Solstice

Announcements!

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
5-8 PM

Hillsborough, NC

Farmers Market Pavilion

Scroll down to learn about live music, artists, food & beverage vendors, and exciting experiences to look forward to at the 2025 Solstice Lantern Walk & Market!

Music & Entertainment

2022 event photography courtesy of Hillsborough Photography.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Lagomorph Quartet will perform three 45-minute sets throughout the evening, 5-8 PM

Living Arts Collective

Drummers and Wind Musicians

(Accompanying the Lantern Walk, 5-8 PM)

LED Fan Dance Performances in River Park with Amy-Jae Rignola & Company at:

6:15-6:30 PM

7-7:15 PM

7:45-8 PM

This year, 1,2,3 Puppetry’s Giant Moon Man & Stars Puppet encourages you to go ahead and enjoy the lantern walk at your own pace! Just keep right and be mindful of your fellow walk participants.

SKY TOURS: If skies are clear, stargaze with CHAOS Astronomers! Find the Astronomers in River Park to learn about the cosmos as we celebrate the Winter Solstice!

2024 Solstice Lantern Walk - Selfie Station-1.jpg

7:30 PM - 1,2,3 Puppetry’s Giant Moon Man & Stars Puppet will herald the closing of this year’s lantern walk with a final lap of Riverwalk! If you want to walk with the Moon Man, join them at the Farmers Market Pavilion!

GINGERBREAD AWARDS: Awards for the 2025 Homes for the Holidays Gingerbread Competition will be announced at Solstice Market!

Plan to tour the gingerbread houses on display in historic, downtown Hillsborough Dec. 7th to Jan. 4th, 2026.

FAMILY & FRIENDS PORTRAITS:

Commemorate Solstice and take a group photo with local photographer Monica Meyer!

Solstice Market Artists

Click for links to artist websites where available.

Mary Piepmeier - Pottermeier

This winter's collection includes ceramic hanging stars, Solstice Village and Forest Lights, colorful taper candle holders, and vintage inspired baubles. I am excited to offer festive signature favorites & a few new cozy items to bring cheerful light to our community!

Franzika Tsufim - Mushroom Lights

Unique, mushroom-shaped ambience lamps from North Carolina's native woods. Each lamp tells a story, celebrating the wood's origin—like the black walnut that fell in Winston-Salem during Hurricane Helene. After harvesting, Tsufim dries the wood for months before transforming it into one-of-a-kind mushroom forms. The wood's natural features—bark, grain, or spalting—inspire the designs. Each piece is strung with high-quality, dimmable LED lights.

Adrienne Oates Art

My work is a whimsical take on ceramics, inspired by nature and crafted by hand with locally sourced clay. I blend watercolor paintings and vintage floral decals with motifs of flowers, moths, crystals, and mushrooms. My black moon pieces explore the mystery of the night sky, offering a darker, celestial balance to my colorful garden inspired works. Each piece is both functional and a reflection of wonder in the natural world.

Simone Gaddy - Sow & Glow

Sow and Glo is a candle business making coconut soy wax candles using wooden wicks including wax melts and car diffusers. All candles are hand poured in small batches. Sow and Glo candles are clean burning and eco friendly. Sow and Glo means to plant a seed to grow and glo up . Each candle scent is uniquely created and named based on self growth such as New Heights, Adulting , Goal Digger etc.

Perdita Holtz - Handcrafted by Perdita

I create artisan craft pottery in my home pottery studio using stoneware clay and a variety of hand-building and wheel throwing techniques. Most of my work is functional so that it can be enjoyed in daily living. My aesthetic often features work made by employing a wide variety of texture techniques and a broad spectrum of color. I fire my work in my electric kiln, fondly known as Bessemer.

Food & Beverage

Hot apple cider & bottles to take home (to-go only) with Botanist & Barrel!

Kettle Corn with GypZea Maize!

Empanadas, Arepas, Cachapas, and Fries with Empanadas and More!

Baked Goods (including GF & vegan options)

with Genevieve Pastry!

Hot Chocolate & Baked Goods with Star Fish Bakery!

Plan Your Visit to Hillsborough!

All HAC events are town-wide celebrations of creativity and community. While in Historic Hillsborough, we encourage you to make a day of it and support our beloved local artists and businesses this winter!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO >

Have questions about parking, the walk route, viewing locations, restrooms, etc.? We've answered most-asked questions in a comprehensive guide to help you plan for the optimal Solstice experience!

MAKE IT A WEEKEND! >

Planning a trip to Hillsborough for the Solstice Lantern Walk? Find out where you can stay the night, enjoy a cozy meal or a sweet treat, and explore charming shops and galleries that support our local artists and businesses this winter season!

TOUR THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES >

Don't forget to explore the gingerbread houses on display in many local shop windows Dec. 7th through Jan. 4th, 2026. Awards will be announced at Solstice Market!