Celebrating the summer solstice

One of the most intriguing places to celebrate midsummer is Alaska. Fairbanks is so far North (just below the Arctic Circle) that the amount of sunlight it receives varies wildly based on seasons. On the days nearest to the winter solstice, the town gets less than four hours of sunlight, and on the summer solstice, the town experiences almost 22 hours of daytime. To celebrate the longest day of the year, the town holds an annual Midnight Sun Baseball Game. It's been a tradition since 1906, and artificial lights are never used in the game, which begins shortly before midnight and continues on through. Only once was the game called off due to darkness (thanks to added shade from stormclouds) and it's a beloved tradition for Fairbanksans and baseball fans alike. It brings in a lot of curious out-of-towners looking to experience Alaska's lovely summers, extra-long days, and quirky traditions.

Santa Barbara is a funky, artsy town, so it's no surprise that they celebrate the solstice by going all-out with the artistic flair. A parade and festival is held to commemorate the annual event, complete with drum circles, DJs, performances, live music, craft fairs, food, workshops, and other events. The parade, with whimsical floats, stunning costumes, and performances, is a highlight, but take the chance to experience as much as you can here... it's wildly different and fun, and the whole weekend oozes positive vibes and creative energy.

Native Americans recognized the importance of the position of the sun and stars early on as well, and at many Native American cultural sites, you can see evidence of this. There's a spiral petroglyph on a boulder near the park's Puerco Pueblo that, that aligns perfectly with a beam of sunlight for about two weeks near the solstice. The shaft of sunlight travels down the side of the spiral and touches the center as the sun rises, peaking at 9 am. There are usually rangers at the pueblo during the solar event to provide historical background on the petroglyph, so stop by and check it out. If you happen to be visiting outside of the two-week window, you can still see the boulder and read the informative interpretive sign nearby.

The Art Museum at the University of Wyoming holds a Summer Solstice Celebration each year that has plenty to see and do. Get there at noon to see the sun align with the solar tube in the ceiling of the Rotunda Gallery; it lights up the silver coin embedded in the floor below.

If a trip to Stonehenge (one of the ancient sites that was built with pieces that align to the sun during the solstice) is out of the question, Carhenge is the next best thing. It's a nearly identical replica of the mysterious and ancient English monument (except with cars instead of huge stones). It was dedicated on a solstice, so you'll technically be visiting on Carhenge's anniversary.