December 21st is the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2022, the sun will set at 4:34pm on December 21st and sunrise occurs at 7:49am on the 22nd. On the bright side, it is not even Christmas yet and we can consider this the turning point. We’re officially heading back toward spring after this! While we tend to celebrate rebirth in the spring, it really begins at this time of year. In the Twin Cities we love to celebrate with night hikes, Tomte and stargazing. Sign your family up for one of these fun events:
2022 Solstice Events for Families and Kids
I’ve learned that if I can get the family out on the darkest day and again on the coldest day (but for a very short time if it is dangerously cold), my winter will be better.
In the Park After Dark: Full Moon and Solstice Stargazing
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
Date/Time: December 8, 2022; 6-7:30pm. (Bonus: The moon will still be nearly full)
An evening of stargazing. Use a telescope to look for patterns in the stars. Warm up around a bonfire. • Ages 12+ • $8/pp – Pre-Registration Required.
Tomte Solstice Magic
Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Rd 110 W, Minnetrista, MN 55364
Date: December 16, 2022; 4:30-7:30 half-hour time slots.
Celebrate the solstice with the Scandinavian Tomte, visit the barn animals, take a luminary walk (or snowshoe), then listen to stories and music while you roast s’mores. • All Ages • $8/pp. Register for a Specific Time Slot – Selling Out Fast
Winter Solstice Celebration
Linden Hills Park, 3100 43rd St W., Minneapolis, MN, US 55410
Date: December 16, 2022; 6-8pm
Bundle up and stroll the illuminated park paths. Then enjoy cocoa and s’mores by the fire pit. • All Ages • FREE admission. Learn More & Register Here.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Cleary Lake Regional Park, 18106 Texas Ave, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Date/Time: December 17, 2022;1-3pm or 4-6pm.
Celebrate the shortest day and the longest night of the ear with outdoor activities, including lantern-making, reflection stations and roasting marshmallows around a fire. • All Ages • FREE – Pre-Registration Available & Encouraged Event #1SCT1310.
Creekview Winter Solstice Event
Creekview Park, 5001 N Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55430
Date: December 17, 2022; 4pm-7pm
Bundle up and stroll the illuminated path along Shingle Creek. Then enjoy s’mores by the fire pit. • All Ages • FREE. Learn More & Register Here.
My Preschooler & Me: Pre-Solstice Winter Walk
Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Date: December 17, 2022; 10:30-12pm.
Drop in to decorate luminary bags for the Solstice Luminary Trail on Wednesday • All Ages • FREE. Learn more here.
Free Family Fun Day: Little Luminaries
Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Date: December 18, 2022; 1-3pm.
Wear pajamas to celebrate the seasons shortest days and longest nights. Soak up the short daylight with a naturalist-led walk. Then make a craft and listen to stories around the fire • Ages 3+ with adult • $6/pp; Registration Required.
Winter Solstice Walk
Dodge Nature Center, 365 Marie Avenue W, West Saint Paul, MN 55118
Date/Time: December 21, 2022; 5-6:30pm.
Celebrate the shortest day of the year on a guided hike with Dodge naturalists through the wintery woods during Dodge’s winter solstice celebration. • Ages 6+ • $10/pp – Pre-Registration Required.
Winter Solstice Luminary Trail
Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Date: December 21, 2022; 5pm-8pm.
Walk a luminary lit trail any time between 5:00 and 8:00pm. Accepting donations of personal hygiene items to donate to the Cross Foodshelf • All Ages • FREE. Learn more here.
Winter Solstice Luminary Walk
North Mississippi Regional Park, 4900 Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MM 55430
Date/Time: December 21, 2022; 5-7pm or 7-9pm.
Join a celebration of the longest night and the longer days to come with a glowing trail walk, take-home luminary crafts, games, a bonfire and more. • All Ages • FREE/kids, $5/Adults. Register for 5-7pm | Register for 7-9pm
Winter Solstice
American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis, MN
Date: December 21, 2022; 5pm-9pm
Celebrate the longest night of the year like Scandinavians at ASI’s popular Winter Solstice Celebration. FIKA Café serves a special festival menu, including small plates and warm drinks. Shop for last minute gifts at the ASI Museum Store and Jul Shop. • All Ages • Ticket Prices: $15/adult; $5/child. SOLD OUT.
