People from around the Bay Area will flock to a stretch of road in Berkeley and Albany this Sunday as the 38th annual Solano Avenue Stroll draws upwards of 250,000 to enjoy 26 blocks of free fun and entertainment.

The merchants, restaurateurs and professionals of Solano Avenue and the cities of Berkeley and Albany have hosted the Solano Stroll since 1974, making it one of the Bay Area’s most venerable block parties. In addition to the offerings of retailers and restaurants doing business on Solano year-round, over 500 other vendors of all types will give attendees a bountiful variety of international food, clothing, jewelry, toys, gift items and more.

Food stands with cuisine from Armenia to China, Italy to Vietnam, Mexican, Mediterranean, Mongolian, French, Indian, barbecue, vegan will be operating throughout the day. Things get started early when the Solano Stroll parade kicks off at 10 a.m. with lines of dancers sporting spectacular costumes make their way down the thoroughfare to the pulsating rhythms and sounds of mambo, samba, salsa and meringue.

The Solano Avenue Stroll is an alcohol and tobacco free event oriented towards a family-friendly atmosphere. A special area set aside just for kids will feature an assortment of state of the art mechanical rides, a Ferris-wheel, carnival games, face painters and magicians. 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 questions.

The Stroll will also have a stage with over a dozen local performance/theater groups in addition to a pet’s area, a school/youth resource area, and a variety of other stages that will be featuring local bands and entertainment to go with the arts-and-crafts show displaying juried work from 150 different creative people.

38th Annual Solano Avenue Stroll
Sunday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free
Solano Avenue in Berkeley and Albany