The Summer Solstice is the shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere. It falls on June 20th or 21st.
The Summer Solstice is an important celebration in traditional cultures. If you go far enough north, the sun doesn’t set at all. If you go far enough south, the sun doesn’t rise at all.
Summer Solstice 2023
The next June Solstice is Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Midsummer
Midsummer is an old English name for the Summer Solstice. Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and George Balanchine’s ballet of the same name refer to this time of year.
Midsummer is actually June 24. This solstice celebration is not on the solstice because it is based on the Julian calendar that preceded the Gregorian calendar used internationally today.
La Fête de la Musique
Parisian’s celebrate the shortest night with La Fête de la Musique, an all-night street festival of live music all over Paris. SummerStage usually presents a Fête de la Musique in Central Park.
Summer Solstice 2018
The 2018 Summer Solstice is Thursday, June 21, 2018.
NYC’s main summer solstice celebration is Paul Winter’s Summer Solstice Celebration at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in Morningside Heights, Manhattan on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 4:30 am. $40 – $50
France Rocks and Bureaux Export bring Vianney / Chassol /Joakim to play a little Fête de la Musique in the Parisian tradition at Central Park SummerStage on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 6 – 10 pm. FREE
