Solstice

Announcements!

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024

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 2024 Solstice Lantern Walk & Market!

Music & Entertainment

2022 event photography courtesy of Hillsborough Photography.

LIVE MUSIC:
5 - 5:45 PM -

Lagomorph Quartet

5:45 - 7 PM -

Living Arts Collective

Drummers and Wind Musicians

(Accompanying the Lantern Walk)

5:45 - 7 PM -

Singing Sound Bowls by

Amy-Jae Rignola of

Devoted NC: Hair & Healing Arts (Accompanying the Spiral of Light in River Park)

7 - 8 PM -

Lagomorph Quartet

SPIRAL OF LIGHT: Honor the season by walking the Spiral of Light, brought to you by Spring Forest Farmastery! This meditative, community-created labyrinth will be in River Park 12/16 - the last week in December.

Listen for the singing bowls accompanying the Spiral during the walk, courtesy of Amy-Jae Rignola from Devoted NC: Hair & Healing Arts.

SKY TOURS: If skies are clear, stargaze with CHAOS Astronomers! Find the Astronomers near the River Park Arch to learn about the cosmos on the Winter Solstice.

WALK START:

5:45 PM

*Please do not enter from alternate points along Riverwalk.

Follow the Moon Man! As is tradition for Solstice Lantern Walk, 1,2,3 Puppetry will herald the walk start with their giant moon man & stars puppet and lead our procession along Riverwalk!

GINGERBREAD AWARDS: Awards for the 2024 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. 5th, 2025.

SOLSTICE PHOTO BOOTH: Commemorate Solstice and take a photo with your lantern at the Solstice Photo Booth!

Brought to you by HAC Business Sponsors. Click here to learn more about marketing your business while supporting the arts as a HAC Business Sponsor!

SOLSTICE RAFFLE: Take part in the onsite raffle to win gift certificates to your favorite local businesses!

Solstice Market Artists

Click for links to artist websites where available.

Perdita Holtz - Handcrafted by Perdita

I create artisan craft pottery using stoneware clay in my home pottery studio, making a large variety of functional and decorative items while focusing on unique surface textures/finishes.

Caroline Smith - Studio Adeline

Studio Adeline is a modern stained glass studio specializing in unique home objects.

Ames Herbert

I hand craft adult-size and kid-size walking and hiking sticks. Each is unique, carved and designed, made from locally sourced seedlings. Each stick has a label with the name of the tree species it's made from to foster more awareness of the beauty and importance of our forests. I've been making/selling my crafts in the Triangle area since 2019.

Samantha Piekarski - Nymphalia Handmade

I make earrings out of preserved butterfly and moth wings, bones, shells, and other natural materials such as crystal beads. I also am branching out into making necklaces with the same materials.

Simone Gaddy - Sow & Glow

Sow and Glo is a woman-owned candle business making hand poured coconut soy wax candles using wooden wicks. All candles are hand poured in small batches. Each candle is eco friendly, clean burning and has a hint of sparkle in the wax . Sow and Glo means to plant a seed to grow and glow up which has inspired each candle name.

Courtney LoMonte - Gaia's Magical Goods

We are a husband and wife duo of natural dyers and herbalists that hand dye one-of-a-kind natural Indigo textiles and make small batch Herbal goods. We natural dye a variety of shirts, silk scarves, bandanas, and more using Japanese Shibori techniques. Our small batch herbal line includes elixirs, tinctures, infused oils and balms made from homegrown and organic herbs.

Jim Jubelirer - All is Well Candles & More

I am a craft candle maker specializing in pure beeswax candles from wax collected only in Chatham, Orange, and Durham counties, in central North Carolina. Hyper-local. I create products that look beautiful, burn brightly, and create a healing and uplifting atmosphere.

Calile DeThomas - Caliles Creations

I make hand-painted, unique wood art juxtaposing the colors of natural wood to give my creations depth and vibrancy. I enjoy making my art, but I especially enjoy bring joy to others with it! The majority of my display is wall art: mandalas, trees, gardens, fairies, mountains, etc.

Gina Bader - Crystal Squirrel

Mittens and scarves made from upcycled (thrifted) wool and cashmere sweaters. Everything is handmade using as much repurposed fabric and material as possible!

