Fiesta’s identity crisis

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It’ll be hard to roam around Santa Barbara this week without spotting colorfully ordained horses, flamenco dancing and mercados full of food, costumes and crafts. Old Spanish Days, known to many simply as Fiesta, celebrates the city’s heritage. But, what is that heritage? Is it Spanish, Mexican, Californian or a mixture of all three?

To help clear up the identity crisis of Santa Barbara’s biggest party, historian Erin Graffy joined us in studio.

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Erin Graffy’s book, Old Spanish Days, was published last year.

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