Winter Solstice Celebration Lights Up Deans Marsh

What a magical evening we shared at this year's Winter Solstice Celebration!

As the shortest day gave way to a beautiful winter night, our community came together to celebrate light, connection, creativity and culture in true Deans Marsh style.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the many volunteers whose time, energy and enthusiasm made the event possible. Special thanks to Nyhm, Adam, Kylie, Gail and Tara for their incredible contributions behind the scenes and throughout the evening.

We started off the night with a Poi Workshop, led by Michelle and Tara, which was a fantastic way to involve children and families from the very beginning of the evening. It was wonderful to see so many young people learning new skills and becoming part of the celebration.

We were honoured once again by the mesmerising Welcome to Country led by Richard Collopy, Peter Collopy and family. Their generosity in sharing culture and connection to Country helped set a meaningful tone for the evening.

The entertainment throughout the night was simply outstanding.

Tim Tom from Celestial Sound delivered an incredible performance that added a truly special atmosphere to the event.

As always, the lantern parade was a truly special moment. Watching the community come together, lanterns glowing against the winter night, is a beautiful reminder of what makes Deans Marsh such a wonderful place to live.

More thank yous also to the very talented Firetwirlers and performers who captivated the crowd, and to the community drummers led by Demir, whose rhythms brought energy and excitement to the celebration.

One of the highlights of the evening was the beautiful Orrery display, which helped us understand the science behind the Winter Solstice in a creative and engaging way. The painted rocks displayed on the Orrery added another special touch, and we thank everyone who contributed their creativity to this community artwork.

No community event would be complete without great food. Thank you to everyone who helped in the Cottage Kiosk serving warming mulled wine, The Store for their delicious curries, the Deans Marsh Tennis Club for keeping the BBQ running, and the Deans Marsh Primary School families for the wonderful desserts!

A huge thank you also goes to Surf Coast Shire for their support and contributions, which helped bring many of these extra elements to life, including the face painting by Vicki, which was a huge hit with the children.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, created, cooked, carried, planned and supported the event. Together, you helped create a memorable evening that celebrated community spirit and lit up the longest night of the year.