Santa Barbara Favorite | Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado 

As longtime locals know, some of the best Fiesta food in town can be found at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, where the church supporters spend many long hours preparing a deliciously wide array of authentic Mexican cuisine — including posole, tamales, tri-tip tortas, tacos, and more — to be sold during Old Spanish Days at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado. There’s also live entertainment, games of chance and skill, and shopping to enjoy. You never know what kind of treasures you’ll spot at the annual white elephant sale. This free, family-friendly event is always well worth the wait. Ingrid Bostrom captured some of the 2024 fun.