Baile de California performs. Photo by Fritz Olenberger.
On April 28, 2018, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation celebrated the 236th Anniversary of the founding of Santa Barbara at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.
Goleta City Council Member, Roger Aceves, SBTHP Board President Debby Aceves, SB City Council Member Kristen Sneddon, Father Larry Gosselin Associate Pastor Old Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City Mayor Cathy Murillo, La Presidenta Old Spanish Days Denise Sanford, Saint Barbara 2018 Anne Petersen, and Father John Hardin, Guardian Old Mission Santa Barbara. Photo by Fritz Olenberger.
The community enjoyed a wonderful ceremony, including a reenactment of the founding of the Presidio with the Soldados de Cuera, dancing by Baile de California, the debut of this year’s Saint Barbara (our Executive Director Anne Petersen!), living history demonstrations, local businesses and institutions, and a gathering of Presidio descendants!
Los Soldados de Cuera accompanied by Father Serra reenact the Presidio Founding. Photo by Brittany Myles.
Special thanks go to our photographers Fritz Olenberger, Brittany Myles, Paul Mori, and Suzi Calderon Bellman. For more great photos from the day, visit our Flickr album here.
Local artisans interact with festival guests. Photo by Brittany Myles.
Presidio descendants gather at Founding Day to review a slideshow produced by Suzi Calderon Bellman. Photo by Suzi Calderon Bellman.