Fiesta decor in many locations is already adding color and excitement to the 99th Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Old Spanish Days is about two weeks away, and many businesses along with private homes are starting to add colorful decorations.

No longer are they waiting until the week of Fiesta, there is a spirited feeling in the city, to start the annual celebration as early as possible.

Many banners, bunting, streamers and signs began showing up right after the 4th of July.

At the Home Improvement Center in downtown, the annual Fiesta poster and pin are for sale just inside the entrance. Up above Fiesta bunting is hanging and also for sale.

The store annually has a display of Fiesta posters dating back decades. They are mounted above the hardware section and customers can slowly walk by to see some of their favorite posters or some they have never seen before.

Along the waterfront Jeannine’s by the Shore will enjoy its second El Desfile Historico – the Fiesta parade going right by on the corner of State St. at Cabrillo Blvd.

Owner Alison Hardey added her first wave of decorations this week with more to come.

Some of the customers from out of the area have asked what is happening which adds to the curiosity of what’s to come. The decorations are also an attractive drawn and eventually an economic boost for the area.

The Blue Water Grill across the street also has big banners across the upstairs balcony.

A parade announcer, Guy Rivera from Direct Mortgage Funding on State St. at Pedregosa St. has his banner up at his front door. The banner is 22 years old. He says people come by and take picture in front of it. Even though it is a small business and not in the area of the festivities, it speaks to the united spirit in the community.

Many private homes have flags and bunting up as well.

The city began seeing more homeowners and renters adding their Fiesta look around their properties during the pandemic when overall citywide activities were all but shut down. Most have continued the tradition.

Newschannel 3 will be broadcasting the Old Spanish Days Fiesta Pequena from the Old Mission on August 2 at 8 p.m. The live broadcast of El Desfile Historico will take place August 4 at noon. The route will be on Cabrillo Blvd. from Castillo St. to an area between Calle Puerto Vallarta and Milpas St.

Some of the carriages will come back on the route to the Carriage and Western Art Museum at Pershing Park where the are stored.

This year there will be about 500 horses, including a team of Clydesdales. There will be 30 wagons, 9 floats and 50 overall entries.

For more information go to: Old Spanish Days