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 — the traditional Yule log originally represented the resurrected sun. Bonfires also played a role in these year-end rituals, as did baskets of evergreen boughs, symbolizing eternal life, that 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 one of Vermont’s most unique holiday get-togethers and bring in the light at one of our region’s most beautiful locations. We’ll gather for the all-weather snow-or-shine celebration at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, at the picnic area on the Norton Brook Reservoir at the Waterworks Forest in Bristol (about a two-fifths mile walk from the Plank Road parking area, which is three quarters of a mile east of North Street). Ceremonies commence at 5 p.m. Rick Ceballos and friends will provide music.
Bring food and drink to share and dress warmly. There are a limited number of parking spaces, so carpooling to the event is encouraged, as well as heeding the parking restrictions on Plank Road. The Watershed Center reminds everyone to leave pets at home for this one and to remember to bring a flashlight and watch the path — winter footing is never assured.
For more information, visit the Watershed Center at thewatershedcentervt.org.