On December 21 Catskill Village will be holding their annual Winter Solstice Stroll, an age old celebration on the longest night of the year. All Main Street holiday shops and restaurants will remain open after nightfall while Main Street, transformed with lights, wreaths of holly and mistletoe, will be closed to vehicles. The festivities will open with a traditional ceremonial ritual—the lighting of the fire pits and up and down the length of Main Street musicians, including ukulele players, dancers, performers, Men’s Glee Club, Bag pipers, Victorian Strollers, the illustrious Morris Dance Troupe and the 2nd Baptist Youth Dancers will be providing entertainment, No winter celebration is complete without decorating cookies and a little face painting, nor complete without wassailing with hot mulled cider and cocoa, and of course coming together around a fire pit.

People have always gathered on the longest night of the year to reflect on the transition of darkness to light, and in the spirit of renewal, let it go, and send a wish for good tidings in 2024.