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Santa Barbara's Fiesta fun (and food!) in full swing

Three men on horseback wearing wide-brimmed hats and colorful jackets wave to a crowd during a parade.
Lance Orozco
/
KCLU
Tens of thousands of people turned out for the 2025 Old Spanish Days Historical Parade.

Tens of thousands of people turn out for Fiesta's historical and children's parades

Tens of thousands of visitors are joining residents in Santa Barbara this weekend for the community’s annual Old Spanish Days celebration.

Food is at the heart of the fun. People can choose from various food booths at Santa Barbara’s De La Guerra Plaza.

There are tacos, tortas, tri-tip, and more served up with a side helping of free entertainment. People are scarfing up food.

"I had a torta al pastor," said Juan Andrete, from Ventura County. It's the first time he's attended Fiesta.

How was the food? "10 out of 10," he exclaimed.

Despite concerns about the impacts of recent immigration raids, the streets were crowded for Old Spanish Days events.

The Fiesta festivities run through Saturday night in Santa Barbara.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.