The June gloom gave way to sun as a multicolor stream of performers and floats made their way down Santa Barbara Street to celebrate the year’s longest day.
The 51st annual Solstice Parade was held on Saturday in Santa Barbara as the city celebrated the second day of the Summer Solstice Celebration.
The three-day event kicked off Friday with a party in Alameda Park.
The parade featured a mix of dancers, singers and handmade floats pushed by volunteers. The floats are made at the Community Arts Workshop on Garden Street and travel down to Alameda Park during the parade.
This year’s theme for the parade was “Wild World,” and artists were encouraged to design floats around that idea. Floats in the parade ranged from aliens to jungle creatures to a performance of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.
Floats and performers were met by crowds of fans who lined the curbs of Santa Barbara Street and cheered for the colorful sights.
Penelope Gottlieb has lived in Santa Barbara for 25 years and always looks forward to the annual event. Gottlieb moved to the area from Santa Ynez and Los Angeles before that.
Gottlieb said she enjoys the music, dancing, and the creative costumes. She also enjoys that the parade includes a range of people from different backgrounds.
“I just like that everyone is here to have a good time. And it’s very democratic, there’s old and young, thin and heavy, and everybody is happy. They’re just here to relax and enjoy the beautiful day,” Gottlieb said.
The event also attracts people from around the world.
Ruben Blas is visiting Santa Barbara for the first time from Spain. He is originally from Madrid and said the event reminded him of the Brazilian festival known as Carnival.
“I (like) the dancing groups in general. There were two or three groups of people with different dancing, some more Brazilian, (some) line dancing. I liked them,” Blas said.
The second day of the celebration continued until 8 p.m. on Saturday in Alameda Park. The final day of the festival will begin at noon and end at 7 p.m. on Sunday in Alameda Park.
The event will include Funtopia, which features games, workshops, live music, and art installations. The celebration will also include food trucks and a beer and wine garden for attendees age 21 or older.
Click here to view the full schedule and list of events.
