38th Annual Solano Stroll, Albany

From Solano Ave Association:

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!

The fun begins at 10 am with the opening of Solano Avenue businesses and Stroll booths and the kick-off is the theme parade with about 100 groups.

After the parade, you can visit one of 50 entertainers, 50 food booths, 150 juried arts and crafters, state of the art mechanical rides, and 150 community non-profit and government organizations, not to mention the unique and popular professional services, restaurants, and shops already here on Solano Avenue.

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...

The Green Zone on the east side of Solano Avenue will offer 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 -- composting techniques, and environmental experts ready to answer your questions about what you can do to check climate change. We also have the “stage door” with over a dozen local performance/theater groups, a pet’s area, as well as a school/youth resource area.

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.

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 15 to 30 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 the east end of Solano, and by the Sophia Cafe on the west end. Thank you to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and the Albany "Strollers and Rollers" for continuing to provide this wonderful accommodation.

You can also use AC Transit bus numbers #18, #72, or #79. Take BART. We recommend walking from the "El Cerrito Paza", and taking the shuttle from the "North Berkeley" stations.