Anonymous
Photo: Fritz Olenberger
Source: Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration
To protect the health of our community due to the current public health emergency, the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration has decided to go virtual with our annual Solstice community workshop and 3-day festival at Alameda Park. While we are certainly heartbroken to make this announcement, we feel it is in the best interest and welfare of our community.
We are, however, committed to keeping the Solstice spirit alive and thriving. We are in the process of planning a plethora of free and donation-based online classes and gatherings in May and June and possibly beyond. We invite the community to apply to join us in hosting these online offerings. Artists, performers, costumers, musicians, storytellers, dancers and creative makers, we invite you to share your creative Solstice spirit with our community.
These classes, gatherings and virtual concerts will open up many opportunities for artists, organizations and people, from around the world and will offer Solstice and our community new creative connections that we believe will enhance our parade, community and organization for many years to come.
“The schedule of activities is set to be announced the first week of May,” said Robin Elander, Executive Director of Summer Solstice Celebration.
“We know you hold the Solstice Parade near and dear to your hearts. Our team is exploring alternative dates to host a parade later this year, in lieu of our Summer Solstice Parade previously scheduled for June 20th, should conditions allow. We will keep you posted!” said Summer Solstice Celebration board member, Stacie Bouffard.
Summer Solstice Celebration is also happy to announce a partnership with the UCSB Museum of Art, Architecture and Design for an online Solstice “parade of history,” to showcase a sampling of the organization’s 45-year history started by Michael Gonzalez in 1974.
We can’t wait to see you at one of our online workshop gatherings,” said Artistic Director, Riccardo Morrison. We will make the best of this challenging situation, have some fun and make new connections in the process!”
For more information on Summer Solstice Celebration’s modified plans and how you can participate see the below opportunities, email soladmin@solsticeparade.com or visit www.solsticeparade.com.
Opportunities for Participation
In 2 months there will be a public health emergency? Time travelers??!!
a little premature
Too many people at Solstice. We need to take baby steps to get back to our new normal safely.
Solstice and Fiesta has never been a priority in my life ever. My mom (from Mexico) hated Fiesta as much as I did when I was kid. Too boring, both events. (Yawn)
So organizers are looking for alternative dates. (Bury the lede paragraph 5) Health and welfare permitting, people still may pull off their own people parade for the actual Solstice.
this just flat out sucks! i have been a part of this event since I was 19. Every year. Virtual solstice and online??? this is the day we are NOT supposed to be online, but outside enjoying summer. This is another stupid knee jerk reaction. They are opening things up in May. So why blow one of our massive annual events almost 2 months later? So we are going to continue to cancel our lives and fear monger ourselves back inside and back online? I want off of this planet…
Probably a lot of locals that won’t cry about Solstice or Fiesta (most likely) getting cancelled.
FREDERICK – not sure that’s true. Solstice and even Fiesta means a lot to most of us.