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Sunrise drum circle

The Druids thought of the Summer Solstice as “the wedding of Heaven and Earth,” and the Celts and Slavs celebrate the first day of summer with bonfires and dancing. Well, you can’t get the bonfires in Center City (those pesky fire ordinances…), but you can certainly get the dancing: on June 20th the Kimmel Center is hosting its 7th annual all-night party to welcome the longest day of the year.

From 3pm until dawn all of the Kimmel Center’s venues, indoor and out, will be dedicated to the festival. There will be dance and live music performances for all ages (including R&B, classical, pop, and jazz, among others), as well as face-painting for the kids – the afternoon schedule will be more kid-friendly than the late-night gigs, of course.

Bring your pooch to the outdoor “Yappy Hour” kick-off, where food will be served for both you and your buddy. InLiquid will be hosting an outdoor art/craft show, Art for the Cash Poor along Spruce Street, Miss Amy’s Fitness Rock & Roll will the keep the kids entertained, and hip-hop duo Christian Rich and Philly’s Grateful Dead tribute band, Splintered Sunlight, will perform later on. Check out the full schedule of events here.

If you plan to make it through the whole night, don’t forget to BYOD (Bring Your Own Drum) to welcome the dawn with a rousing sunrise drum circle. Tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Second to watching the shadows fall into perfect alignment at Stonehenge, this is the coolest Solstice Celebration you’ll find.

Summer Solstice Celebration
Saturday, June 20th, 3PM – Dawn

The Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.kimmelcenter.org