GOINGS ON SANTA BARBARA : Art Outsiders : Frances Puccinelli’s Carpinteria gallery will show ‘raw expressions’ of 15 artists.

For the second year in a row, Frances Puccinelli is bringing an exhibit of “Outsider” art to her Carpinteria gallery.

Beginning Tuesday, she will feature the work of 13 artists from rural areas of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina, and another two from the Santa Ynez Valley.

What is outsider art? “It’s a raw expression of the artists,” Puccinelli said. “Outsider artists are untrained artists. For some, it’s their way of decorating; for some, it’s totally inspired and they have to do it. . . . It’s a raw expression of themselves.”

Puccinelli said the term outsider is used to describe the various works because “they are so outside the mainstream of the art world.”

Among the better-known members of the group are Howard Finster of Georgia, whose work reflects his revival ministry background, and Bessie Harvey of Tennessee, who turns tree branches and roots into powerful sculptures.

The Frances Puccinelli Gallery is at 888 Linden Ave., second floor. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

For information, call 684-6301.

As is the tradition, Santa Barbara will celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, with a wild parade down State Street beginning at noon Saturday--which is actually the day after the solstice.

An expected 1,000 or so costumed participants and 80,000 visitors will cover the parade route, which comes to a stop at Alameda Park.

At the park, the entertainment will include musicians, dancers and puppets in a musical theater performance celebrating the sun, music and creation.

For information, call 965-3396.

It’s no coincidence that the Scandinavian Festival in Oak Park is on Sunday, not long after the summer solstice.

Traditionally, the day is cause for great celebration among residents of Scandinavian countries, given their harsh winters.

A crowd of several thousand is expected to join in the Santa Barbara festivities, which will feature traditional Scandinavian music, folk dancing and food.

Oh, and let’s not forget the scheduled appearance of the Icelandic horses from Lompoc.

“They are horses that are not like any other horses,” said Erik Hansen, president of the local Scandinavian Council. “But of course they have four legs.”

The festival runs from 11 a.m. until about 7 p.m.

The Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera will give its final performance of “A Chorus Line” on Sunday evening.

The show wraps up a seven-week run at the Lobero Theatre; that makes it the company’s longest running show. For ticket information, call 963-0761.

If you’re looking for an overnight place to hang out, you might want to consider a stay at the Villa Rosa Inn in Santa Barbara. It was named by a group called INNovations Inc., as one of the Top 10 bed and breakfast operations in the country.

INNovations is a New Jersey-based sales and marketing support service that works with innkeepers.

Villa Rosa Inn is at 15 Chapala St.

James Rosenquist’s “Welcome to the Water Planet” exhibit will open at the UC Santa Barbara Art Museum on Wednesday.

The artist’s work consists of printed collages of exotic plant life, mechanical objects and women’s faces, with the message intended to be ecological.

The show will run through Aug. 11. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For information, call 893-2951.