Discover the century-old tradition of Fiesta at El Paseo

2026 FIESTA INFO

Step into the soul of Old Spanish Days Santa Barbara, where the spirit of early California is honored through dance, music, and community. Experience the magic of Santa Barbara’s heritage in the very place where these timeless traditions first began over 100 years ago.

Black and white photo of a woman and a man dressed in traditional Mexican clothing, standing on a cobblestone street outside a building.

Santa Barbara Traditions

In August of 1924, Santa Barbara did something bold. To celebrate the newly restored Lobero Theatre and the completion of the El Paseo "Street in Spain," the community threw a party that never really ended. That first "Old Spanish Days" was meant to be a one-time homecoming, but the magic of the music, the horses, and the hospitality was so infectious that a tradition was born.

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A young girl performing a traditional dance while standing on a circular prop, with an audience watching outdoors under umbrellas.

Dancing
Through Time

For decades, El Paseo and the adjacent Casa de la Guerra have been the epicenter of the festival. The de la Guerra family’s ancestral home was famous for its "wedding fiestas" as far back as the 1830s. When the El Paseo restaurant opened in 1922, it carried that torch forward, hosting the most exclusive gala performances and celebrity gatherings in the city.

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