Summer Solstice Celebration (Santa Barbara, CA)

   Summer is finally here! Solstice is that time of the year where the sun is at it's highest point. In the Northern Hemisphere it happens June 20, in the Southern Hemisphere this date falls on about December 21. It is a celebration of life, love and the healing power of the sun. This is the largest art event in the Santa Barbara County area and draws over 100,000 visitors to the town of Santa Barbara-- all in one day. It began it's humble beginnings in 1974 as a birthday celebration for a well known mime and artist by the name of Micheal Gonzales. In honor of him, these festivities have continued to grow over 35 years later.

   This year, the opportunity presented itself to be a part of this fresh experience. Southern Californians truly know how to put on a fun show and have a fantastic time doing it. This feeling is swiftly passed on to everyone around them and, before you know it- you have an entire local community hopping to the beats of summer. The atmosphere in Santa Barbara was quite wild, with a massively colorful parade boasting themes from 'Alice in Wounderland' to traveling Gypsies and, well, Elvis showed up too. The various bands and Salsa dancers were perfectly choreographed, not only in audio but also in either step or elaborate dance as they made their way up State Street. The show all ends at Alameda Park with live music on two stages, food, fun activities for the children and a large beer-garden (that ran out of brew nearly an hour before closing.) With all the dancing, laughter, colors and sunshine, absolutely nothing could go amiss. If these festivities mark the beginning of summer, then it would seem 2010 has a pretty hot one ahead!