It all started at 3pm for me (with the perfunctory “lighting of the barrel”). Just making sure there was a heat source for people who arrived before the big bonfire lighting.
The sky was gorgeous.
And soon there were solstice attendees and tiki torches.
We lit the fire shortly after 5pm when it finally got dark enough. There were LOTS of people here for the lighting. It was a good one.
The fire had a huge core (that is still burning late the next day).
Meanwhile up at the barn there was terrible Christmas music, lots of food, and a great sense of camaraderie.
We’ll start in the middle, with a video of the lighting of the summer solstice bonfire of 2022. The weather was absolutely perfect and the crowd friendly and warm. Every year the size of the fire seems to come as a surprise.
This year the weather was so cool that a dip in the river was not in the cards.
Rewinding a day, Aubrey provided another great iteration of the smoked salmon Messerhead feast helping to set the FOOD stage. Speaking of FOOD, Chef Michael was down from Chicago with Astro. That means we were spoiled rotten on the food front for days on end.
Salmon feast table
Any solstice that starts with caviar is destined for greatness.
Before.
Prepping for late night tacos
It seems that Chef Michael can’t cook for less than 700. But that’s OK. We just need to make the solstice party seven times bigger. Pork shoulder in the firepit by the shrine.
We had a mid-day break to tour Eli’s fantastic art show at the Barns of Rose Hill. The show continues through July 2nd.
Then it was time for the pre-game Negroni.
And we were officially underway. Esther and Cora presided over the opening.
The sufferin bastard made an appearance
After an outstanding potluck feast, replete with fresh flowers, it was time for one quick song (thanks guitar week fellers) and FIRE.
By far the cutest thing at this solstice iteration was the jumping of the gun by Brantley the marshmallow boy. The fire was still a bit young. But that did not deter Brantley.
The fire burned for two days. In fact, it is still smoking as I write this.
Thank goodness for Alec, David, and Gina. We had a few hours of music by the bonfire.
Rumor has it that absinthe hour stretched from 3am-6am.
The next day happened fast.
Morning after breakfast
The chef outdid himself three times.
Party cleanup was a breeze with Aubrey in charge. The weather cooperated the entire weekend.
What is left of this fire?
Are there coals down there?
Fresh veggies from the Berryville farmer’s market (thanks to Chilly Hollow Farm)
While the
veggies roast, we hang by the fire.
Donkey Hodie says “sup homey?”
Astro has the best home
The garden
Roast veggies
OMG more food
Even moonshine is in a food coma.
What do you do with recd currants?
You make a fresh tart. Then mezcal straight from Mexico City?! Yup.
Morning never arrived for some of the mezcal participants.
The weather was iffy with heavy rain to come. But the night started out beautifully enough as the tiki torches were lit. And we were off on the experimental solstice fire on xmas edition.
The afternoon was balmy at 65 degrees
Who ordered this crazy weather? This has to be the warmest winter solstice on record.
The scene
Tikis wink on
The highlight of this year’s fire was a set of busted up instruments that Josh brought out. We used a 3/4 size bass (well, what used to be one anyway) to light the fire.
The logs this year were immense as the ash tree that once held the treehouse came down over the summer. One or two of the giant logs still remain.
The lighting.
Turn the sun!
Meanwhile back in the barn, the super dangerous Boilo was out and the keg was tapped. The food was plentiful and included both shrimp and carrot cake.
All’s well in the party barn
We started into a wobbly rendition of “let it snow” and the torrential rain pushed us first under the tarp and then up into the barn. Where we proceeded to play even more xmas music in sing-along mode and drink way too much boilo.
Things get a little hazy after that. But the sun has turned, so we got our main job accomplished.
Two days later, the fire is still smoking. Thanks to all who came.
The weather cooperated spectacularly for the 2018 solstice party. The rain cleared for a day or two. The moon was full. It was a crisp cold night with a beautiful sky.
Our ritual of gathering good friends from all walks of life every six months took place again without a hitch. Thanks to all who came to help us turn the sun.
Sunset before the party
This year, the fire lighting was cheered on by a rising full moon. The fire caught quickly and burned hard and fast.
Full moon and unlit pile
Lighting (time to run away)
Lots of people arrived for the lighting this year
Every solstice party is different in interesting ways. This year lots of people showed up for the lighting at 5:45. Then the BOILO got the party rocking. The lighting is always a sight to see.
The fire gets going
2018 solstice fire
The moon was incredible and lent a silver tinge to everything.
The barn was alight in party mode
This year the unplanned potluck food supply was great with chilli, meatballs, sloppy joes, fried chicken, and even krispy kreme donuts. The barn bar took a licking. Gonna need some serious restocking before summer!
Sorry about the terrible Christmas music in the barn. That’s just how it goes. At least there is a disco ball.
Marco. BOILO! There’s nothing quite like extremely local product.
A violin burns
Possibly the most ridiculous and surprising part of the evening was the violin sword fight instigated by Josh Henry (my trusty and talented violin and bow repair guy). Unbeknownst to everyone, Josh brought three dead rental violins to the party. So when we got them out and started sword fighting vigorously with them and then threw their remains into the fire, the 20 somethings who were already wondering just what those old people across the fire were all about, freaked out. They thought just for the smallest moment that I was destroying my actual violin.
LOL! Got you.
There was lots of music this year. It started early and went late. Thanks music makers! We love playing with you all.
Music. Great food. Huge fire. Friends. Boilo. What more could you want?
Early birds get to see the lighting
Mmmmmm. Beer.
The lighting
Put it in perspective: 100 feet of flame.
This year the fairy ring of osage oranges turned into a warning line for fire spread. We had to get water buckets and a hose out for the first time ever.
The fire spreads
View from the field
The two (or three) pods making up the solstice party are always a good mix. Food and cheesy Christmas music in the barn. Fire and live music in the field. This year some of the real music moved into the barn during a brief rain.
Cold and rainy weather was a real possibility during the winter solstice party. But a day that started with a coating of ice everywhere turned warmer and beautiful before the party started. The next day was rainy. So boy are we lucky!
Before (a fat one)
The sunset was outstanding.
Impressionist evening
Impressionist Shenandoah
Party prep complete! Ready for the hard core solstice revelers. It’s way easier to come to the summer solstice!
Newly resurfaced footbridge
Tiki trail across the creek
Get lit: Winter Solstice fire 2016
After lighting, it was time for music. The music lasted all night, right up to 5am when the weather shifted and it started to sprinkle.
Music at the solstice
We decided that due to rampant political disgust we would burn some flags. Real ones. This is a new thing. Thanks Trump.
Flag burning time
Into the fire with you nazis!
Burn baby burn
And we’ve had it with racism too.
Flag two for the flames
Down with racism
Burn baby burn
Warning: exuberant potty mouth host on a mission (with a nice buzz) in this video!
Then it was back to the keg of dogfish head 90 and the fantastic potluck dinner in the barn. Super fantastic.
A gorgeous Virginia summer evening was just what the doctor ordered for the summer solstice party this year. Food, friends, fire, and all night music. Thanks to all who came.
This year featured lots of next gens (over 30) wandering the property. Needless to say, the keg ran dry around 3am. And they ate ALL of the cookies.
So orderly
Absinthe hour ran from 4:45-6:15. We were ushered to bed by the blue.
(Special thanks to Micheal Hobert for some of the photos above.)
