Sarasota’s Summer Solstice 2019
The summer solstice will be upon us soon. Do you know what your outdoor plans will be on the day with the longest period of sunlight? The Solstice begins promptly on June 21st at 11:54 a.m. EDT. Marking the first official day of summer, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will be angled closer to the sun during our orbit than any other day of the year.
For our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, this day marks the beginning of their winter, and they will experience the shortest sun-lit day. Brr! That does not sound good at all. Here at home, Sarasota is ready to bring on the sunscreen, watermelon, beach days and sweet summertime.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the summer solstice brings the perfect mix of astrological mysticism. Fascinated with this “longest” day of the year, people around the world celebrate with a variety of interesting rituals. In Sweden, the first strawberries of the year are devoured in observance of this special time and, in England, thousands of people make the trek to Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice. Not to be outdone, Sarasota has a number of fun events planned to explore our mystical sides. Sit back, and take a gander at some of the possibilities awaiting you and your summer solstice 2019.
Four Pillars, a wellness spa that offers yoga and fitness classes, will be offering a Summer Solstice Sound Immersion to get you into the seasonal groove. Crystals, chimes, Tibetan singing bowls, drums and gongs provide the setting to transition from spring to summer. Per their flyer, the experience will “take you into a state of sacred being, wherein you experience transformative deep connectedness, as you journey into your own personal, multi-dimensional experience.” Sounds pretty good to me! Two celebrations are planned, one on June 21 from 7 PM to 8 PM and the other on June 22 from 3 PM to 4 PM. Tickets for the event are $35 and space is limited. Please visit Four Pillars Florida for more information.
Unity of Sarasota, located at 3023 Proctor Road will be hosting a Summer Solstice Celebration & Ceremony on Saturday, June 22nd at 7:30 P.M. A vegan food truck, sacred fire circle, drumming, chanting and dancing will make for a perfect summer evening under the stars. Attendees are invited to bring rattles and other percussion accompaniments to join in the fun.
Sage of Sarasota will be the site of a Summer Solstice Garden Party on Friday, June 21st from 6:30 to sunset. Coinciding with the release of Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice Gin, Sage’s celebrations will be the perfect location to take in the sights with a great cocktail. Guests are encouraged to dress with seasonal inspiration in mind. VIP tickets ($175) to the event include access to the Secret Garden located on the third floor, a swag bag complete with a bottle of Hendrick’s solstice-inspired gin and other cordials, and special food and drink offerings. Admission to the rooftop lounge is free.
Whatever your plans, we hope you celebrate responsibly and that this summer finds you totally engaged with your loved ones and doing all the activities that bring you great joy. Life is short so, when we get a longer day, we had better use it to the max.
Photos courtesy of Summer Solstice 2019 Facebook page.