GSO Summer Solstice

Summertime is here y’all! And celebrations abound across the Triad on June 22.

As the longest day shines on the world, the fairies and folks behind the Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival will celebrate the festival’s 20th solar rotation — with music and merrymakers and a dazzling fire finale — at the Greensboro Arboretum in Lindley Park. 

For “Head Faerie” Susan Sassmann, it’s a summertime dream paired with a mission aiming to ”create an experience for our festival-goers that blends local artisans, performers, and budding entrepreneurs with a little bit of magic and a lot of love, opening up imaginations to the possibilities in each of us.”

Looking back over 20 magical years, “we’re proud to have gotten to this benchmark,” she said. “I think it’s because the city wanted it and we responded to the need. During these challenging times with so much division, we are happy to provide so much joy for so many in the hopes that it will carry on in the hearts and minds of Greensboro citizens.”

Photo by Alex Forsyth

When it comes to the festival, Sassmann, the “dream team” of organizers, and attendees alike wear those hearts of joy on their sleeve — accented by the glitter and wings of the cosplay element that’s blossomed over the festival’s tenure. “The dress-up factor increases each year and now it’s safe to say that we have the best ‘people-watching event’ in town.” Vendors and wares are well-stocked with fae-inspired duds, and several body artists are on hand to turn attendees into their own walking works of art.

The festival’s feast for the eyes (and ears) goes far beyond fashion — and beyond what Sassmann and the “dream team” could have imagined at that first festival in 2005. “It was intended to be a one-time-only event,” she said. “We held it in the Bicentennial Gardens on a Tuesday evening. There was a mystery about the celebration that brought droves of people eager to see what it was.”

“We knew immediately that we had struck a nerve in the hearts of Greensboro citizens. We had no idea how it would grow, but each year more people flocked to the event as we added music, then vendors, buskers, and eventually the Parasol Parade, Drum Circle, and Fire Show.”

Led by percussionist Sandy Blocker (University Accompanist at Elon University), the hour-long drum circle follows the Parasol Parade (with accompaniment from Too Phat Brass Band) — inviting participation from the audience and igniting the energy that culminates with the festival’s Fire Finale. 

“It’s a crescendo that leaves participants giddy,” Sassmann said, “it’s a full participation rhythmic experience that welcomes both drummers and dancers.” There’s also the Circle Sounds immersive experience led by Lyn Koonce. As the longest day sets, the festival heats up — literally — with fire spinners and LED hoopers — setting the crowd figuratively a blaze, “....a perfect ending to any enchanting festival.”

That enchantment has firmly cemented the Solstice celebration as a Greensboro summer tradition; drawing crowds of around 5,000 attendees, “along with 100 entrepreneurs bringing their hand-crafted items and artistry to the audience.”

Photo by Bonnie Stanley Photography

Nestled where the arboretum and Lindley Park intertwine, the festival grounds feature two band stages and a vendor “Bazaar” bustling with artists, makers, and merchants. Meanwhile, mermaids will be lounging — ready to mesmerize — in the Arborteum’s Butterfly Garden; and buskers will be bouncing around with bursts of entertainment. 

“There’s ample space to meander through the gardens, relax under a tree with a cold beverage, and watch the delight on the faces passing by,” Sassmann said, turning to the independent artists and buskers to be found. “The Golden Mime is a favorite — she sprinkles faerie dust on kids and adults. There’s pirates, stilt walkers, and wandering minstrels really add to the ambiance of Solstice and the fire performance at dusk brings the day to a close as the sun sets and we close this day for another year.”

All the while, behind the scenes, the experience is wrangled by a “dream team” of folks — each with their own whimsical title — turning festival dreams and delights into reality. For Stuart Stanley (aka “Captain of Stage”), it’s a labor of love. “I love the whole ‘vibe’ that our attendees, vendors, performers, and staff bring year after year,” he said. As a musician, thespian, and “enthusiastic kilted weirdo,” Stanley has been involved with the Solstice celebration for “well over a decade,” and regards the team as family. “I’m so proud to be a part of this 20th-year celebration!”

As Captain of the Stage — technical “stages” — Stanley helps present eight musical groups gracing the two stages: the “BHHS-Yost & Little Stage” featuring Taboo Sue, Pure Fiyah Reggae Band, the Too Phat Brass Band, the Chris O’Leary Band, and SunQueen & The Soular Flares; and the “Serenity Stage” with Jessie Dunks, Maia Kamil, and the Queen Bees. 

For the Queen Bees, the super-trio of electro-folk from Kate M. Tobey, Molly McGinn, and Quilla — it’s a buzz. “We’re really excited to be a part of this year’s summer solstice festival,” they said. “It’s all about celebrating community, nature, and the feminine spirit — three things we live for!”

