Photo Flash: 'Creature'-Themed Summer Solstice Parade at The Granada Theatre

The Summer Solstice Celebration officially welcomed summer in Santa Barbara the weekend of June 21 - 23, and the highlight of the city's celebrations was the Summer Solstice Parade along State Street on Saturday, June 22. Supporters of the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts (SBCPA) Annual Fund were welcomed to "Parades at The Granada Theatre," where approximately 100 guests enjoyed special front-row seating for the "Creature"-themed parade. Scroll down for photos!

"We had such a wonderful time opening our doors so that our generous supporters could enjoy and delight in the fantastical Solstice Parade," shared Craig Springer, the SBCPA's Chrisman Executive Director. "Our 'Parades at The Granada Theatre' are a wonderful opportunity to welcome the community to the theater, and invite new Santa Barbara performing arts audiences to become familiar with and support the SBCPA."

In addition to enjoying the best views of the parade, contributors of any level (be it $5 or $50,000) were welcomed inside the theater for festive sips and bites, and to enjoy a bit of cooling shade. This special treat will again be available to SBCPA supporters for the Fiesta and Downtown Holiday Parades in August and December, respectively. "Parades at The Granada Theatre" begins a new SBCPA tradition that brings families and supporters together to celebrate Santa Barbara culture. Thisfamily-friendly opportunity is part of the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement's goal of building a broader base of support within the community and engaging supporters with the not-for-profit Granada Theatre in a fun, new way.

To learn more about The Granada Theatre's Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, and about "Parades at The Granada Theatre," visit The Granada Theatre's website, www.granadasb.org, or call (805) 899-3000.

Built in 1924, The Granada Theatre has been an integral part of Santa Barbara's arts and entertainment landscape for almost 90 years. The Granada Theatre has played host to some of the 20th century's greatest entertainers, from Al Jolson, Charlie Chaplin, and Fred Astaire to Henry Fonda, Yo Yo Ma, Steve Martin and the Berlin Philharmonic, to name a few. Re-opened in 2008, under the auspices of the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts, The Granada Theatre re-emerged as a state of the art home for many of Santa Barbara's greatest artistic treasures and a place whose existence makes it possible for the highest levels of artistic expression to take place in Santa Barbara. 2013 Winner of TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence, the theater is a historical icon that speaks to the central role live performing arts play in defining the communal life of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast region. Under the direction of Chrisman Executive Director, Dr. Craig Springer, a skilled arts administrator with more than 30 years experience, The Granada Theatre annually hosts more than 100 performances and community events.