The summer solstice weather could not have been finer. 81, sunny, perfect river weather.
Post river, it was time to light the fire.
The fire was perfectly constructed by JC.
The moon was full.
Thanks to all who came.
Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
July 10, 2017
party gem, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, summer solstice 2017 Leave a comment
December 18, 2016
fire, party, photography flag burning, nature, photography, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party 1 Comment
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.
TURN SUN TURN.
Thanks to all who came.

After
July 4, 2016
dance, farm, music, party, river fire, gem, kilt, michael hobert, music, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, summer solstice 2016, video 1 Comment
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.
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.)
December 21, 2015
dance, fire, mixology, party berryville passage, bonfire, mixology, solstice fire, solstice party, team tartan, turn the sun, video, winter solstice 4 Comments

Winter Solstice Fire 2015
It all started out with champagne, celebrating Team Tartan’s 2015 Leukemia Cup accomplishment with a crop of Timex watches. (About which this.)

bubbles

Burn barrel before the lighting
Then it got dark, the keg was tapped, the cheesy xmas music was put on infinite repeat in the barn, burn barrels were lit, and off we went! Early birds got to see the bonfire lighting. Middle birds got to see music and sparkling guitars. Late birds shut down the bar inside with Berryville Passages at 6am. Are we too old for this? No we are not.

Fire

Who let the banjo player in?

Fire too
Thanks to one and all for coming! We turned the sun around again!
July 16, 2015
fire, party, river fire, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice party, summer solstice 2 Comments
July 15, 2015
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Very late at night during a solstice party mysterious and inscrutable things happen. Like couch burning. And/or spontaneous song spouting. You never know.
July 13, 2015
art, fire, party, river joel winstead, peacock, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, sketches, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party Leave a comment
What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be. The river was crystalline (and flowing fast), the beer was delicious, and the night was filled with fire and music. Joel Winstead captured the 2015 solstice party zeitgeist in some sketches.
Thanks for coming to the solstice party! Support local music; come hear Where’s Aubrey’s CD release concert this Friday at the Brightbox in Winchester.
December 21, 2014
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The longest night is over. We turned the sun again. Great solstice party, as ever, thanks to all of you. Of note this year, superior food in the random food pile and really tasty tunes by the fire.
I know, lets do it again!!
The night was still and cold, and the fire took a couple of minutes to get going. Jack took some video that was transformed into this time lapse.
Sadly, the keg was dead by 7:30?! It’s impossible to get the beer amount dialed in even after 11 years of practice. Oh well, there’s always bourbon.
December 17, 2014
animals, farm, fire dogs, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, winter solstice, wood Leave a comment
The solstice fire is ready. The weather report is improving (sorry cynthia). Time to turn the sun around!!
Before.
July 17, 2014
music, party bitter liberals, clark, electric band, electric triangle, ghengis angus, gina, high and dry, joe, mike, nick, original music, rhine, rooster, season of the witch, solstice, solstice party, video, where's aubrey Leave a comment
In a new summer solstice twist, we put together an impromptu electric band. Gina Faber suggested we call ourselves “Electric Triangle,” which we did. We came up with set lists at 3:30pm the day of the party! Woo hoo.
Here is our rendition of Donnovan’s “Season of the Witch”
Electric Triangle ingredients include:
100% Where’s Aubrey
75% The Bitter Liberals
100% All Natural Fibers
100% Joehammed and the Acoustic Martyrs
Red dye number 5
Rum
We prevailed upon Allen Kitselman to play the Ghengis Angus song Rooster against his will.
The world famous staff of Electric Triangle:
Rhine Singleton, guitar/vocals
Clark Hansbarger, guitar/vocals
Allen Kitselman, guitar/vocals
Gary McGraw, violin/mandolin/vocals
Gina Faber, guitar/harmony/ELECTRIC TRIANGLE
Joe Faber, keys
Nick Schrenk, drums
Mike Aaron, bass
Here we are covering Radiohead’s “High and Dry”
Thanks to Jacob West for the video!