Essential information
| Type |
Events and festivals
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | Saturday 19 December 2026 | 10.30am-5pm |
| Prices | Free |
Make the most of the shortest day of the year and head to the Winter Solstice Family Festival at the National Maritime Museum, a celebration filled with fun activities.
The festivities include music, dancing, storytelling, and arts and crafts inspired by the global stories, traditions and folklore of the winter solstice - from interactive tales of the holly and oak king to lantern making, shadow puppetry and much more.
Royal Observatory astronomers will be outside with telescopes, so you'll have the chance to look at the Sun (with a safe solar filter) or the Moon. They'll also be answering all your astronomy questions and explaining what makes the winter solstice an important day in the astronomy calendar.
Please note that this event is being run by the astronomy team at the National Maritime Museum while the Royal Observatory is undergoing a transformation project.
See the programme below, with timings to be announced.
More activities will be added to this page soon - keep your eyes peeled!
Programme
Solstice Crown Making
Seminar Room | Time TBC | Drop-in
Did you know that plants have long held special meanings in winter solstice traditions? Join us for a creative crafting session where you’ll make your own midwinter crown, decorating it with paper leaves, flowers and fruits traditionally associated with the solstice.
Solstice Storytelling
Lecture Theatre | Time TBC | Drop-in
The winter solstice is a time for dreaming and storytelling. Gather round our imaginary fireplace and be enchanted by solstice stories, from the mountains of the Winter Queen to the forests of the Oak King.
A Cornish Solstice Celebration
Rethink Space | Time TBC | Drop-in
The Montol Festival in Penzance, Cornwall celebrates the local traditions of the solstice, marking the return of the light as the days start getting longer from this point onwards.
As dusk falls people carry lights through the streets, dress up in colourful masks and costumes, and celebrate with music, dancing and a little bit of mischief! It’s a time to call back the light - come along and join in the fun.
Lantern Making
Figurehead Space | Time TBC | Drop-in
Bring a little light to the longest night! Create your own paper lantern inspired by the winter sky, then decorate it with suns, moons, stars and seasonal greenery.
Winter Solstice Craft
Learning Space | Time TBC | Drop-in
As winter reaches its darkest days, join us to create a symbol of light and new beginnings inspired by Dongzhi, a Chinese winter solstice tradition.
Make a beautiful hanging to brighten your home or to share with someone special.
Walking the Path of the Sun Installation
Propeller Space | Time TBC | Drop-in
Celebrate the shortest day of the year through this interactive art installation. Follow the path, take a quiet moment together and think about the things that have made you smile this year.
Leave a wish, a hope or a dream for the season ahead, and help us welcome back the light.
Solstice Shadow Puppets
Learning Space | Time TBC | Drop-in
Celebrate the solstice with light and shadows! Discover the fascinating world of shadow puppets, then get creative and make your very own puppet to take home for more shadowy adventures and play.
Solar and Lunar Observing
Solar observing 11am-2pm and lunar observing 2-4.45pm
Join us for a special family observing session. View the Sun and Moon through telescopes, explore the Moon's rugged surface, and discover the science behind the shortest day of the year with our astronomers and the Flamsteed Astronomy Society.
Please note that this event is weather-dependent.
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Header image: Between Solstices © György Soponyai, shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021