Marc Keith - Floating Feather Books

Floating Feather Books & Stationery sells a variety of handmade books, journals, cards, stationery, and paper, all designed to encourage customers to slow down, live in the moment, and engage with their creative sides. Bindings range from paperback Japanese stab bindings to standard case books to more elegant styles, such as the Secret Belgian Binding, and many books feature my hand-marbled paper. Other paper goods, such as handmade cards and bookmarks, are also available.

Mary Piepmeier - Pottermeier

This winter, I am offering ceramic hanging stars, Solstice Village & Forest Lights, Woven ornaments, and (new!) candle holders. An entire collection of all things festive and cozy to add a little light to the long dark nights.

Casey Toth - Hark and Heed

Hand-forged home goods and homegrown medicinal herbs.

Grey Brown

I am a ceramics artist who creates "spirit dolls" using stoneware to roll highly textured slabs highlighted with iron oxide. High fire glazes compliment the texture and shapes. In addition I adorn my dolls with feathers, shells and upcycled jewelry. My spirit dolls offer comfort, courage, power and whimsey.

Kelly Owensby - West of the Moon

I am a clinical herbalist and I make crafted herbal/botanical products from medicinal plants and herbs that I grow in Cedar Grove. I make custom tincture blends for sleep, anxiety, focus, digestive bitters and more. I also make botanical powdered face masks, botanical face creams, botanical hair rinses and herbal tea blends.

Channing Clark

Hi! I am a 16 yr old who taught myself how to crochet during the pandemic. I make all kinds of things from hats and scarves to food, animals and even a dress!

Christina Whitehouse - Kiln Goblin Ceramics

My work is functional wheel thrown pottery, with a bit of an antique lean to them. A lot of my inspiration comes from going to garage and estate sales with my dad growing up looking through the different eras and styles of pottery. My goal with my work is to create pieces that in form would look right at home in a tavern or antique shop, but with rich modern colors.

Luis Gutierrez - Gutierrez Woodworking

All items are hand made with hard and exotic woods.

Shannon Langdon - Illusive Bloom

I create unique artisan fragrances using all natural botanical ingredients, some of which I extract myself, and others I acquire from far off lands.

Seraiah Woods - Luminary Healing

Luminary Healing is a spiritual team of artisans that create handmade crystal jewelry and miniature terrariums. We use genuine gemstones and crystals from the earth, and hand-wrap them in copper wire, creating intricate designs that embody the energy of the cosmos and the earth all in one. We also create miniature terrariums that allow each person to hold nature in the palm of their hands.

Katy Petrisin - Ware Ware Studio

Ware Ware makes modern, functional ceramics with playful patterns and pops of color.

Paola Diaz

Hello! My artwork is inspired by nature and its perfection, beauty and symmetry. I use a variety of techniques to create my paintings and illustrations, but my favorite is mixed media.

Mïa Vollkommer - 2 Dots Over The I

My work combines silver-smithing, wire work, and bead weaving techniques to create unique and lightweight pieces of wearable art bursting with visual texture and unusual color combinations.

Charlotte Mae & Millie Thompson

Charlotte Mae sells drawings in the form of small cards and 8x10s. She has a unique and highly detailed whimsical style that is full of the magic of childhood. She draws in ink and individually watercolors each of her pieces.

Millie is a nature lover and makes holiday ornaments and magnets with her collected botanical treasures. They are beautiful and make wonderful gifts.

Susan Zeisel

A large selection of fabric items including adult and child quilts, seasonal table runners/placemats, wall hangings, market bags, cozies for the microwave, crayon and pencil rolls, and tooth fairy pillows. All items are made by me from high quality cotton fabric.

Food & Beverage

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

Good ol' BBQ with

Smoking Good BBQ!

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

Baked Goods (including GF & vegan options)

with Genevieve Pastry!

Kettle Corn with GypZea Maize!

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!

SPECIALS & PROMOTIONS >

Many downtown businesses offer extended hours, specials, and promotions to support the Solstice festivities! Be sure to check out all the Solstice Specials & Promotions to explore before & after this event.

TOUR THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES >

Don't forget to explore the gingerbread houses on display in many local shop windows Dec. 7th through Jan. 5th, 2025. Awards will be announced at Solstice Market!