Patricia Bragg at Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Festival
Dr. Patricia Bragg loves the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Festival! From the colorful costumes in the parades to the fantastic festival celebration held in Alameda Park, art and creativity abounds as Santa Barbara’s citizens gather to celebrate the peak of Summer! As always, Dr. Bragg was in attendance to enjoy the sights, sounds, and souls at play. After a quick trip to Goleta gem, Isla Vista Food Co-Operative, Patricia was ready to enjoy a beautiful parade!
Patricia ‘s Summer Solstice Pre-Parade Tradition:
Picking up healthful snacks at Isla Vista Co-Op!
Beautiful Mural of Happy Students!
Patricia supports reading –
loves Little Free Library Boxes!
This Little Free Library is
Dedicated to Arthur Kennedy
History of Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Festival:
The Summer Solstice Parade began in 1974, as a birthday celebration for a popular artist and mime named Michael Gonzales. In subsequent years, their parade joined forces with a Summer Solstice Music Festival coordinated by Michael Felcher, sponsored by The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, staged at the Sunken Gardens to celebrate the longest day of year.
The Parade and Festival is the largest arts event in Santa Barbara County, drawing crowds of over 100,000 spectators from around the world. From these humble beginnings arose a celebration of life which, is like no other.
Today, the Summer Solstice Celebration has evolved into creative and original display of floats, giant puppets, whimsical costumes and masks of more than 1,000 parade participants, of all ethnic and economic backgrounds. There is dancing, music, drumming and drama that enthralls the spectators. Each year there is an annual artistic competition for the Solstice T-shirt and Poster design that is sold as a fundraising vehicle for the event.
The Festival in Alameda Park grew from the earlier gatherings at the sunken gardens of the County Courthouse. When the number of people outgrew the size of the courthouse the event was moved to Alameda Park. The Alameda Park is where everyone can enjoy a wonderful eclectic collection of live world music including famous local groups, food, arts and crafts. On Saturday only is a special free children’s festival and a DJ area for dancing and enjoying techno music and a large drum circle keeps the beat going all afternoon. The festival now opens on Friday afternoon, which is like the “evening events of years past.” It’s a special evening, showcasing local talents with music, dance, performances. Some of the parade ensembles are featured as well as all of the food booths, arts and crafts vendors. As a 501(c)3, nonprofit, community organization, the Summer Solstice Celebration group is responsible for carrying on Michael’s delightful, multicultural performing arts celebration, and ensuring an extravagant celebration of life through art for many years to come.
Click here to visit www.solsticeparade.com and learn more about this event!
This year’s theme: Space!
Getting Ready…
Pretty Flowers for the Parade!
Dr. Patricia Bragg Enjoyed this Great Parade!
Lovely Dancers in White: Angels!
Colorful paraders accompanying Angels!
Patricia and lovely parade girls!
Dr. Bragg and her friend, who very tall: 6’10!
Fun float with Head-dress Princesses!
A Purple Spaceship!
Dr. Bragg with Intergalactic Bumblebee
Wacky Spaceship!
What a costume – Green Alien
The Solar System Rolls By…
Complete with Star War’s Characters!
A Classic Alien
Here are NASA scientists, Astronauts & Aliens!
The Solar System and fun space-character
A Martian Terrain…
Sweet young girls bringing Outer-Space cheer!
Intergalactic Music
Lovely Brazilian Dancers give a Space Show!
Glamorous Space Woman!
March of the Aliens
A Space Ship to Soar In!
Spooky Alien Throne
A Mayan Interpretation of an Alien?
Great float – the arms MOVED!
All Eyes on YOU!
The Festival is reminiscent of Carneval!