Okanagan celebrates summer solstice

Summer solstice celebrations have been planned throughout the Okanagan for Tuesday.

Tuesday, June 20 marks the longest day of the year and the official start to summer.

To celebrate, a number of events are taking place through the valley including two in Penticton.

A public gathering has been organized by the Penticton meeting group of the Okanagan Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Those taking part are to gather at Munson Mountain at around 8:15 p.m. for what’s called the “Pen Henge” ceremony.

The “Pen Henge” standing stone array is a project spearheaded by Chris Purton, a retired radio astronomer at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory at White Lake.

The installation, which is located at the top of Munson Mountain above the large “Penticton” sign on the east side of Okanagan Lake, consists of four stones that delineate the sunset points on the four cardinal dates of the year.

Anchored by the Heel Stone, the Equinox Stone points to the sunset point at both the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, while the other two stones mark the Winter and Summer Solstice setting points respectively.

Those in attendance will watch the shadow cast by the sun over the summer solstice stone extend gradually toward the central heel stone.

There will also be another summer solstice celebration in Penticton Tuesday evening. This one hosted by OK In Health.

The 4th annual “Largest Summer Solstice in the Okanagan” celebration will take place at the Marina Way Park by the beach on Okanagan Lake starting at 6:33 p.m.

The free event was started by Ok In Health magazine’s founder Maria O’Farrell in 2014.

The event celebrates people’s connection to the land and the lake and now brings attendees from all over the Okanagan, Canada and the US.

Last year more than 150 people turned up for the celebration.

Summer officially starts on Tuesday at 9:24 p.m.