An ig-nite to remember

Solstice celebrations planned along the Central Coast

 By Naima Baker

For the TODAY

In the still of the night, from the darkness comes a light. With the celebrations of winter solstice, the longest evening of the year is bright with hope and free activities this Sunday, Dec. 21.

All of our sky-watching ancestors observed the solstice, and the tradition continues to this day, fortunately in more ways than just daylight savings time. Building a bonfire in Yachats, sharing warmth with performance at Lincoln City’s Driftwood Public Library or enjoying a musical night in Manzanita, there is plenty of heart and soul-stice here on the coast.

For ages, fire, humankind's first producible light source, has been a winter solstice symbol for the return of the sun, a practice proudly preserved outdoors at the Yachats Commons. The festivities and fire ignite at 4:30 pm with delicious homemade cookies, cider and SLUGS. Not the kind that pester gardens, these are the Seashore Literacy Ukulele Group Singers.

"They do singalongs and play with much enthusiasm," said Polly Plumb Event Coordinator Robert Rubin, “and sometimes an infamous preteen accordion player joins them.”

The celebration burns bright as long as the fire lasts.

"It’s a cosmic event,” Rubin said. “Whether we notice it or not, the solstice and equinox happen four times a year, so it's good to acknowledge it. Better than sitting at home watching TV."

For a cozy indoor community gathering, try Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City. The inviting reading room and semi-circle of comfy couches set the stage for a quirky variety of performances that will keep you entertained and guessing what's next. Walk past the pet salamanders, Penny and Toothless, right into a peaceful open area decorated with twinkling lights, snowflake stars and evergreen branches. Get a stone from the grab bag engraved with a word to speak to you and, beginning at 6 pm, enjoy a slide show of solstice traditions from around the world, like the Japanese practice of bathing in citrus laden hot springs or the Northern European burning of the Yule log.

"Solstice is an international thing," said Librarian Mark Irmscher, woodwind performer and master of ceremonies for the event. “Every population of people on Earth has been through solstice since the beginning of time. That's what I like about it. You can talk about what it means to you and then literally expand it out to the whole universe, because it's astronomical.”

Though noise is mostly minimal in library settings, on this night people will be encouraged to talk, sing and play out what solstice means to them, with a broad array of five-minute performances, 15 for returning favorites. If you have something to share, speak to Irmscher prior to the event, as spaces are limited. You might encounter tales of tree friends with touching storybook illustrations, handbell tunes, Irish jigs, myths of demanding porridge gnomes, unique poems told from under a blanket or even some Shakespeare.

"If you don't like one performance just wait a minute,” Irmscher said. “Something else is going to happen."

The occasion will conclude with a group singalong led by guitarist Jim Kouni, singing "Stay on the Sunny Side," which is exactly where you'll be.

In Manzanita, an informal parade of people bearing handmade lanterns will lead the way from the Hoffman Center for the Arts to Cloud and Leaf bookstore where, beginning at 4:30 pm, everyone is welcome to enjoy live music, hot chocolate and a warm fireplace. Powerful performer Lucy Wild will light up the room with her guitar and deep, earthy voice, singing a fusion of blues and folk, both covers and original songs.

"I love creating experiences," said Adria Abadagnani, joint event coordinator and natural poet, with a background in music and theatre. "Despite the darkness and rain, this is a natural time of year to gather the community together in a meaningful and multigenerational way, to amplify the light we do have. Even though it can be difficult to get together here on the coast, it's a beautiful human connection that lets us move at the speed of light."

Special community events are a classic way to illuminate the longest night, so get out for communion with your fellow human, but even if this winter solstice finds you at home, anyone can observe this significant day on the Earth's calendar. Whether it's candles, bonfires or simply the warmth of the heart, everyone has a light in their life to be thankful for, and a reason for hope.

Sunday’s Solstice celebrations begin at 4:30 pm at the Yachats Commons, located at 441 N Hwy. 101; at 4:30 pm at Cloud and Leaf Bookstore, located at 148 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita; and at 6 pm at the Driftwood Public Library, located at 801 SW Hwy. 101, Lincoln City.