Community Connect: Winter Solstice
E Phillips Park, 2307 17th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Date: December 21, 2022; 6pm-7pm
A community celebration of the return of daylight with crafts, activities, stories and refreshments. • All Ages • FREE. Learn More & Register Here.
Winter Solstice Party
Newell Park, 900 North Fairview Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Date/Time: December 21, 2022; 6-8pm.
Bonfire, marshmallow roast and chili cookoff. • All Ages • FREE. Learn more here.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes, MN, 55038
Date/Time: December 21, 2022; 6:30-8:30pm.
Go on a self-guided hike lit by ice luminaries. Then warm up around a bonfire with songs, stories, art-making and hot cider. Dress for cold temperatures and hiking. • Ages 12+ • $6/pp – Pre-Registration Required.
Be The Light Winter Solstice Walk
Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave., St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55426
Date: December 21, 2022; 6:30-8pm
Walk the self-guided luminary trail and make your own luminary. These event was created to remember those suffering from depression, mental illness or difficult situations. • All Ages • FREE. Registration Required.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, N. Mississippi Regional Park, 4900 N Mississippi Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55430
Date: December 21, 2022; 7-9pm
Celebrate that the day length will be longer from here on out. Winter themed games, a glowing luminary trail, a bonfire and a luminary craft. • All Ages • $5 Adults; Children FREE. Registration Required.
Make Your Own Winter Solstice Tradition:
On this shortest day of the year, enjoy the long evening with your own family ritual.
- This would be a great night to check out nearby Holiday Light Displays.
- Break out the flashlights, hot cocoa and s’mores and play these outdoor games in the backyard. Why wait until summer?
- A Winter Solstice Walk. Tinkergarten has ideas for making a winter solstice walk fun for your littlest kids by gathering things to decorate for the holiday. The only holly native to Minnesota is Winterberry, but pinecones and twigs are plentiful or try snowshoeing along snow-covered or unpaved trails.
- Read Christmas Stories or Winter Solstice Books by candlelight or toss on a yule log on the fireplace and curl up with a good book (if you are lucky enough to have a fire place).
- Wait to Put Up Your Tree Until the Solstice. If the season tends to overwhelm you, don’t feel guilty, make it a tradition. If the tree goes up on the Solstice and down on Epiphany, you can enjoy it for 15 beautiful days. Need decorations? Check out these 90 Ornaments Kids Can Make from our friends at Non-Toy Gifts.
- Decorate your own yard with luminaries and winter solstice lanterns. I really want to try these colorful Ice Bowls (also by Non-Toy Gifts), which could be used as ice lanterns if you add a candle or tealight.
- Roast marshmallows in a backyard firepit. We particularly love locally-made North Mallow marshmallows.
- Plan a Winter Solstice Feast of all your favorite cold-weather comfort foods. Light candles to chase the dark away and bless the meal with a prayer of thanksgiving or a winter poem.
- View Night Trains at the Model Railroad Museum.
- Visit Como Zoo to wish the reindeer well on their upcoming night-flight! Como is open from 10am-4pm. Admission is still Free, but reservations are required.
- Go for a Hike Under the Lights at 4 Three Rivers Parks:
How Winter Solstice is Celebrated Around the World
Stonehenge
Visitors to Stonehenge in England can watch the sun set in the center of the three great stones of the Trilithon. Learn more at EarthSky.org.
At Home Family Fun Idea: Build your own Stonehenge replica. Can you get a flashlight “sun” to set in the center?
The North Pole
While we get six measly hours of daylight on December 21st, Santa doesn’t get any sun. I guess he and his elves will have to use big floodlights to get the job done in the next couple days.
The South Pole
On the flip side Antarctica will experience its longest day of the year and get 24 hours of daylight.
Australia
As we are reaching our darkest coldest time, the southern hemisphere is reaching its summer solstice and will celebrate the winter solstice in June. I learned, when researching this article, that Australia has its own Standing Stones where Celtic decedents celebrate the solstice. Learn more here.
