| |
| |
 |
 |
P.E.T.A. - sorry,
it's not People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
it's People Eatin them Animals!
|
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 and longtime collaborator Karen Hester (www.Hesternet.net)
have retired from the major responsibility of organizing the
parade and festival. The torch has now been passed to Epic
Arts (www.epicarts.org)!
And so, the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade and
Festival now celebrates itself for the Thirteenth year and has
grown into a major event! Over 90 organizations participated
in the parade last year, easily over 1000 people, and last
year over 15,000 people from all over the Bay Area and beyond lined
the sidewalks and joined in the festivities at Civic Center
Park.
|
|
