SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

Santa Barbara Solstice Celebration

Bringing the Community Together Through the Arts

2026 Theme: “WAVE”

2026 Summer Solstice Parade June 20 & Festival June 19-21, 2026

Let it Glow WINTER SOLSTICE!

Santa Barbara Solstice Celebration lit up the longest night of the year on Saturday, December 20, as hundreds of glowing revelers gathered for our second annual Let It Glow Lighted Costume Street Party. Community members joined Solstice, the Brasscals, Fishbon, and friends for an evening of music, movement, and illumination along State Street

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POSTER ART CONTEST

Each year, Solstice reaches out to the local art community for poster design submissions. Artists are encouraged to keep in mind this year’s theme: “WAVE” and the joyful, colorful vibe or our celebration. Artwork must be ready to hang. Submission deadline is March 1, 2026.

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BIGGEST Little Elephant Parade

Solstice is currently seeking individuals, organizations, and businesses to participate as artists or event partners. Event partners can make a tax-deductible donation to sponsor artists in this hands-on community art project—distributing Art Box kits (complete with a mini-elephant sculpture, paints, brushes, and palette) to colleagues, friends, neighbors, and local heroes.

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Latest Updates

CREATIVITY MATTERS!

  • Solstice First Thursday POSTER ARTS CONTEST at DSBIA Headquarters March 5th

    Solstice First Thursday POSTER ARTS CONTEST at DSBIA Headquarters March 5th

    Join us FIRST THURSDAY March 5, 5-8 PM for our annual Solstice Poster Artists Reception:Visit the new HQ for the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) 419 State Street Artists in the Community submit their ready to hang art work for this showing of 2026 Solstice Poster Contest entries. Artist must bring their ready to hang…

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  • WINTER SOLSTICE “Let it Glow” Lights up State Street

    WINTER SOLSTICE “Let it Glow” Lights up State Street

    Santa Barbara Solstice Celebration lit up the longest night of the year on Saturday, December 20, as hundreds of glowing revelers gathered for our second annual Let It Glow Lighted Costume Street Party. Community members joined Solstice, the Brasscals, Fishbon, and friends for an evening of music, movement, and illumination along State Street ​…

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  • Welcome to This Moment!

    Welcome to This Moment!

    It’s a new year and here we go again, starting all over again to produce our annual Parade and Festival!  Where does it begin?   It begins the moment the Festival closes in June, tying up all those ends, and beginning again. Our current campaigns include the invitation to  artists for their submissions for our…

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Our Mission & Values

Solstice is a small non-profit devoted to promoting hands-on community participation in the arts. We produce a HUGE a three day free festival and parade, a two-month workshop – where we invite the public to join our team of artists, production specialists and makers to create the people-powered, people-created parade, largely out of recycled and repurposed materials.

ENGAGE! GET INVOLVED! SUPPORT COMMUNITY ARTS!

Join us in sustaining this unique celebration of the arts, a tradition that brings our community together, drives our local economy and keeps Santa Barbara’s creative spirit thriving!   Solstice is more than just a parade.  It’s community, connection, creativity and more!

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