Mesa Spring Festival

Despite the gloomy weather, large crowds filled the Mesa Shopping Center where the Mesa Spring Festival was held this year. The event featured live music performances, art and clothes for sale, and a bounce house for the kids. Definitely something for everybody, “It’s the music draw for me but I think it’s different for everybody. I like the vendors and the art. Stuff like that,” says Bianca, a Mesa resident.

The Mesa Spring Festival was created to celebrate everything that’s good about this little village in Santa Barbara, from it’s humble beginnings to what it has become, and what it offers residents and visitors alike. Some, like local artist and vendor Doris Campbell, still remember the start of the Mesa Spring Festival very fondly, “I think it grows larger every year. More people want to participate each time we have it…I think it brings a lot of good traffic to the businesses in the area.”

The annual event offers local artists a platform to show off their art creations as well as local musicians the opportunity to play their music in front of a live audience, and the crowd loves every minute of it. For new Mesa residents like Bianca, who comes from Los Angeles, attending today’s event is a refreshing break from the big city, “It’s cute…it’s really cute are the first words that come out.” So if you didn’t get a chance to attend this year’s Mesa Spring Festival, don’t fret. You’ll have another chance next May, and as this Spring passes, the next one is just around the corner.

For more photos of the 2012 Mesa Spring Festival, visit www.redpacificmedia.com

SBMA’s 2012 “Nights” Celebrates Chinese New Year

Nights at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art could not be completed without a celebration to the Chinese New Year. About 700  men and women attended this year’s celebration where Chinese dancers enchanted the crowd with their modern dancing, and guests got a chance to contribute their painting skills on panels lined up against the wall in the Chinese Art Room.

Copyright 2012 Red Pacific Media

Many attendees at the event were delighted to have their fortunes read, but there were still those that were a bit uneasy about finding what their future holds. “I’m kind of hesitant and a little scared but might do it later,” said Andri Bezzula as his fiancée egged him on to have his fortune read.

Chinese New Year is one of China’s most important holidays, and this year it falls on January 23rd according to the lunar calendar. The festival traditionally lasts for about 15 days. Every year is associated with one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, with each animal being represented once every twelve years. The year 2012 marks the year of the Dragon. Some believe those born during the year of a particular animal will inherit the character traits of that animal.

Red packets or envelopes are passed out during Chinese New Year’s celebrations from adults to children and other unmarried young adults. Gifts and gift exchanges are also a common theme during these celebrations and may include sweet treats such as cakes, candies, and fruit. Clothing is generally colorful, and there is no shortage of firework displays.

Funds raised at this year’s “Nights" help support the museum in their goal to reach 25,000 students every year with in-school, after school, and community outreach programs.