Solano Avenue is a local treasure with the charm of a small town and an unmatched array of restaurants and retail establishments – including professional and personal services.
- Where else can you find a larger collection of independently-owned enterprises?
- Where else can you find such a dynamic range of services and get so many things done in one area?
- Where else can you find a more culturally rich group of businesses with owners from all over the map?
Before you rush-off to the mall on Black Friday, or Amazon on Cyber Monday (or ever, really) think of Solano Avenue first. Please.
We may not have the glitz of a shopping center, but we have the lasting spirit of “small business” and that counts for double.
Thank you for your continuing support of Solano Avenue.
Happy Holidays – Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa; Mawlid el-Nabi; Advent, Solstice, and Merry Christmas!
The Solano Avenue district is standing-by to serve you throughout (and after) this winter season.
Santa on Solano 2024
First three weekends in December:
- 12/7 & 12/8
- 12/14 & 12/15
- 12/21 & 12/22
Saturdays and Sundays
Noon – 3:00 pm
District Homes
1758 Solano Avenue
(across from Starbucks)
(See also, WINTER on Solano 12/8/2024)
The Solano Avenue Association presents Santa on Solano. The only FREE photo opportunity with Saint Nicholas in the region. Bring your own camera and take as many photos as you like. Santa is pet friendly unlike the malls (no fleas though, please).
2024 program sponsored by District Homes
We do not host vendors for this program.
Santa on Solano 2024 Poster (PDF)
Ways to keep it local for the season:
Gift Cards
Stuff a few Solano Avenue Gift Cards in their stockings or slip a few in an envelope, seal it with a kiss and off you go!
2024 Entertainers on-Solano
(!) Rain may affect schedule
- 12/15 (SUN) 12:30 pm Holiday X-tet
xxxx Solano (location to be announced)
12/8 (SUN) Entertainers @ Stroll-ish, WINTER
Solano Avenue Coloring Book:
2024 2023
2022 2021 2020 2019
2018 2017 2016 2015
Winter Décor / Lighting and Solano Avenue.
Top three reasons why other districts (like Fourth Street) have such an impressive array for the winter season:
1. Money: our peers spend upwards of $50 – $75,000.00 dollars for their displays. We have been unsuccessful collecting these funds in the past. Alternatives for these funds could be year-round graffiti removal, sidewalk maintenance and improved, safer street lighting.
2. Logistics: we have approximately 85 usable poles for decoration. NONE of the have electricity; once a property owner agrees, electricity has to be “daisy-chained” for a maximum of three poles before another electricity source has to be found. Past challenges include property owner permission, extending across long driveways, roofs that do not have electricity (for signage) and much more.
3. Solano Avenue is one mile long. 4th Street, as an example, is five blocks.
The Cities of Albany and the Berkeley BID currently spend $12,000 a year on winter décor.
