On 20 June, join us at Solstice at Wasing as we welcome the longest day of the year in a shared moment of joy and renewal at our Sunrise Ceremony.
As our music around the fire draws to a close, we will gather in the Sacred Glade for our torch-lit procession to Solstice Hill. On arrival, in the hushed stillness before the first light, we’ll gather in a horseshoe facing the North-East and turn together toward the rising sun.
As the horizon glows, our Sunrise Ceremony will honour the solstice as the triumph of light over darkness; a living embodiment of hope, clarity, and renewal, for the world and within ourselves. Together, we will offer gratitude for the life-giving energy that sustains all of us, recognising the sun as the source of growth, warmth, and connection.
Guided by Chris Park: Wisdom Keeper and Steward of the Dawn
Our intimate midsummer ceremony is guided by Chris Park, our wisdom keeper and steward of the dawn. Chris will take us deep into the realm of the Oak King who represents the shared will of our community to honour and care for nature. And his Summer Lady, a radiant embodiment of Mother Earth, who brings gratitude, creativity, and a deep sense of belonging. Gift Bearers will step forward from the four directions, carrying elemental offerings that channel stability, clarity and compassion into the circle.
As we share fire, music and morning song, our collective voice binds us as community, lifting the ceremony into deep joy and merriment. The Sunrise Ceremony is not something to observe; it is something to hold, together. An unmissable Solstice moment at this dawn, on this land, with these people, under this epic sun.
Meet Our Guides and Musicians
Chris Park
Chris Park is an Initiate of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, as well as an artist, musician and storyteller whose work is rooted in the ancient wisdom traditions of these isles. Living on an organic farm in the Vale of the White Horse, he works closely with land, bees, music and story to nurture connection, wellbeing and a sense of shared belonging.
At Solstice At Wasing, Chris holds space with warmth and depth, guiding a ceremony that honours tradition, the turning of the seasons, the cycles of nature, and our relationship with each other and the Earth. His inclusive, accessible approach to Druidry offers a gentle bridge between ancient practice and modern life for both those deeply immersed in spiritual traditions and those encountering them for the first time.
Laura Wilcock
Laura Wilcock is a folk singer, drummer, and willow artist whose work is rooted in song, ceremony, and a deep connection with the land. She has over 25 years of folk singing experience and is a Hampshire willow grower and member of the Basket Makers Association, using organic, locally grown willow in her art.
Having spent many years living and travelling in Britain and rural France, Laura gathered songs from Irish, English, Scottish, and French traditions, performing widely as a vocalist and percussionist. Her work is centred on participation and wellbeing, from leading community song circles and ceremonies to singing in healthcare, education, and charitable settings.
At Solstice at Wasing, Laura is integral to the ceremony, using Celtic drumming and vocals to hold rhythm, energy and shared intention. Her willow sculptures and shrines quietly anchor the woodland setting, creating spaces for connection, reflection and belonging, and weaving together people, place and the ancient language of the natural world.
Visy Bloodaxe
Visy is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and craftsman drawing on dark age, Viking and shamanic folk traditions to bring ancestral sound into contemporary ceremony. Specialising in throat singing and ancient stringed instruments such as the tagelharpa, his music is raw, grounded and deeply elemental.
A valued year-round member of the Wasing team, Visy has a close relationship with the land and a deep understanding of its rhythms. His music arises from this connection, honouring place, memory and the shared human past, evoking a time when music, ritual and daily life were inseparable.
At Solstice at Wasing, Visy will offer Celtic-inspired sound woven with ancestral resonance, performing alongside Laura Wilcock in a powerful musical dialogue that invites us to listen beyond words and reconnect with the deep roots of song, land and lineage.
Timings
3.15am Gather in the Sacred Glade
3.30am Procession to Solstice Hill
4.45am Sunrise Ceremony
A Ceremony to Remember
Through fire, music, and song, the Sunrise Ceremony at Solstice at Wasing invites you to welcome the longest day in an intimate, shared celebration of unity, gratitude, and renewal. It is a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the cycles of nature, bringing fresh light and connecting us deeply to the flora, fauna, and the natural world around us.
Discover more and book tickets here