SUMMER SOLSTICE 2026 PARADE & FESTIVAL
Check out Photos!
Photo by Ron Shattil
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MAKES THE SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION POSSIBLE!
From the bottom of our hearts—THANK YOU!
To the City of Santa Barbara and its dedicated employees, our incredible So
lstice staff, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, generous sponsors, local businesses, artists, Artists-in-Residence, volunteers, performers, musicians, parade participants, festival vendors, media partners, donors, and the thousands of joyful spectators who lined the streets and filled Alameda Park...
You are Solstice.
Thank you for making this year's Summer Solstice Celebration such a joyful, colorful, vibrant, and unforgettable experience. Every costume sewn, every puppet built, every float imagined, every volunteer shift, every sponsorship, every performance, every donation, every behind-the-scenes task, every cheer along the Parade route, and every smiling face helped create the magic.
For more than five decades, the Summer Solstice Celebration has brought our community together through the arts. It reminds us that creativity has the power to connect us, inspire us, and celebrate what makes Santa Barbara such a remarkable place to call home.
Whether you spent months building an ensemble in the Workshop, donated your time and talents, helped keep everyone safe, supported a local artist, shared our story, or simply came to celebrate with family and friends—you played an important part in making this year's Celebration possible.
Because of you, tens of thousands of people experienced moments of wonder, laughter, connection, and pure joy.
Thank you for believing in the arts. Thank you for believing in community. Thank you for believing in Solstice.
This free community celebration exists because of people like you. Your generosity, enthusiasm, creativity, and support keep the spirit of Solstice alive and ensure that future generations can continue to experience this extraordinary tradition.
We can't wait to dream, build, dance, laugh, create, and celebrate with you again next year!
With gratitude and love,
The Summer Solstice Celebration Team
The Summer Solstice Celebration is free for everyone because of the generosity of people like you. Every gift—large or small—helps us build giant puppets, inspire artists, support young creators young and old, bringing our community together through the arts.
The Parade may be over, but the WAVE continues.
If the Parade and Festival brought a smile to your face, please consider making a gift today. Keep the WAVE going!
Make a donation today and support the year-round programs that inspire artists, build community, and keep this extraordinary community tradition alive.
Become a Member
Join the Heart of Santa Barbara!
Isn’t it time you joined us in sustaining this one-of-a-kind celebration of the arts — a joyful tradition that brings our community together, fuels our local economy, and keeps Santa Barbara’s creative spirit shining?
Solstice is more than a parade — it’s connection, creativity, and community in motion. We are the heart of Santa Barbara — where art and joy come alive!
When you become a Solstice Member, your easy monthly contribution includes your parade registration and helps others experience the magic of participation.
Together, we keep the drums beating, the artists creating, and the celebration thriving for generations to come.
Join today and keep the spirit of Solstice alive for everyone.!
"Bringing the Community together through the arts"
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