Celebrate Santa Barbara’s 231^st birthday “Founding Day” on Sunday, April 21 from Noon to 3:00 p.m. at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park (123 East Canon Perdido Street). Step into the past and watch the Presidio come alive with Early California music and dance, pottery, blacksmithing, adobe brick making, archaeology, and more!

 

This free birthday celebration for the community begins at noon with the Chumash Inter-tribal Singers, a reenactment of the founding of the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1782, presented by Los Soldados de Cuera (soldiers of the Royal Presidio), a special acknowledgement of the California Conservation Corps., followed by the presentation of Saint Barbara 2013 by Reina del Mar Parlor # 126 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Observe an Early California dance

performance by Las Fiesteras, led by Diana Replogle-Purinton.

 

Following the ceremony, enjoy onsite educational activities throughout the Presidio that focus on the history and culture of early California. Converse with costumed demonstrators and experience life in Santa Barbara during the late-1700s. Join potter Armando de la Rocha as he shares the art of pottery making and hear Chumash tales from Alan Salazar.  Learn about native and introduced plants and discover how food was prepared in Early California. 

 

Following living history activities enjoy a traditional Latin mass in the Presidio Chapel at 3:00 pm.    The service commemorates the original founding mass at the Presidio Chapel in 1782. The mass features a performance by the Quire of Voyces.

 

Throughout 2013, SBTHP is celebrating fifty years of work in the Santa Barbara community. Founded in 1963 by Dr. Pearl Chase and other community leaders, SBTHP works to preserve, restore, reconstruct and interpret historic sites in Santa Barbara County. The vision of the organization’s founders was to restore Santa Barbara’s Spanish Presidio, reclaim Santa Barbara’s birthplace and preserve Santa Barbara County history for future generations. With the help of continuing education activities and exhibits including Founding Day, SBTHP strives to encourage community involvement and foster an appreciation for Santa Barbara’s distinct history.

 

The Santa Barbara community is invited to be a part of the 50^th anniversary celebration. SBTHP’s Memories Project requests photographs, stories, and drawings from the community to help interpret and document the stories held within the Presidio neighborhood.  All of the material SBTHP gathers will be archived at the Presidio Research Center and shared with the public on SBTHP’s new Collections Online website. The Memories Project is on display at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara SHP throughout 2013. 

 

Santa Barbara’s Founding Day is funded in part by the COMMUNITY EVENTS & FESTIVALS Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.

 

 

CALENDAR LISTING

 

Santa Barbara’s Founding Day

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Noon to 3:00 PM:  Community Celebration

El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA

FREE Admission

For more information (805) 965-0093

 

Founding Day Mass

Sunday, April 21, 2013

3:00 PM:  Latin Mass with Quire of Voyces

Presidio Chapel

El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA

FREE Admission

For more information (805) 965-0093

 

SHORT DESCRIPTION

 

Santa Barbara’s Founding Day

Celebrate Santa Barbara’s 231^st birthday with “Founding Day” at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park. Join us for the presentation of Saint Barbara and see the Presidio come to life with Early California dance, pottery, archaeology, native and introduced plants, blacksmithing, adobe brick making, and more!

 

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