Fiesta dancers, photo by Bill Zeldis

One of Old Spanish Days’ most beautiful traditions is the official opening of Fiesta, which has taken place in front of the Santa Barbara Mission since 1927. Always free to the public, La Fiesta Pequeña (“little Fiesta”) is a colorful historical program with traditional songs and dances from the Californio, Flamenco, Spanish Classical and Mexican Folklorico traditions. Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2201 Laguna St. Aug. 5, 8 p.m. oldspanishdays-fiesta.org.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Summer 2015.

—Leslie Dinaberg