How Berkeley Can You Be? - Parade History

Photos

How Berkeley Can You Be Parade

see larger image

uploaded by Peter Bodik

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Peter Bodik | add comment

The "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade and Festival began in 1996, and was the brainchild of John Solomon, a longtime University Avenue merchant. John's involvement with the University Avenue Association led him to believe that a major event of University Avenue would send a positive signal about the University Avenue corridor, which at the time was struggling with public safety, empty store fronts, graffiti, and a poor quality of life. John felt that a major event would indeed signal that University Avenue was a place on the rebound, that it was a place to do business, to live, to stroll, and that it was a worthy entrance to the City. He saw it as an opportunity to celebrate community, to leave partisan politics behind, for the citizenry to look in the mirror and laugh.

John has retired from the major responsibility of organizing the festival. Longtime collaborator Karen Hester (www.Hesternet.net) has teamed up with Epic Arts (www.epicarts.org) to organize the event.
Explicit Players - the infamous naked people march into the park
Explicit Players - the infamous naked people march into the park

And so, the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade and Festival now celebrates itself for the Tenth year and has grown into a major event! Over 90 organizations participated in the parade last year, easily over 1000 people, and last year 15,000 people from all over the Bay Area lined the sidewalks and joined in the festivities at Civic Center Park.