Fiesta Ranchera Kicks Off Fiesta Season
“Join Old Spanish Days, the Goleta Valley Historical Society, and 500 of your closest friends and neighbors on Thursday, July 14 for the 4th annual Fiesta Ranchera event!” says Old Spanish Days La Presidenta Joanne Funari. The party starts at 5:00 p.m. at the historic Rancho la Patera & Stow House, 304 North Los Carneros Road in Goleta. This popular event offers a festive evening of fun, food, music, and dancing
Stated Funari: “We are thrilled to return to our roots. The Party that started it all was held long ago in 1892 by the Hollister and Stow families, two of Goleta Valley’s finest. They used to refer to it as a good old fashion barn raising – today, we call it Fiesta Ranchera. Many local residents and business leaders fondly refer to this party as their favorite fiesta event.”
Guests will enjoy walking in the beautiful historic gardens sampling food from local restaurants and taste wines from award winning local wineries. Flamenco guitarist Tony Ybarra will be performing, then the 2011 Junior Spirit and Spirit of Fiesta will dance. End the evening dancing under the stars with Area 51. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Fiesta or Ranch attire.
The best restaurants and caterers will be onsite to provide guests with a fabulous tasting experience. Hollister Brewery, our exclusive beer sponsor, named 2008 and 2009 Best Goleta Restaurant and Best Brewery by SantaBarbara.Com reader’s poll, will provide a taste of brew fare.
Some returning favorites include Cold Stone Creamery serving their new summer flavors, Country Meat and Catering will showcase homemade sausage and pasta. New favorites to Fiesta Ranchera are California Woodfired Catering, The Nugget, TonyRay’s, Blaze & Blues SB BBQ, Woodstocks and more.
Arthur Earl, Alexander & Wayne, Zaca Mesa, Carina Cellars and Consilience wineries will be on hand to compliment the no-host bar, offering up beer, wine and two event signature drinks, the top shelf Fiesta Margarita and Stow House Hard Lemonade. This year, guests will have the option to taste tequilas from around the world at the new “Tequila Tasting Bar.”
The event wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful sponsors of Fiesta Ranchera, especially our Presenting Sponsor Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, Media Sponsor Cox and Silver Sponsors Bella Vista Designs, Rockin Double RC Ranch, EventsRents, Hollister Brewing Company, LBPS Events, MarBorg Industries, Venoco, and ParentClick.com.
Tickets are $45 and may be purchased online at www.goletahistory.org or www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org. They will also be available on-site for $65 at the door. For more information call 805-962-8101, email to info@oldspanishdays-fiesta.org.
Old Spanish Days Fiesta is a Santa Barbara tradition that has continued for 87 years. This tradition fosters a unique spirit among locals and tourists who participate, and celebrates the Rancho period (1820-1869) a special era of our history. The important coming together encourages community cooperation, collaboration, and growth. It has remained a pivotal festival its support of other nonprofits and their overwhelming interest maintaining it as an extension and expression of their place in the community.
Goleta Valley Historical Society, stewards of Rancho La Patera and Stow House (1873) museums, preserves, interprets, and fosters research of the history of the Goleta Valley and the Stow Family. Our purpose is to share this treasured landmark from the golden era of California ranching and provide a unique and historic gathering place for the community. Rancho La Patera hosts tours and educational programs as well as various public events, such as the Old Fashioned 4Th of July Celebration and Music at the Ranch Free Concert Series. Rancho La Patera was the site of Goleta’s first Fiesta event, “Fiesta at Stow House,” August 3, 1968.
