The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-17
SANTA BARBARA En- H1E
Brilliant Prospects for the
Floral Festival
A TUB PARADE'S EVOLUTION
Three Days of Symphony of Fragrance
and Bloom
Most Attractive Programme Arranged
Preparations for the Flower
Festival

.,iai to The Herald. THE Santa Barbara
flower festival phrase which has be-
come synonymous with artistic beauty :;
an event which has sprung into proml-
hence, into worldwide fame. i'll four
wears: n celebration which bids fair to
surpass the Bataile DIES Fleurs at Nice,
the Mardi Gras of New Orleans. or the
Yelled Prophets entry into st. Louis:
three days of merrment, u floral parade
which king ransom could not duplicate
in ono of our eastern states-all these the
mere mention Of the festival here brings
to the mind of one who has seen it in
former wears. But the infant celebration
has grown to manly stature. The fifty
vehicles. flower covered and ribbon be-
decked, of last years parade will be out
shone by $50 striking designs, besides nu-
merons cquestrians and flower covered
aids.
The floral festival originated in 1891,
when President Harrison visited Santa
Barbara. tub parade" was held, in
which number of carts decked with
flowers passed before a reviewing stand
in which stood the honored guest and
party. Mr.. G.. f. Eaton insisted on max
ing the parade permanent thing. And
so it has been held every year since. New
features have been added and objection
able ones dropped until this year the
three DAYS will be Iilled as full OF enter
tainment as the twenty-four hours can
stand.
Barbarenos have sent great loads OF
flowers to decorate the pavilion, the
sixteen flower covered arches that
span State street, and the entries in the
floral parade, but vet their gardens seem
as full of floral beauty as ever.
The city is crowded with visitors, flower
beds and rose bushes are being denuded
of their fragrant blossoms; business
houses are striving to outshine in the
uniqueness and beauty OF their onamen-
tation, and as one looks down State steel
a succession of shade bowers, massive
columns OF roses, whole buildings covered
with feathery pampas and evergreen. The
citizens have given themselves up to
week of flower carnival with an abandon
more like the races OF southern Europe
than stad, shrewd, money getting
American city.
The three days programme will be very
choice.
On Wednesday afternoon and night
rose show will be held in the new pavil-
ion on the Arlington grounds. The
beauty of the surroundings, the soft tints
OF the decorations and the tropical luXllr-
lance of the flowers and foliage surround
ing the pavilion MAKE the citizens think
that the burning of the old pavilion was
really better for the festival. Dr. Yates
f. l.. S.. is in charge of the decorations
ladies are interesting themselves to make
1t a grand success. Already the flowers
are pouring in. Cut flowers pressed
ferns. classified floral shrubs curious
vegetable life from every cline are all
being put in position. and when the band
begins to play on Wednesday afternoon
the exhibition will be the most complete
of the series of floral festivals. Roncov-
icries' American Concert company band
of San Francisco will play in the pavll-
ion on Wednesday afternoon and even,
ing. On. Thursday evening tlfeH.nwjH
give special concert there. Signor
Lombardi the great flute soloist, formerly
with the Milan Opera company gandi
other artists on reed and brass Sinstru-
ments will give solos. A very fine pro-
gramme of popular and classical music
has been prepared.
On Thursday afternoon the star event
of the festival. the flower procession, will
take place. The committee has erected,
on each side OF State street, for two blocks
above the Arlington, the tribune used last
year. The procession will start at 1 80
O'Clock, preceded by the Roncovieri band
Floats without humber, carriages, vio-
let covered and rose trimmed; tub carts
and phactons, and equestrans galore will
parade. The procession will be nearly
two miles long. 1t will parade up and
down between the tribunes until the
judges have decided on the winners, and
then trumpet signal will ring out and
the floral fight begin Not langudly, nor
nonchalantly, nor with an ennui bur-
dencd look does the Santa Barbara belle
wage this merry war. The roses on her
cheeks vie with her corsage bouquet, and
her eyes flash as she makes lucky
shot. The flower fight continues until all
the flowers have been thrown at the pa
raiders and spectators, and the horses are
slipping and sliding, fetock deep in
fragrant blossoms.
The competition this year is very keen
and the paraders are trying to win the
prize in their class.
On Friday there will be athletic and
aquatic sports. and the weary debauantes
will rest and prepare for the grand floral
ball Friday evening. The minuet as it
was danced in gay Louis NIN's time will
be the great attraction at the bail. Five
sets each i'll costumes of different colors,
will tread the mazes of the stately French
dance. Sofa dances and dances by the old
Spaniards will also be introduced before
the grand ball, which begins at 10 O'Clock
and lasts until the musicians get too
tired to play. Gaty & Dunn of the Arl-
ington will serve the banquet.
The Olympia is in port. The Half Mill
ION club excursion will be here Thursday,
and every train and steamer brings a new
delegation of visitors, yet Santa Barbara
can take care of them all.
If the Flower City does not persuade
the visitors to come and stay. it hopes at
the very kast to make them yearly at
tendan ts0rt our festival.