Meridian Barriers
Meridian barriers are used to protect vendors and guests from vehicles driving into the event. They cost over $100,000.00 to deploy, and are mandated by the Cities of Albany and Berkeley. Eventually, maybe event this year, the Cities are going to pass-along this cost to us, making the economics of producing a FREE street festival, problematic.
More text to come as we navigate this new bump in the road. Or, barrier.
4/17/2026, For the 2026 Stroll:
The City of Albany has paid their portion of the barriers ($40,000.00). Albany has also covered $60,000.00 in in-kind services! Thank you to the current Albany City Council.
The City of Berkeley is experiencing a budget deficit and may not be able to pay their $50,000.00 portion. The Berkeley City Council also [needs] to approve an additional $150,000.00 in in-kind services. Stay tuned.
Vendor instructions are below.
Day-of Instructions For Accessing Solano Avenue
Click here for general vendor instructions for day-of-event set up
Vendor and guest safety is one of our main priorities at the Stroll. As such, we coordinate with the city police departments to establish effective measures to increase the security and safety of attendees. One of these measures includes the deployment of meridian barriers at each intersection throughout Solano Avenue, blocking traffic from entering the street. Placement of barriers is scheduled to begin at 7am on the day of the Stroll — but may begin earlier. Plan to access the street for set up from the locations listed below.
Vendor Instructions: Accessing the Street for Set Up
ENTER Solano Avenue beginning at 7:00 am
All set up vehicles must EXIT by 9:15 am. After set up, all vehicles must park legally — parking is not permitted in the space behind the barriers.
There is a 5 M.P.H. speed limit in effect, please drive carefully!
These six intersections will be open for vendors to enter and exit:
Colusa, south, from Marin
(ENTER HERE, Berkeley)
1820 Solano Avenue, Berkeley
Tulare, south, from Marin
(EXIT HERE, Berkeley)
1700 Solano Avenue, Berkeley
Santa Fe, south, from Marin
1484 Solano Avenue, Albany
Masonic, south, from Marin
1251 Solano Avenue, Albany
Masonic, north from Washington
1251 Solano Avenue, Albany
Masonic, south, from Marin
1254 Solano Avenue, Albany
Cornell, south, from Marin
1200 Solano Avenue, Albany
Vendor Instructions: Exiting the Street After Break Down
The Solano Avenue Stroll ends at 5:00pm. At that time, all booth activity must conclude and you must begin breaking down your booth.
Once the street is clear of pedestrians (!), the Police Departments will begin opening up streets starting with the controlled intersections above first, then the rest of the side-streets. You can anticipate this process beginning about 5:30
Vendors must have their booths broken-down and be off the street by 6:30 pm.
If you have a complicated booth that cannot be packed up in that time, it is OK to move your items onto the sidewalk to finish packing — the STREET must be CLEAR by 6:30 when it is reopened to traffic.
Feel free to call the SAA at 510-527-5358, thank you!
Continue to vendor instructions for general day-of-event set up