March 28, 2024

Solstice Celebration Sheds Light with Music, Food and Fun

Dec. 13, 2014

Entering a second year at their new location in the Emmet County Community Building in Petoskey, the annual Blissfest Solstice Celebration is ready to welcome the winter season with music, food, camaraderie and a whole lot more.

SOLSTICE SEASONS

"Being close to the 45th parallel, northern Michigan is exactly positioned to fully experience all of the seasons. That’s one of the reasons I just love this area," said Jim Gillespie, Blissfest’s executive director.

"But the intensity of winter–especially as the days get shorter with the sun missing in action and the harsh outdoor environment–becomes a challenge."

With this in mind, the solstice serves as a great focal point, both as a marker for winter itself and as a reason for a Bliss-style celebration.

"It’s an acknowledgement of rebirth, hope and a new beginning," Gillespie said. "It’s the start of a new cycle. The clock is reset and we move forward toward the light of a new solar year."

MUSICAL LINEUP

The event began as part of Blissfest’s fall concert series, which took place at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. As the event outgrew the venue, the organizers saw the Solstice Celebration as a great opportunity to collaborate with community partners and shed some light on the traditions and cultural significance of this time of year.

The biggest component of the festivities is of course music, as evidenced by this year’s nationally acclaimed headliner, blues-jazz singer and guitarist Luke Winslow King.

"Musically, we feature some of our local favorites who are often off the road from touring the country and finding their way home for the holidays," Gillespie explained.

"Luke is home visiting family and friends, as are Breathe Owl Breathe bandmates Micah and Trevor, who will also be performing. Seth Bernard is a perennial favorite, the Galactic Sherpas will be on hand with music to dance by and Dr. Goodhart will be going table to table with some seasonal songs."

SOLAR SUCCESS

The second biggest act may be the food.

The annual feast and potluck dinner is returning, with a twist.

"This year, we are working on a Blissfest cookbook for next year’s festival in July, so we are inviting folks to bring their favorite recipes," Gillespie explained. "We will do some serious recipe testing at the Solstice Celebration!" A silent auction and other activities will benefit Blissfest projects and partner groups.

"Last year, we were focused on our own solar initiative, which is a great match for a solstice type of event," Gillespie said. "We made enough money last year to help purchase a pallet of solar panels. We are in the process of installing them at the Bliss Festival Farm and, by next year’s festival, we will have all 30 up and running."

INNOVATIVE ROOTS

Blissfest has a three-year off-the-grid goal and the organization is aiming to purchase more panels next year, but they’re working on other charity efforts outside of their offices, as well.

"We want to give back to the community and are looking at like-minded community organizations who share our values that we can support and benefit," Gillespie said.

With each of the two organizational events supporting the other, it makes the year move a lot more quickly as Gillespie looks ahead to the next big Blissfest in July 2015.

"In only six months, the summer festival is back," he said. "That’s going on 10 years of the Solstice Celebration and 35 years of Blissfest. We’re rooted in the past, but innovating and always moving toward the future–kind of like the seasons!"

The Blissfest Solstice Celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Emmet County Fairgrounds Community Building in Petoskey. For tickets and more information, visit www.blissfest.org or purchase at The Crooked Tree Arts Center.

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