Celebrating 50 Years of Creativity at the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration

2023 Summer Solstice parade in Santa Barbara (Photo by Fritz Olenberger)

The 50th Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration is set to dazzle and delight as it takes over the city this weekend.

From June 20 to 23, Santa Barbara will play host to an array of events celebrating art, music, and community. This year’s festival marks the 50th anniversary of the Solstice Parade, which has blossomed from humble beginnings into the largest arts event in Santa Barbara County.

Under the theme “Flights of Fancy,” this year’s celebration will showcase the creativity and innovation that have been the hallmark of the event for half a century.

The festivities will kick off on Thursday, June 20th, with the Flights of Fancy Art Crawl. Running from 5 to 8 PM, mostly on State Street, the art crawl will feature pop-up performances by artists who have received Towbes Fund for Performing Arts awards from Solstice. Participating businesses will provide special offers to customers, with some extending promotions throughout the day.

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Executive Director Penny Little shared, “The original idea was to bring elements of Solstice back to State Street since the Parade is now on Santa Barbara Street.”

Visitors are encouraged to meander through downtown, enjoying food and beverages at participating businesses and soaking up the unique magic of Solstice.

On Friday, from 4 to 9 PM, the festival kicks off with Solstice Funky Friday featuring Area 51 as the headliner, accompanied by Down Mountain Lights, the Art of Funk, and the David Segal Band.

The main highlight of the festival is the Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 22nd, which will commence at noon at Santa Barbara and Ortega Streets before winding its way to Alameda Park. The parade promises a spectacular display of artistic expression, featuring new performance artists and a myriad of creative interpretations of the “Flights of Fancy” theme. An important note is that no words, symbols, or logos are allowed in the parade – it is truly people-powered and people-created.

Following the parade, the Solstice Festival in Alameda Park will captivate attendees from June 21 to 23. The festival will be a culmination of art, music, and community gatherings, with different events across the three days.

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Saturday, from noon to 8 PM, will be a lively affair with Solstice Saturday on the main stage. The lineup includes local favorites such as Ray Fresco, Soul Majestic, Ali Angel, ACE GonZales and the Surfilm Sound, the Will Breman Band, and Something This Way Magic. Additionally, La Boheme dancers will perform in front of the main stage.

Adding to the excitement this year is the introduction of the FUNTopia Zone and expanded Kids Zone, open on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 PM in Alameda East.

Families can look forward to interactive activities, providing enjoyment for all ages. The SB Bowl Community Stage will once again feature performances for and by young artists, ethnic music and dance, and family-friendly entertainment. Spectators can also enter the park through the welcome portal, sponsored by SB Beautiful and created by artist Luke Holden of Lucidity Festivals. Within proximity to the Food Trucks, the Flights of Fancy photo-op, sponsored by the SB Bowl and the Solstice Art Gallery, will make for a whimsical addition to the festival.

To culminate the festivities, Reggae Sunday, sponsored by One Plant, will feature a lineup including The Rahkas, the Kicks, True Zion, and Morie and the Heavy Hitters from 1:30 to 6 PM in the Park.

Artistic Director Riccardo Morrison encapsulated the essence of the Solstice Celebration, saying, “Community is the heart of Solstice. It’s about connection, collaboration, and the joy of celebration, which has been an important part of humanity throughout history.”

The Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration promises to be an extraordinary showcase of creativity, community, and joyful revelry, making it an event not to be missed. So, mark your calendars and get ready to witness the magic of this historic 50th anniversary celebration.

For more information and to stay updated, visit the official website of the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration at solsticeparade.com.

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Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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  1. The photo of La Boheme dancers in the previous parade depicts a sentiment very far from the original philosophy of the Summer Solstice celebration. Previously, each participant was required to design and hand-fabricate their costume, and there was no commerciality in the parade at all. These La Boheme dancers are required to pay a lot of money to be in the group, and they buy their costumes online. Photographers sensationalize the group because of their dramatic appearance and presentation and scantily-clad bodies, but this would never have been allowed before.

    • So you chose negativity and complaint versus praise and positivity? Um….ok? So what if they buy their costumes. I have attended every solstice since the mid 80s. Every one of them. I have volunteered time helping create.
      I just blows my mind that you have to generate a gripe like you did. Seems you have an issue with women in beautiful costumes doing very well choreographed dances. I personally know several of them. “previously each participant….” uhm….yeah that was back in the mid 80s thru 90s. It was also refered to as the naked hippie parade back then too.
      Are you old enough to remember Gypsy Boots walking on his hands half way up state street during the parade? Point I am making is that the point you’re making is outdated and happened over 25 years ago. Don’t complain because some people involved buy their elaborate costumes. Things change.

    • I love the Solstice Parade. Then and now. Freedom of expression and beautiful performances by beautiful people in vibrant costumes, scanty or otherwise. My gripe isn’t with the dancers in a certain large group. They are having fun and should be able to. My gripe with this certain large group is that it is run like a corporation. This said group’s main goal is to swallow up publicity along with smaller parade entries until it swallows up the parade in its entirety. That, to me, is definitely not the spirit of Solstice. Sure, it’s just a parade, but it should continue to be the entire community’s parade.

  2. Does anyone know if dogs are allowed in the park and in the kids funtopia? It’s the one weekend I can’t leave him at home. I don’t want to fight the traffic and the parking only to find No Dogs posted all over. Thanks

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