La Fiesta Pequeña Puts Santa Barbara in a Celebratory Mood

This “little Fiesta” is a very big deal for Santa Barbara. 

La Fiesta Pequeña kicked off the party last night with a warm welcome and primer on the history of this colorful historical program of traditional songs and dance in our community from El Presidente David Bolton. The evening, hosted in front of the Old Mission y Father Larry Gosselin and KEYT’s Beth Farnsworth, featured beautiful performances by the all-woman band Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán and Los Niños (the flower girls and boys who will lead El Desfile de los Niños on Cabrillo Boulevard Saturday morning at 10 a.m.); Opera Santa Barbara giving us a taste of “Toreador” from their production of Carmen, which is coming up on September 29 and October 1; Ballet Folklorico Bell Arts; Junior Spirit of Fiesta Olivia Nelson, Saint Barbara Lisa Osborn; Alma de Mexico of Santa Barbara; singer Irma Segura; Zermeño Dance Academy; Danza Folklórica Quetzalcoatl; Ballet Folklorico Patria Mexicana; and singer Karla Ramirez. 

Spirit of Fiesta Jack Harwood (who graces our cover this week) danced his heart out to a live band rendition of “Alegrias.” His standing ovation was followed by performances from Garcia Dance Studio; Danza De Cota (whose founder Kathy Cota’s father, Juan Cota, participated in the first Fiesta of Santa Barbara in 1924 — and there has been a Cota dancing in every Old Spanish Days Fiesta since, shared Paula Lopez, a proud member of the Cota Family whose son Mateo was among those performing last night); Baile de California; and Sahagún Dance. 

The final segment of the show included performances by Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán; Maria Bermudez Flamenco, whose young dancers entertained us so joyfully at Monday’s Indy’s Hops party; singer Melody Hilario; Grupo Folklorico de West Los Angeles; and Xochipilli de Santa Barbara.  

This was followed by a rousing finale bringing the entire group back out on stage to the tune of “We Are Family.” Indeed, we are. Viva la Fiesta!