: www.sbfiesta.org for museum Project Fiesta information (free July 14-Aug 28) please visit: www.sbhistorical.org. Viva La Fiesta!
SBHM Guest at Garden Reception (Photo: Bonnie Carroll)
Has no one read the “The Masque of the Red Death”!? What fools would cavort without masks and social distancing just to pretend to be old Santa Barbara? One can only hope that the only fools that suffer from this are those in attendance.
Am I the only one who has never understood Fiesta? Why are we celebrating Spanish colonialism on indigenous land? Truly a genuine question.
Will the participants in this event please publish the names and number of participants who contracted Covid and to whom they passed it in both Spanish and English.