With its 49th year, the Solano Avenue Stroll celebrates an event that has proved enduringly popular and resilient. The Stroll, organized in 1974 as a “thank-you party for customers by the Thousand Oaks Business and Professional Association,” according to the event history page, survived a raucous era, the two-year Covid shutdown and leadership changes, emerging as one of the East Bay’s favorite community shindigs.
At its inception, the Stroll “took place on the very west end of Solano Avenue in Berkeley as a sidewalk sale on a Friday evening.” Today, more than 100,000 participants and visitors saunter part or all the way up and down Solano, from Albany to Berkeley or vice versa, each year on the second Sunday in September.
This year, on Sept. 14, the day will kick off with an opening ceremony including 2025 Grand Marshal Frederika Adam of Albany Sauna & Hot Tubs, and proceed with seven hours of booths, music, other performances and general conviviality.
“Absolutely,” said Stroll Executive Director and Events Producer Allen Cain, when asked if the festival was fully back after being canceled during 2020-21. “Covid taught people to be thankful [to see it back] when other, similar events did not return.”
Years ago, alcohol sales were banned from the Stroll, which is now fully family friendly. New this year, said Cain, is a wrestling ring at the Berkeley end, all-new bands that have never played the event, and a battery-powered train that can carry both adults and kids short distances. It’s also rumored that Star Wars storm troopers may be on hand.
“I encourage people to take BART [to the North Berkeley station] and use the shuttle. There will be Stroll schedules aboard … and they will be walking downhill,” Cain said.
There is also “Blue Badge” parking for wheelchair users at Solano Avenue and the Alameda and at Colusa Avenue, and free valet bicycle parking next to 1275 Solano Ave.
Cain saluted the many nonprofits that have participated for years. “We are blessed with the nonprofits,” he said. “You can shop for a preschool, sign up for a library card, learn how to adopt a pet,” and much more.
Among the many entertainment events, here are some fun, random picks:
- All Day: Big Bubble People, Karaoke by Mel-o-dee Cocktails (space 1274), Kenny the Clown
- 11am & 1pm: Failure to Disperse Acoustic Revolt Roadshow (space 1525)
- Noon & 2pm: Berkeley Morris dancers (space 1395)
- 1pm & 3pm: Big Sticky Mess funk band (space 1850)
- 2pm & 4pm: Lars and in Charge Balkan/Turkish Roman music (space 1820)
- 1pm & 3pm: Oakland Taiko drumming (space 1451)
- 2pm & 4pm: Groove Objective interactive dance and R&B (space 1451)
And, of course, food, while sampling and sipping. Random picks:
Cactus Taqueria (space 1881), Gourmet Faire (space 1650), Kingsley Eats (space 1481), Peace Natural Vegan Foods (space 1603), Starter Bakery (1181), The French Cookie Guys (space 1637) and Xocolate Bar (space 1709).
It’s never too soon to shop for the holidays. Random picks: A&E Craftspace (space 1685), Berkeley Humane Thrift Shop (space 1120), Casa of Arts (space 1615), Notorious Arts & Crafts (space 1500) and Stilblum Ceramics (space 1612).
The Stroll has been tracking visitors for years. Cain jokingly said, “in the pre-technology days, [we used] teenagers doing zip code surveys.” Today, the tracking is more sophisticated, but the data remains much the same: The Stroll generally attracts a very local crowd. However, Cain said, advertising and marketing also reaches out to West Contra Costa County.
Asked for a favorite Stroll story, he recounted the time in 1996 when Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody guested at the event. The Howdy Doody Show ran from 1947-1960. Its iconic opening—with Buffalo Bob asking, “Hey kids, what time is it?” and the audience enthusiastically responding, “It’s Howdy Doody Time!”—was a childhood memory for many.
Buffalo Bob and his puppet sidekick were feted and treated as VIPs, and strollers loved them, Cain said.
The Solano Stroll’s importance to the Albany/Berkeley community has been recognized nationally.
“In the year 2000,” the history page states, “the Solano Avenue Stroll became an official ‘Local Legacy,’ installed into the United States Library of Congress with the help of Congresswoman Barbara Lee. The Solano Avenue Stroll ‘celebrates America’s rich diverse culture.’”
Solano Avenue Stroll, 10am to 5pm, Sept. 14. For more info, visit solanoavenueassn.org/events/solano-avenue-stroll.
