The summer solstice is this Sunday, marking the first official day of the season and the longest day of the year. Combine that with the fact that Mercury just turned direct after a month in retrograde, and there’s a lot to celebrate in the sky this weekend. Here's how to mark the occasion.
1. Griffith Observatory. Maybe the first place to turn to for any event involving celestial bodies, but especially on a solstice. There’ll be a free, day-long event on Sunday at the Observatory. At noon and 8pm, you’ll be able to see the sun’s shadow hit two markers on the actual Observatory, part of the building's thoughtful design.
2. Summer Solstice Party at the Hammer. Mostly a summer kick-off, this event is also promoting the two exhibitions that recently opened at the Hammer (that would be this photography exhibition and one with works by LA artist Mark Bradford). Use the extra minutes in the longest day of the year to explore the museum during extended hours, and break it down while KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole spins tracks.
3. Main Street Summer SOULstice Festival. If nothing else, summer on the Westside is all about two things: street fairs and hitting the beach. So, naturally, Santa Monica celebrates the solstice with this annual two-day event. Stroll around Main Street and catch live bands, and maybe pick up a cool find at a sidewalk sale.
What else says summer? An outdoor movie.