Due to extreme heat and concern for public safety, the summer solstice celebration has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Celebrate the summer solstice with earth-based rituals led by Wild Soul River.

All activities are free. Picnic blankets encouraged. Finger food from Cricket Creek Farm available for purchase. For accessibility concerns, call 413 458 0524.

FORAGING WALK WITH ARIANNA COLLINS (SOLD OUT)
5:30–6:30 pm
Naturalist and wild edibles enthusiast Arianna Alexsandra Collins from the Hoosic River Watershed Association and Offerings for Community Building leads a foraging walk to Crystal.
Advance registration required for the foraging walk only; call 413 458 0524. Capacity is limited. Meet on the Fernández Terrace by the Clark's Reflecting Pool.

WORKSHOP: FLOWER CROWNS
6 pm
Braid grape vines, bittersweet, ranunculus, thyme, sage, and other flowers foraged from Full Well Farm into your own crown. First-come, first-served.

SOLSTICE RITUALS
7–8 pm

OFFICIAL WELCOME WITH WILD SOUL RIVER
7–7:10 pm
An introduction to the evening's special offerings.

SMOKE AND BELL CLEANSE WITH REBECCA GUANZON AND JONATHAN NOPPER
7:10–7:20 pm
Enter the space intentionally with meditation and the ceremonial practice of burning sacred herbs and ringing bells. These practices energetically cleanse and purify the body, mind, and spirit as we enter sacred time and space with our human and other-than-human kin.

CALLING OF THE DIRECTIONS RITUAL
7:20–7:25 pm
During this ritual, we unite to honor the cardinal points—East, South, West, North, and Center—invoking their unique energies to celebrate the abundance and vitality of the sun-soaked season.

ON SUMMER SOLSTICE WITH justin adkins
7:25–7:55 pm
justin adkins from Wild Soul River discusses the history of the summer solstice and how different cultures celebrate the longest day of the year. He explores Northern European animism and its connection to indigenous perspectives. justin's words will give rise to community singing, drumming, dancing, and merriment. Bring your own drum or noisemaker to join along!

BIDDING THE DIRECTIONS FAREWELL
7:55–8 pm
The evening's rituals close by bidding farewell to the energies of the directions, expressing gratitude to the cardinal points—East, South, West, North, and Center—marking the conclusion of a sacred ceremony and acknowledging the cyclical nature of their spiritual journey.

PERFORMANCE: ROPE DART
8–8:30 pm
Dance in the moonlight with local performance artist Damion Cotter.

COLD TEA
8 pm
Complementary cold herbal tea provided by Wild Soul River; first-come, first-served.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Arianna Collins (she/her) is an environmental education professional with twenty years of experience in teaching, curriculum design, program development, project administration, daily operations, public relations, and community engagement.

justin adkins (he/him) has sought solace in the natural beauty of Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont since 2004. As a co-founder of Wild Soul River—an abolitionist herbal gathering space in Williamstown—he shares his passion for foraging and dedication to collective learning and healing. justin also serves as President of our local Trout Unlimited chapter and consults nationally with DEI Outdoors.

Rebecca Guanzon (she/her), an herbalist and practitioner of various energetic healing methods, holds over twenty years of trauma-informed care experience. A graduate of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, she specializes in medicine making, energy work (including Reiki), and individual herbal consultations. She is a co-founder of Wild Soul River.

Jon Nopper (they/he) has worked in education and trauma-informed child welfare settings for eighteen years. Their joy and passion for life come from introspectively examining the existence and human condition in all wild and beautiful places.

Damion Cotter (he/him), based in Stamford, VT, has spun Poi and Rope dart for fifteen years, often incorporating poetry and dance into his performances.