On December 21, 2009 the Winter Solstice occurs - which is the shortest day/longest night of the year, announcing the start of winter north of the equator (excuse my ignorance because I thought winter was already here). Longer daylight hours will follow the Solstice so it is a perfect day to celebrate. In the mighty burg of Toronto Red Pepper Spectacle Arts is holding the 20th Annual Kensington Market Festival of Lights.
Their website says "Red Pepper’s popular Kensington Festival of Lights attracts 10,000 people annually for a hand-made, commercial-free peoples celebration in Kensington and Alexandra Park on the Winter Solstice."
The Festival begins at 6:00pm at Oxford and Augusta. The celebration is interactive so they want you to bring lanterns, costumes, and bells and join in the fun in "Toronto's original Lantern procession!"
Tonite's weather is supposed to be partly cloudy with temperatures around -3 to -5 degrees Celcius so dress warmly for a couple hours out in the cold - remember, it's now winter! Here are a few pictures of the parade and the finale at the Park. You can also see some of the great parade on my video on YouTube.
The parade came into Alexandra Park at Dundas and Bathurst and finished in the ball diamond where a fire celebration was put on with flame blowers and flame jugglers putting on a show for the large crowd. After awhile the large center piece, which could have been a bra with wings - for that extra uplift, was set on fire. I'm pretty sure that means winter is now over.
UPDATE: A still picture from my parade video was used on a Kensington Market site with permission.
