The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-26
Santa Barbara in a Whirl
of Gayety.
EXCURSIONS COMING IN.
EXCURSIONS
An Elegant Display Arranged in
the Pavilion.
PROMINENT VISITORS PRESENT.
Streets and Buildings Are Beauti-
fully Decorated and Crowds
Fill the City.

SANTA BARBARA, April 25.-The third
annual flower festival opened to-day with
an exhibition of flowers and frui. at the
Pavilion. The weather accorded the first
day is not the best, but there is hope for
better tomorrow. There is no doubt but
that the carnival will be success in every
particular.
These fetes at Santa Barbara always at
tract large crowds, and such is the case
this year. The city is we'll filled with
visitors, though the festival proper does
not commence till tomorrow. when tn e
floral parade and bataille des feurs takes
place. The excursions from outside towns
will then have arrived, and thousands of
eople will be added to the population for
few hours at least. The battle-ship Mon
terey is proving an additional attraction
and has been visited by many people.
The city presents a gay appearance. In
endeavors to eclipse all previous efforts
the merchants have decorated State street
much more deliberately than on any pre-
vious occasion.
Three beautiful arches span the wide
th0roughfare, one OF pampas plumes and
the two others Of palms and cypress, while
flowers are to BIZ seen everywhere. Stream
ers and banners of the carnival colors fly
from every staff and building, but the
stars and stripes are given preference over
all.
To-day's proceedings are but the begin
ming of the festival, but the display at the
pavilion is worthy of note. The exhibits
of cut flowers to be seen here are admir-
ably set off by a background of gray tree
moss. Roses of every variety seem to pre-
dominate. though plenty of other flowers
are TO be seen.
The fruit display is of great variety.
One of the most striking exhibits is that of
shrubs and plants lately introduced from
foreign countries, which consist of many
varieties never before seen in California.
Tomorrow the cut flowers, which are so
delicatsly arranged for display at the
pavilion, will be taken out and used in
the battle of flowers. Roses and dainty
carnations will bs crushed by horses
hoofs, and pretty sweet-scented buds will
be mingled with dust. Marguerites and
daisies are to be used as carpet over the
paved road, while vi0lets will become am
munition in the novel sport.
The flower festival dates from April,
1891. when President Harrison visited the
city. The residents here wished to show
the President something entirely different
from the entertainment accorded him at
other places, and flower festival was de-
cided upon as the most unique. With
flowsr-bedecked carriages he was met at
The train and escorted to the grand stand,
likewise trimmed with flowers, from which
the President reviewed the first Carnival
of Roses. The year following this mem
orable visit from the chief executive Santa
Barbara saw the Flower Festival Associa-
ton incorporated. and the event has since
been an annual feature of the city.
Many prominent visitors arrived here
to-day. and every train brings an increas-
ing crowd.
The grand day of the festival is to-mor-
row. Commencing in the afternoon with
the floral parade, it will be followed by
the rose battle and will end in the even
ing. An Illuminated parade of floats and
carriages decorated with flowers will be
tho princiDaI faature