Solstice Market Announcements | Hillsborough Arts

Solstice

Market Announcements!

WINTER SOLSTICE
DECEMBER 21

5-8 PM

Hillsborough, NC

Scroll down to learn about live music, artist vendors, exciting experiences, and more to look forward to at the 2023 Solstice Lantern Walk & Market!

Music & Entertainment

2022 event photography courtesy of Drone Data and Film.

LIVE MUSIC:

5 - 5:45 PM -

Lagomorph Quartet

5:45 - 6:45 PM -

Ancient Song Therapy (Accompanying the Spiral of Light in River Park)

6:45 - 8 PM -

Lagomorph Quartet

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

SPIRAL OF LIGHT: Honor the season by walking the Spiral of Light! 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 of Light during the walk procession, courtesy of Ancient Song Therapy.

WALK START:

5:45 PM

Eno River Farmers Market Pavilion

*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 with walk start with their giant moon man & stars puppets!

GINGERBREAD AWARDS: Awards for the 2023 Homes for the Holidays Gingerbread Competition will be announced at Solstice Market!

Plan to tour the gingerbread houses on display in historic, downtown Hillsborough now through Jan. 1, 2023.

Click here for a map of the 2023 gingerbread locations and to vote for your favorites!

Solstice Market Artists

Click for links to artist websites where available.

Kathleen Grebe - Bold Standard

With a 500lb. laser cutter, I transform flat sheets of material, like lucite and wood, into bold statement jewelry. My background in graphic design guides the strong shapes and typographical elements of my designs. Echoing modern art, my jewelry uses unconventional materials and meaningful concepts to stand out amongst the crowd. My surprisingly lightweight pieces strike a chord with many backgrounds. The comment I hear most often is, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Perdita Holtz

Using stoneware clay in my home pottery studio, I create original ceramic Art to bring joy and beauty to people’s everyday lives. I use hand-building and wheel throwing techniques to transform a lump of clay into an object. Most of my work is functional so that it can be enjoyed in daily living, but I also create purely decorative items. My aesthetic often features work made by employing a wide variety of texture techniques and a broad spectrum of color. I fire my creations in my electric kiln, fondly known as Bessemer. Offering my Art in-person is important because I believe that touch is as important as sight to the aesthetic.

Simone Gaddy

I make Eco-Friendly candles with coconut soy wax, wooden wick, and a hint of sparkle.

DJ Kelly Ceramics

Ceramic "tree lights" are thrown on a wheel, then altered, pierced, and glazed by hand. Come with a battery-operated tea light or string of fairy lights to bring light and warmth to the season. Ceramic mugs with wintery evergreen carvings bring the warmth directly to your hands.

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 for you and your beloveds. We natural dye a variety of shirts, dresses, kid's clothes, silk scarves, bandanas, prayer flags and more using Japanese Shibori techniques. Our small batch herbal line includes elixirs, tinctures, infused oils and balms made from homegrown and Organic herbs.

Gina Bader

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

Mary Piepmeier - Pottermeier

This winter, my collection already includes ceramic tree lanterns, mini snow flurry bowls, 10-pointed star ornaments, Woven Color Story bells, and more!

Caroline Smith - Studio Adeline

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

Grey Brown

I create spirit dolls using a variety of materials. I make the faces and bodies of stoneware treated with iron oxide and a thin glaze. I often incorporate wood I scavenge from forests and our barrier islands, usually cedar and driftwood. Accents might include shells from the NC shore, feathers, and upcycled jewelry bits. These dolls come to life as I juxtapose one media against another and explore the intersections. I hope that my dolls will provided hope, strength, support, humor and whimsy. I am a member of Womancraft Art Co-op and sell my work through their gallery and have been a vendor at Fallfest in Chapel Hill.

Jess Sandford - October Forever

Lightweight, porcelain clay jewelry produced in the mountains of North Carolina. Each piece is handcrafted with care and attention to detail.

Jim Jubelirer

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. My product line ranges from simple tea lights for everyday use to ornate centerpieces. These candles are affordable and make great gifts!

Angela Ritter

I am a watercolor artist - in addition to commissions for portraits and landscapes, I also offer originals and prints. For this season, I have also made some greeting cards and ornaments!

Food & Beverage

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

Tacos, burritos, and nachos with El Jefecito!

Vegan Black Bean Chili & Minestrone with Govinda's Catering!

Kettle Corn with GypZea Maize!

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Cookies & hot cocoa with the Hillsborough Bake Shop!

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, small, local businesses this winter season! Grab lunch before the walk; peruse in-town artist wares and gifts; catch dinner, dessert, a drink, or a show after the procession.

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!

IN-TOWN SPECIALS & PROMOTIONS >

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

TOUR THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES >

Don't forget to explore the gingerbread houses on display in many local shop windows now through Jan. 1, 2023. Click here for a map of the 2023 gingerbread locations and to vote for your favorites! Awards will be announced at Solstice Market.

Additional support for this program is generously provided by the Hillsborough Tourism Board.