Summer Solstice Celebration Awarded Grant from Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts

Theatrical street theater is a big part of the Solstice Parade. Above: Waitresses from Claudia Bratton’s "Space Diner" are part of an entourage of aliens.

The Summer Solstice Celebration has been awarded a grant from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, providing significant support for the organization’s Artists-in-Residence program, the expansion of its Junior Artist Program, and the continued evolution of the Pass the Hat Ensemble.

The Junior Artist Program Honors Legacy and Marks Leadership Transition


The Junior Artist Program was established in 2000 by former Summer Solstice Executive Director Claudia Bratton, who led the organization from 1999 to 2015 and has continued to coordinate the youth program ever since. Bratton, who retires this year, created the initiative to mentor emerging artists and foster the next generation of Solstice creators.

The program’s inspiration and namesake, Jethro Davis (1980–2001), served as the first Junior Artist in Residence from 1994 to 1999. Although the role was largely unpaid, it carried the full creative responsibilities of an adult artist — responsibilities Davis embraced with enthusiasm, talent, and leadership. He designed and built five major parade pieces and introduced dozens of friends to Summer Solstice and the Santa Barbara arts community. Patrick Davis, Jethro’s father, and former Arts Commissioner and current Board Member of Summer Solstice Celebration,

 “He was lovingly raised by the public arts community, mentored by its masters and supported by the magic of its generous spirit.  His passionate, creative, and adventuresome presence is inseparably linked with this remarkable community arts celebration.” 

Davis’s inventive, community-minded approach mirrored the core spirit of Summer Solstice, helped establish the place of emerging artists within the Celebration, a legacy that continues to guide the Junior Artist Program today.

A New Chapter for the Pass the Hat Ensemble

The Pass the Hat Ensemble, a long-standing Solstice tradition, has historically featured prominent local personalities — including the Mayor and City Council Members — who engaged with spectators in playful, community-driven fundraising along the parade route.In 2025, Artist-in-Residence Mae Logan introduced whimsical animal puppets with articulated mouths, turning traditional collection baskets into lively, roaming characters. Building on that success, Solstice is developing more theatrical, interactive approaches to this beloved ensemble.

The Towbes grant will enable the Artists-in-Residence team to expand on this innovation, creating more dynamic visual elements, heightened theatrical interactions, and fresh opportunities to spark generosity and delight throughout the Parade.

These artistic developments arrive as the organization prepares for its 2026 celebration with this year’s parade theme: “WAVE.”

The Summer Solstice Celebration expresses deep gratitude to the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts for its continued investment in local artists, youth development, and the future of community arts.