BRISTOL — The year’s longest night has at last arrived and that means it’s time for the annual Winter Solstice Celebration at the Waterworks property on Plank Road in Bristol. Revelers of all ages are invited to venture into the forest and mark the moment when the sun stands still on the southern horizon and turns to begin its march to summer.
Everyone is invited to join in the fun and gather around the fire for a joyful evening of food, music and midwinter pageantry as we summon the light from the season’s deepest dark and celebrate its return to the sky.
The Watershed Center Solstice Celebration harkens back to a distant age when the natural cycles of the Earth formed the calendar’s most important milestones. Yule, the original winter solstice holiday, marked the rebirth of the sun and the return of the life it brings to the world, and indeed, the traditional Yule log originally represented the resurrected sun. In addition to this symbol, bonfires also played a role in these year-end rituals as did baskets of evergreen boughs symbolizing eternal life, which were placed in homes to receive gifts from visitors.
The Watershed Center’s Solstice Celebration honors these traditions and their ancient fires. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the magic of the winter forest at night while making memories with friends and neighbors old and new.
Join us for one of Vermont’s most unique holiday get-togethers as we bring in the light in one of our region’s most beautiful locations. The all-weather snow-or-shine celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the picnic area on the Norton Brook Reservoir at the Waterworks Forest in Bristol (about a 2/5 mile walk from the Plank Road parking area, which is 3/4 mile east of North Street at 4783 Plank Road). There will be music by Rick Ceballos and friends.Bring food and drink to share and dress warmly. Please carpool if possible and heed the parking restrictions on Plank Road. (Don’t park on the curve — use the long straightaway to the south on Plank Road!) The Watershed Center reminds everyone to leave pets at home for this one and to remember to take your flashlight and watch the path — winter footing is never assured!
For more information, visit the Watershed Center at http://www.thewatershedcentervt.org.