Countdown is On: Santa Barbara Solstice Parade & Festival is Almost Here
Patricia Martellotti
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A mask, a lion, a squid, oh my!
The clock is ticking for artists at the Solstice Workshop in Santa Barbara.
“Oh my gosh, we got a week to go and I’m nowhere near ready,” said artist EJ Huerta of the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival.
The countdown to Santa Barbara County’s largest art event, the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival is on.
“Everybody gets in a panic over getting their stuff ready for the last day,” said artist Jim Sun Bear of the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival. “That’s the tree of life … it’ll have Tarzan and Jane on it. Jane‘s already on the swing.”
The Solstice team says the parade is more than just a bunch floats.
Its an entire performance put on by artists.
“We have about 18 to 20 floats but we have maybe 24 to 25 what I call images meaning there could be the World Dance for humanity for example but it doesn’t have a float but they’re like a big image,” said artistic director Ricardo Morrison of the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival.
The event is projected to draw thousands of excited spectators.
Some are more excited than others.
“I’m sitting at a freaking desk all morning doing all the things that I have to do … as an admin person you know … that’s how I get excited … I think about all the cool stuff that happens,” said executive director Penny Little of the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival.
“So you shake them and they fall down and then we have a bit where it’s interactive theater if we can pull this off,” said artist Jonathan Smith of the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade and Festival.
If they can pull this off, it will have to be soon.
The 51st Summer Solstice Celebration will take place June 20th – 22nd in Santa Barbara, California.
The celebration will start at Alameda Park on Friday, June 20th, at 4:00 p.m., with the Opening Ceremony from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The festivities will include music from local bands, food, beverages, dancing, and vendors to celebrate the longest day of the year.
The parade will happen on Saturday June 21st, at 12:00 p.m., at the intersection of Santa Barbara and Ortega Streets.
The parade will travel to Santa Barbara Street ending at the Summer Solstice Festival at Alameda Park on Sola Street.
The festival is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit: https://www.solsticeparade.com/.
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