Starkweather Winter Solstice Celebration

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Adam MondaySmith

A pillar of fire.

The Starkweather solstice bonfire, summer 2022.

This is the 22nd iteration of the mother of all solstice celebrations. The Friends of Starkweather Creek and the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association do it up right with song, hot chocolate, cider, drumming, giant puppets, a bonfire and bonfire wishes — those thoughts from the year “to forget and lose in the fire ash, wishes to ascend with the smoke, to hope for more light in our lives as we celebrate the beginning of the long night.” In addition to bringing a wish, please bring your own mug to reduce waste. Note that the biggest flames are between 4:30-4:45 p.m.; after that the fire dies down for the wishes. Updates at facebook.com/FriendsofStarkweatherCreek.

media release: 2023 Winter STARKWEATHER SOLSTICE

Friends of Starkweather Creek and the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association present the 22th annual Starkweather Winter Solstice Celebration on Thursday, Dec 21, beginning at 4:00pm, lighting at 4:30 pm.

For information: https://sasyna.org/ or 608-263-4878.

The annual Winter and Summer Solstice gatherings are celebrations of community, nature, humanity, and life on earth on the northern hemisphere's shortest (and longest) days of the year.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4:00pm Starkweather Creek singers and musicians

4:15pm Bonfire Blessing Begins

4:30 pm (Sunset):Bonfire is lit by honored fire lighter with the International Flame of Hope

Wishes are added to the fire after it is burning lower (5:00 ish)

Bring thoughts to forget and lose in the fire ash, wishes to ascend with the smoke to hope for more light in our lives as we celebrate the beginning of the long night.

Featuring your Friends and Neighbors, Ice Lanterns (weather permitting), Hot Chocolate & Cider, Drumming, Singing, Dancing, Wish fairies, Giant puppets, AND a BONFIRE!! This year we will be providing paper drink cups, instead of washable ones. We strongly encourage everyone to bring your own mug (BYOM), so we can reduce the waste from our celebration.

Come early so as not to miss the lighting ceremony and the biggest BLAZE of the Bonfire 4:25 - 4:45 pm

Baseball Diamond #5 at the bottom of the sledding hill on the western end of the park.

22nd Annual Winter Gathering

Sponsored by Friends of Starkweather Creek along with SASY and Eastmorland Neighborhood Associations.

Great thanks to contributors including: Design Coalition, Gemini Landscaping, International Flame of Hope, Glass Nickel, Willy Street Co-op, Jenifer St. Market, Mother Fool's Coffee House, The Goodman Center, Crema Cafe, Madison Sourdough, Cargo Coffee, WORT, Isthmus, Bachmann Const. Co, and all the amazing volunteers!