Summer Solstice Workshop opens in Santa Barbara

The Summer Solstice Workshop is open to the public and organizers want you to participate in creating the floats and masks people see during the Summer Solstice Parade in Santa Barbara.

“Anybody can come to the workshop,” said artist Claudia Bratton. “I encourage everybody. You don’t have to be able to be a carpenter, you don’t have to be a painter. You can come and learn all sorts of things.”

Organizers say that it is not an all-day commitment and that all ages are invited to participate.

If you participate in the workshop you do not have to participate in the parade, said Bratton.

The 2018 Parade and Festival theme is “Heroes”. According to organizers, the theme was chosen to honor all heroes in the broadest concept of the term.

“We are excited to spread joy and healing after our recent natural disasters and celebrate our local heroes via all of our activities in the workshop, parade, and festival this year,” said Robin Elander, Solstice Executive Director.

The Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Workshop is located at 631 Garden Street, at the corner of Ortega Street. The workshop is open Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. throughout the month of May until June when the Festival starts.

All workshop and parade participants must register. There is a $45 registration fee to help pay for the cost of materials. If you would like to create an individual costume at home for the parade, there is a $15 fee.

The Summer Solstice Festival is Friday, June 22 through Sunday, June 24.

The Summer Solstice Parade is Saturday, June 23 and will start at noon at the intersection of State and Cota and will end at Alameda Park.

The Children’s Parade is Sunday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Alameda Park.

For more information on Santa Barbara’s Solstice Parade and Festival visit SolsticeParade.com

If you would like to make a donation to the Summer Solstice fund, click here.