A great Winter Solstice day was celebrated in Newbridge village. on 24th June, 2023.  Over 1000 people passed through the gates throughout the afternoon. 

The program included over 50+ artisan & makers market stalls offering local produce, arts and crafts, woodwork and metal work, fashion, homewares and boutique distillery products. 

Dancing performances and fabulous live music added to the festive vibe resonating through the village all afternoon.   Brave knights, ladies and damsels, wild vikings, painted warriors, peasants locked in stocks, witches and wizards were all seen strolling through the crowds. The costumed visitors certainly enhanced the winter solstice theme.

Street performers interacted with the crowd sharing hoopla, juggling, and viking battle skills.  The Kids Corner on Gladstone Green was a popular spot for children with Wirradjurri story telling, face painting, plaster painting and kids viking battles. 

An opportunity to rest a while on the hotel verandah, with a bevvy in hand to do a spot of people watching whilst enjoying the band was appreciated by many. 

Food options available included a chance for the many visitors to choose from market food stalls, pub menu or  they could show support to the Blayney branch of the CanAssist charity by purchasing from the fund raising food stall. 

As the sun dropped, the cool night air moved in so the crowd moved to surround the bonfire on the Gladstone Green. By nightfall the Wicker Man on the bonfire was well alight and the now, warmed up crowd watched on entranced by the scene of the flames reaching up into the sky.  Hundreds of mini wickemen, with cards bearing the written woes and worries of the crowd, were tossed into the Wickerman flames.  A ritual from medieval times that was practiced to release the burdens from the people.  

What a fabulous afternoon and evening at the Newbridge Winter Solstice Festival 2023.  

See you all again at the Newbridge Winter Solstice, 22nd June, 2024!