26 blocks of free fun!
& We'll be there!
Since 1974, The Merchants, Restaurants, and Professionals, as well as the twin cities of Albany and Berkeley CA, have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Merchants Association invites you to come and see what makes Solano Avenue such a wonderful place.
Over five hundred vendors, non-profit organizations, food booths and entertainers!
Participants and the event guests visit from everywhere throughout California; as well as neighboring states from Nevada to Maine.
The fun begins at 8 a.m. with the traditional pancake breakfast at Veterans' Memorial Park in Albany brought to you by the Berkeley Lions Club. Then, the opening of Solano Avenue businesses and Stroll booths at 10AM. But the real kickoff is the theme parade with about 100 groups at 10AM.
After the parade, you can visit one of 75 entertainers, 50 food booths, 120 juried arts and crafters, games, wacky art cars, and 150 community organizations, not to mention the unique and popular shops already here on Solano Avenue.
You will hear the best in local music, dance and other performances and absolutely stunning costumes from all over the globe!
This is a family event! We feature a special area set aside just for kids that offer giant slides, carnival games, clowns, jugglers, stilt walkers, face painters, magicians, and maybe even wizards and elves -- come and see for yourselves...
Stop by the "Green Zone" on the east end of Solano Avenue where you can find tips about simple changes you can make at your home or business to reduce global warming, displays of green technology -- such as solar panels, tank-less water heaters and current composting techniques, and environmental experts ready to answer your questions about what you can do to check climate change.
Come join us for an afternoon in the sun, brought to you by the Cities of Albany and Berkeley; and with the help of our generous sponsors, SAA members, and volunteer board of directors.
Solano Stroll Parade
This alcohol and *tobacco free event promotes the unique traits of Solano Avenue, helping local businesses, local artists, and community organizations to thrive by exposure and fundraising. The Solano Stroll solidifies community spirit; neighbors find old friends, and families enjoy an afternoon in the sun. (* Both the Cities of Albany and Berkeley have strict [outdoor] smoking ordinances.)
Free shuttles run 10AM-7PM from the North Berkeley BART station to Marin Avenue which runs parallel, one block South of Solano Avenue. The shuttle runs up and down Marin and stops at the intersections with stoplights (until San Pablo Avenue). Wait times average from 20 to 40 minutes. Shuttles are wheelchair accessible and are provided courtesy of our event sponsors. Please support them.
Ride your bike and enjoy free valet parking at two locations on Solano Avenue, Wells Fargo Bank on upper Solano, and by Sophia's Cafe on lower Solano Avenue. Thank you to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and the Albany Strollers & Rollers for continuing to provide this wonderful accommodation.
Vehicles with disabled parking (blue) plates/placards can park at Solano and The Alameda. (Here's a link to a Google map of Solano Ave At The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707)
You can also use AC Transit bus numbers #18, #72, or #79.
