(12.21) The sacred grove beckons. Join local musicians Jen Long (aka the Accordion Princess) and Kate Mick in Biltmore Park to “turn the year” with song, community, art and s’mores. And science! Celebrate the winter solstice this Wednesday in the park between the Trinity Beer Garden and the rink.
Around 5:00pm we’ll start to gather for s’mores and around a fire pit in Biltmore Park. Trinity Beer Garden will be open for the evening serving hot chocolate along with other hot and cold drinks. We’ll also have the P3 ARTCart! on hand all evening helping families create luminous art works with the help of artist Linda White from the Imagination Play Project.
Starting around 5:30pm, the group will be led in a community sing by local musicians Cate Clifford, Jen Long and Jenica Reed Conley– all ages and singing abilities are welcome to add their voice to our winter song! We’ll also be treated to a presentation from Francine Jackson of the Ladd Observatory on the astronomical significance of the Solstice.
The Farmers’ Almanac does a pretty good job of explaining the solstices, that is until we hear from Francine Jackson, former director of the Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown. In addition to her affiliation with the Ladd Observatory in Providence, Jackson worked for many years at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and is a member of Skyscrapers.
Dedicated Druids can also live stream the sunrise on December 22 at Stonehenge. It’s quite a scene. For Rhode Islanders the winter solstice will occur at 4:48pm EST.
Solstice celebration, free, 5:30pm, Wednesday, December 21, Biltmore Park, Kennedy Plaza, (directions)