SB Women’s Club’s 95th Annual La Merienda Fiesta Event

On Wednesday, July 30, the Santa Barbara Women’s Club (SBWC) held its 95^th Annual La Merienda Fiesta celebration. Per tradition, it was held on SBWC’s storied property “Rockwood,” home of the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club ever since they purchased the property in 1927. I attended to honor their tradition and contributions to the town.

Historically, this event was hosted by SBWC’s members with tea and homemade cookies to celebrate Old Spanish Days (OSD) with invitations to newcomers to town. One of the SBWC members mentioned to me that the event used to be on the patio outside as it drew 2,000 guests. She couldn’t recall when the club members transitioned the OSD celebration to what it is today – a sit-down buffet luncheon for the club members only, with special invited guests and performers of Old Spanish Days. The SBWC has seen days when its members were suffragettes, sewing masks for the Spanish Flu and contributing to local organizations. 

La Merienda Co-chairs were Pat Haro and Cevin Cathell, supported by their event committee members: Victoria Bailin, Cindy Gracey, Pat Hooser, Stephanie Ingraham, Maureen Killian, Barbara LaPlante, Julie Morrow, Leanne Saar, and Bonnie Tanase-Cairns.

Two Parlors of the Native Daughters of the Golden West are members of the SBWC, and represented at the La Merienda event. One was the Reina del Mar Parlor 126, who decide on the annual appointment of Saint Barbara for Old Spanish Days. Attending on July 30^th were Jeanine Robles, Julie Romero Hathaway, Marisol Cabrera, Betty Dominguez, Patricia Oreña, Heidi Dillon, Ellen Thermos, Mary Louise Days, Yvonne Robles, and Leeanne Figueroa. Hathaway is the 2025 Saint Barbara. The second parlor is Tierra de Oro, Parlor 304, whose attending members of the 95^th luncheon were Debby Aceves, Pat Haro, Jessica Haro, Rae Rosas, Anna Ortiz, Jenny Martinez, and Liz Badillo.

Cathell provided the welcoming address and introduced Old Spanish Days El Presidente 2025, Fritz Olenberger. Fritz chided that for decades he was the Old Spanish Days photographer and was happy to be riding in the parade, so happy that he invited over 20 family members from out of state to join him. Following lunch there were performances by the Spirit of Fiesta Natalia Treviño, the Junior Spirit of Fiesta Victoria Plascencia, the Zermeño Dance Academy, the Baile de California, the Groupo Folklorico de West Los Angeles, and a Spanish guitar virtuoso, emceed by Jessica Haro.