Colorful floats, dancing, bubbles and elaborate costumes filled Santa Barbara Street on Saturday as the 49^th annual Santa Barbara Solstice Parade rolled through to welcome the summer season.

Thousands of people from all over lined the sidewalks of Santa Barbara Street to watch the floats, dancers, gymnasts, giant puppets, bands and more pass by with their interpretations of this year’s “Roots” theme.

The La Boheme dance group opened the parade with bright orange costumes and peacock feathers, while other groups in the Solstice Parade included World Dance for Humanity, SB Rollers and several others.

View more photos from the parade by clicking through the gallery below.

Local artists have been preparing for the parade during the past few weeks in the Community Arts Workshop, creating the large floats and unique costumes and masks.

“It’s so nice to be part of something that brings such genuine joy,” Clare Carey, who was part of designing La Boheme’s float this year, told Noozhawk earlier in the week. “[We’re] wanting to bring smiles and bring community together.”

Smiles, laughter and dancing definitely spread through the parade performers and spectators Saturday afternoon.

The human-powered parade was pushed and pulled through Santa Barbara Street to Alameda Park, where the celebration and fun continued with the Solstice Festival.

The Solstice Festival continues through 9 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, where there will be a full lineup of music and entertainment offerings, food and merchant vendors, a beer and wine garden for those age 21 and over, and more to celebrate the beginning of summer.