As the longest day of the year approaches, Ryerson Park will once again come alive with yoga, drumming and the glow of the setting sun — and with all that extra daylight, there’s no rush to leave.
Leading the Drumming Down the Sun celebration is Loretta Pietrobon, who’s been marking the arrival of the summer solstice in Niagara-on-the-Lake for more than a decade.
The gathering returns June 20 with yoga at 7 p.m., led by NOTL instructor Rianna Reid, followed by handpan drumming from Jeff Seed shortly after 8 p.m., continuing until sunset.
This marks the ninth summer solstice gathering since Pietrobon began hosting it in 2014, with only two cancellations — one for COVID-19, another for weather.
Pietrobon, who organizes the celebration on her own, said it’s the setting and the spirit of the crowd that make it truly special.
“The diversity of people that come out — young, old — and a lot of people come from other towns,” she said. “You get a nice mix of people.”
This year, for the first time, she’s required to pay a $100 special event permit fee — to offset the cost, she’s asking participants to give a small donation at the event.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring their own instruments — anything from drums to a saxophone — and join in the fun, Pietrobon said.
There are no tickets, no registration and no food, water or alcohol provided. There’s no formal end either — people can drop in anytime and stay as long as they like.
“It’s very open-ended,” said Pietrobon. “Just walk to the park and find a spot where you can get a good view of the sunset.”
Pietrobon encourages people to walk or ride a bike, as there is limited parking.
“That was implemented by the town just after COVID,” she said.
The gathering was inspired by Carla Carlson, Pietrobon said.
Carlson started Drumming Down the Sun nearly 30 years ago at Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie. It has since grown into One Solstice, One Lake, Three Beaches — a trio of annual solstice celebrations held at different Niagara shoreline parks.
“Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we’ve kind of branched off from her event,” Pietrobon said.
She said she held the first solstice gathering at Queen’s Royal Park in 2014 but moved it the following year, realizing the sunset wasn’t visible from that location.
Ryerson Park has hosted ever since, thanks to its clear view of the sunset, she said.
“And it’s just a nice lakeside park,” she said.
The solstice gathering is a time-honoured tradition celebrated across many cultures, dating back “thousands of years,” Pietrobon said.
She said she values how people continue to honour their ancestors, the traditions passed down, and “the life-giving energy of the sun.”