Too Phat Brass Band

Photo by Audrey Lambert

Kamil and Dunks echoed the affection for community. “Greensboro is where I first started performing and where I found deep musical kinship,” Kamil said. “My band and I are so excited to perform new and old songs for the solstice festival in a community that we love so much.” 

Dunks is especially excited to celebrate their own summer kickoff (and second time performing for the festival). “Everything about the festival embodies Summer,” they said. “The music, the vibe, the food — the 90-degree weather — and I’m excited to bring some of my favorite original songs to the stage!”

The vibes radiate from SunQueen Kelcey Ledbetter — a festival favorite and soulful elemental powerhouse. “Invigorating. Inviting. Encouraging. That’s how I’d describe GSO Summer Solstice Fest!,” Ledbetter said. “This will be our third year performing and our sixth year attending. I can genuinely say it gets better each time with great vendors, a message of self-love, incredible music, and an awesome crew! We leave feeling inspired and impatiently waiting to do it all over again next year! See y’all soon on the Berkshire Stage!”

Festival first-timer Chris O’Leary is equally excited. “We’re really psyched,” he said. A Billboard-charting bluesman (who toured with Levon Helm), O’Leary exalted his knockout rhythm section — drummer Chuck Cotton and bassist Shiela Klinefelter — and their connections to the Greensboro community. 

While Too Phat Brass Band will be a new musical offering for the festival, a few members have graced the Solstice stage before with the Unheard Project GSO. “They had a great time celebrating the longest day of the year,” said Too Phat’s “band dad” and vocalist Jeremy Goad. “We’re excited to share our love for New Orleans second-line brass band parade music with our community at this year’s Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival!”

Goad will be joined in the Too Phat lineup by Daron Loftin on trumpet, Shane Wheeler on sax, Leroy Pridgen IV on trombone, Chase Butler on sousaphone, and Jobias Jackson on drums; with a strong possibility of special guests.

Jessie Dunks

“The beautiful thing about brass players is the mutual appreciation of New Orleans’ brass band tradition as the root of many of the genres in which we play today, so recruiting people to play with us is pretty easy,” Goad explained. “The collaboration in our local scene is fantastic. If you’ve seen a horn player in one of your favorite local or regional acts, chances are they’ve played with Too Phat or Unheard Project GSO.”

It’s that sense of collaboration and celebration of community — combined with a reverence for natural, solar wonder — that Sassmann considers the core of the solstice celebration. 

“There is a respect for the beauty of nature and the warmth of humankind that seems to envelop the crowd,” she said. “The celebration crosses economic and racial lines and brings out people of all ages to dance together, eat and drink, and shop together while supporting everything local!”

“Promoting local vendors and talent is at the forefront of our thoughts, along with the goal of engaging our diverse community with each other and the arts. We want the Greensboro Summer Solstice to spark creativity in our community and provide a stimulating and awe-inspiring event that will impart an everlasting memory for the entire family.” Sassmann and her team also aim to keep admission affordable: entrance is $10, and children 12 and under are free. 

“Really, volunteers are the backbone of the day,” she continued. “Greeting guests, pouring beer, and parking cars. It’s an eclectic mix of people, tastes, and sounds that bring it all together to make such a special event possible. We maintain a kindness vibe and a celebratory tone that’s often hard to find.”

Soular Flares

Photo by Jon McLawhorn

“As the day progresses, the energy rises and despite it being the longest, and sometimes hottest day of the year, once 5 p.m. kicks off the parade, you can feel the creative spirit and sense of community all around.”

Those spirits and communal senses radiate across the Triad. While the Solstice Celebration offers flights of fancy and a Parasol Parade in Greensboro; in Winston-Salem rainbows shine as the PrideWS festival pops off around downtown with a parade of its own. 

Meanwhile, SECCA is putting some soul in the Solstice — and launching the 2024 installation of the Southern Idiom concert series — with a full band show from “intergalactic soulster” Sonny Miles. The Winston-native landed on former President Barack Obama’s “Favorite Music of 2019” playlist, and released his latest album, “Gamma”, in February. He’ll be joined on the lakeside stage by Kenny Wavinson, Greensboro’s purveyor of vibey, melodic “Lakewater Rock.”

As the longest day envelopes the world — there’s a bounty of ways to soak up the sun and the energy of community, with music, food, and art across the Triad in celebration on June 22. 

The 20th Greensboro Solstice Festival runs 2-10 p.m. at the Greensboro Arboretum and Lindley Park; true colors shine at PrideWS in downtown Winston-Salem, with the parade rolling at 11 a.m.; and Sonny Miles offers out-of-this-world soul with a splash of Kenny Wavinson’s “lakewater rock,” at SECCA, starting at 6 p.m.

Happy Solstice, Triad music lovers.

Katei Cranford is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.