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Santa Barbara's Summer Solstice Parade Celebrates 45th Anniversary; 100,000 Expected Saturday

In a complex of buildings off of Garden Street in downtown Santa Barbara, a small army of volunteers is working to make art and whimsy come together for a one of a kind parade. Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Parade will celebrate its 45th anniversary Saturday.

It’s a little contemporary art, a little Mardi Gras, a touch of Disney, and a lot of imagination all wrapped up in one. Picture everything from a giant dragon to a group of dozens of dancing flowers moving down the street, and you get the idea.

At the workshop, some people are working on huge floats, while other people acre creating costumes.  With about a thousand people expected to take part in the parade, and 100,000 watching, everyone takes away something different from the whimsical floats, groups, and costumes.

Most of the people taking part in the parade are volunteers, supported by a handful of professional artists. People can still get into the parade if they have an idea, or want to volunteer to help with one of the groups.

The parade begins at noon Saturday at State and Cota Streets, and heads through downtown Santa Barbara, where it ends in Alameda Park.

The park is home to the three day long Summer Solstice celebration, which is Friday through Sunday, with entertainment, food, and activities. Because Solstice is celebrating its 45th anniversary, there’s a special look at it online.  Here's the link:  https://tinyurl.com/y5ya9wgx

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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