Inspired by this week’s cover story “A Love Letter to Fiesta,” the Indy team put together our own love letter to one of Santa Barbara’s best-loved summer traditions, with this gallery of favorite Fiesta photos. Viva La Fiesta! And cheers to creating even more great memories at the 2022 celebrations.
Our Editor in Chief Marianne Partridge has this photo of her daughter Elizabeth Poett hanging on her office wall. “She was dancing for the first time on the Mission steps,” says Partridge. The great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Jose de la Guerra, Poett spent much of her childhood studying Flamenco and performing at Old Spanish Days. | Credit: Chris Gardener 
“I love being able to share Santa Barbara with my family,” says Publisher Brandi Rivera. “In 2018, I had my nieces up here for a week of surf camp and we ended the week with the Fiesta parade. Here I am introducing my nieces to Fiesta!” | Credit: Courtesy 
“Here’s my son Eli’s first Fiesta parade with his Auntie,” says Publisher Brandi Rivera. | Credit: Courtesy 
This photo of Advertising Representative Camille Cimini Fruin at De La Guerra Mercado with her oldest daughter Cara and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Gary Fruin is a favorite. | Credit: Courtesy 
“Here’s my mama Lynette ‘Bubba’ and my youngest daughter Delaney at Mercado del Norte,” says Camille Cimini Fruin. “Like most Santa Barbara families, Fiesta is always a very special event to celebrate together, but it was always an extra nice treat for my Mom-Bubba as her birthday is Aug. 3 and she just turned 84.” | Credit: Courtesy 
Not surprisingly, Fiesta is all about the food for Senior Editor Matt Kettmann, who oversees our food and wine coverage. “My friend Nils Bernstein, who’s the food editor at Wine Enthusiast and lives in Mexico City, cooks up a great feast every Fiesta at Susanna Vapnek’s house. This is from Fiesta 2021, with my son, Mason, chowing down a taco,” he says. | Credit: Courtesy 
Fiesta Pequena is one of Columnist Gail Arnold’s favorite events and here is one her favorite photos from 2019, of co-emcees Father Larry Gosselin, OFM and KEYT anchor Beth Farnsworth. | Credit: Fritz Olenberger 
“This is my son, who just turned 23,” says Culture Editor Leslie Dinaberg. “He was just a little over a year old here and you can’t see it, but he’s strapped to his car seat in a big wagon that we are pushing down State Street in the Children’s Parade. Minutes later, his cousin, who was all of three at the time, poured an entire bag of confetti over his head. He was completely unphased.” | Credit: Courtesy 
Credit: Courtesy 
“Fiesta 2022 IS special!” says Advertising Director Sarah Sinclair. “This pic is from earlier this week at the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors annual fiesta kickoff party. We invite the public, enjoy food, music, and camaraderie — and the proceeds go to charity. “ The photo shows event committee members (L-R) Susan Bonanno, Sarah Sinclair, and Mia Wamsley taking a break from selling raffle tickets to smile for the camera. | Credit: Courtesy 
Sarah Sinclair also shared some favorite Fiesta photos of her kids when they were young. James Sinclair is in the stroller. | Credit: Courtesy 
Here’s Sarah’s son John Sinclair rocking the sombrero again for Old Spanish Days! | Credit: Courtesy 
Here’s Sarah’s son John Sinclair rocking the sombrero again for Old Spanish Days! | Credit: Courtesy 
Accounting Administrator Tobi Feldman (far right) gets into the spirit of the season for Fiesta Pequena at the Old Mission with her friends Lety Schaeffer, Tracy Meneses, and Elizabeth Hensgen | Credit: Courtesy 
Here’s another fun Fiesta Pequena moment with Tobi. | Credit: Courtesy
