In the middle of winter, when the nights are long, and the days are grey and short, we hold a special celebration on Galiano. This year will be the ninth annual Solstice Potluck. It’s a time to celebrate community and the warmth of togetherness on the darkest night of the year, keeping in mind that at this point darkness gives way and changes back towards the light.

For me, Solstice preparations begin when I pick up the organic turkeys from Ireland Farms in Saanichton. The day of the event, we spend the day in the kitchen making bread and soup, cranberry sauce and roast potatoes, but I’m always grateful the dinner is a potluck and everyone comes with something to share.

At Solstice we celebrate with a kids’ candlelight parade, a huge bonfire (where you can get mugs of hot soup if you want to stay outside and enjoy being awake in the night), a big potluck feast, and local musicians to entertain us afterwards. It is a community event. Everyone is welcome.

It also is a time to reflect on the past year and the ways in which Galiano celebrates community through so many food-focused gatherings and events. There are so many ways that the different generations of our community connect and share food together.

And you can help too. Volunteers are what make huge community events like this possible. We need help with cooking, hall set up, dishes, musicians, lantern making, clean up…. There are so many ways to get involved. Contact Alison to find out how you can join in the fun.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Doors open at 5:00pm

Candlelight Parade 5:30pm from GIRR

Outside Soup and Bonfire 5:30pm

Potluck 6:00pm

(Please bring appetizers and main dishes)

Entertainment 7:30pm