What to Know Before You Go
Festival
The Solstice festival will be at Alameda Park located at 1400 Santa Barbara St and open to the public Friday, June 21, 4pm - 9pm and Saturday, June 22nd from 12pm -8 pm, and Sunday, June 23rd from Noon to 6 pm. The Children's Festival is Saturday and Sunday only noon to 6 pm. For additional information on the festival click here.
Parade Route
The parade will begin at noon and will travel Santa Barbara Street from Ortega Street to Sola Street and end at Alameda Park at the Solstice Festival around 1:30 pm. Floats will be on display on Sola Street until 4pm.
Parade Day Registration
Parade registration will take place from 9 am to 12 pm at the Community Arts Workshop 631 Garden Street (Corner of Ortega and Garden Street) on parade day. Advance registration is recommended, but not required.You can register your group or yourself as an individual on parade day. You must have a valid wristband that shows proof of registration to participate in the parade. Wrist bands can be picked up at the work shop in advance or at the registration desk on parade day. Click here for more information or to register online. Questions about parade registration and participation can be directed to registrar@solsticeparade.com
Face painting is available at the workshop on parade day from 9am - 12pm. Plan to arrive early.
Parade Viewing
Chairs and blankets can go out along the parade route after 6 pm on Friday, June 21, but no earlier. Please keep all chairs and blankets on the sidewalks, not in the street. Portable toilets and trash receptacles will be available along the parade route on parade day.
COVID 19
In accordance with current local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements for Summer Solstice 2024 parade participants, spectators or festival attendees.
There is an inherent and elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place or place where people are present and there is no guarantee, express or implied, that those attending or participating in the parade and/or festival will not be exposed to COVID-19. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead, in some cases, to severe illness and death. Older adults and people of all ages with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk of death or severe illness from COVID-19 and should carefully evaluate their risk in determining whether to attend or participate in the parade and/or festival.
Street Closures
Partial road closures around the Summer Solstice workshop (631 Garden Street) will begin around 7:00 a.m. Ortega Street from Garden Street to Anacapa Street will be closed to vehicles for parade staging from 7 am to 2 pm.
Complete street closures of the nine blocks of Santa Barbara Street (between East Cota & East Micheltorena Street), as well as east/west cross traffic for those nine blocks, will be diverted either onto Anacapa Street or Garden Street between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (estimated conclusion of the event). Santa Barbara Street will not be accessible to vehicles during this time.
Temporary no parking along the parade route (Santa Barbara Street and other adjoining cross streets) will be enforced. Vehicles parked within the no parking zone during the posted no parking times could be issued a citation and/or towed. No parking signs have been posted on the impacted streets.
Expect traffic delays in this area during that time. Please plan accordingly to accommodate for this event.
Parking
Street parking is available on side streets and in residential areas not along the parade route. Do not double-park or park in driveways, on neutral grounds (medians), in front of water hydrants, or your car may get towed and/or you may receive a fine.
Parking can be found in city lots shown as green numbered dots on the map.
Real time availability of parking can be found at this link: https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/pw/dtp/pmap.asp?utm_source=PublicWorks&utm_medium=realtimeparking&utm_campaign=QuickLinks
Safety
If you have children with you, take a group selfie before heading out. In the event that anyone gets separated, you’ll have an up-to-date photo of the missing person and what they are wearing.
Have a meeting place. Make sure everyone knows where to meet in case anyone gets lost. Don't rely on mobile devices since service is not always guaranteed in large crowds.
Instruct your children to go to a police officer if they become lost.
Carry valuables (I.D., keys, cash, etc.) in your front pocket or in a fanny pack.
Dress comfortably for hot weather, remember sunscreen and hats.
Drink healthy fluids or water to avoid dehydration.
If you or someone in your group is in need of non-life threatening medical attention, go to the medical tent near the center of the park. There will be a large MEDICAL sign on the tent. In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1, Non Emergency Dispatch (police) 805-882-8900.
“If You See Something, Say Something!” Report suspicious activities and packages to parade monitors, in Lime Green Solstice T-Shirts, or police along the parade route.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy the celebration!
Pass the Hat
It takes a community to make the summer solstice celebration possible each year, and especially this year after returning from a two year hiatus. Consider making a donation to the Pass the Hat float during the parade, via the QR code along the route or online at the link below to support the Summer Solstice Celebration, a nonprofit organization that brings community together and the parade to you each year https://www.solsticeparade.com/donate
