June 14, 2015
The Avalon Palm Beach Business Chamber Inc. invites everybody to the inaugural This is Avalon -Winter Solstice Festival. This will be a wonderful celebration of how vibrant and brilliantly blue Pittwater is at this time of year. The rundown of all the events and everybody getting involved reminds a little of days decades ago when a lentil burger bought at Avalon Parade was eaten while sitting on South Av. Headland watching the waves roll in and all those who catch them. There at sunrise, there at sunset, writing really bad teenage poetry with titles like ‘The Mystics of Avalon’ , which was more about mist in Avalon Beach spun pink by sunrise, or the equally clumsy ‘It’s winter now’ and sending them into Tracks and they, dear darlings, publishing such inept notes sprung from being overwhelmed by sea, sun and land glory.
There may be a few more poets inspired by this day long Solstice Festival though, it’s a day filled with tributes to sea, to sand, to people and all that makes life worth living.
The day begins at 5.45am with yoga at Avalon Beach Surf clubhouse and watching the sunrise through a great surfboard Stonehenge installation on beach and culminates with a Lantern Parade in Dunbar Park at 4.30pm and Fire Twirling performance (5pm -6pm) this great new initiative by the Avalon Beach Palm Beach Business Chamber.For more de-light-ful inspirations you could join Bookoccino for a free event with Fred Watson at 11am. Fred is an Astronomer and author of the books 'Star Craving Mad', 'Stargazer the Life and Times of the Telescope', as well as 'Why's Uranus Upside Down?'.
2015 is the International Year of Light and Light Technologies and there are few professions that utilise both light itself and the tools of optics more than astronomy.
During the talk, Fred Watson will explore the history of our understanding of light, and will look at the ways we are using it to enhance our understanding of humankind's place in space. As space is limited it’s recommended you please book your seat on 9973 1244.
In the afternoon this great local book shop with the brilliant coffees will have Poetry Readings by Poet - Rebecca Law – go Rebecca!
The Sydney Chapter of Sea Shepherd will be having a merchandise /awareness stall at the Avalon Winter Solstice Festival. This will be a fun filled day with Sea Shepherd doing whale watching talks from the Southern Headland from 8am so make sure you come along as there will be some fantastic merchandise available for purchase and you can also have a chat to the volunteers about Sea Shepherd Australia/Global and what they do and also how to get involved!
Pittwater Online’s own Lynda Hill, the best and most accurate Astrologer we’ve ever met, will be doing Readings at Ozzie Mozzie Nets. Bookings on 0432 922 368 please, you don't want to miss out!
There will be Chalk Art for the littlies and Jamestown Project will run a Percussion instrument recycling workshop in Avalon Recreation Centre in the afternoon for those aged from 4 to 12.
Dunbar Park will have GIANT Chess and Checkers and other games, while Reverse Garbage are running workshops all day for young and adults alike – there will be a day-long drop-in lantern-making workshop for kids 5-15yrs and for those over 16 and upwards, up-cycled furniture with surf-boards and milk-crates workshops and will also have a building professional to oversee safe and reliable construction of outdoor furniture.
There too The Rolling Fix - Mobile Bicycle Mechanics – Info Booth will have a Free Beginners Bike Safety Check Workshop and a Free Intermediate/Advanced Bike Mechanics Workshop- times below, and there are more planned fun activities and art for young and old.
Every business has great food and merchandise specials or free tastings of something scrumptious, so come on down Pittwater and Sydney, immerse yourself in all this great events, workshops and stroll around the village and bag yourself a bargain. John Stone has organised some great music so everywhere you go your toes will have an extra reason to get into the groove.
If you’re not part of the festival yet, and want to be, Ros Marsh advised us yesterday there are still a few spots for Not For Profits to be a part of this first Winter Solstice Festival – and the team are still looking for a few extra volunteers or local community /school fundraising events to assist with activities. In decades to come you will be able to say “I was there!”
Call Ros ASAP on 0407 932 066 or email her el’ Prontos (!)on info@avalonpalmbeachbusinesschamber.com.au
This is an eco-friendly event. So ‘No plastic please’ and please leave no waste.
Concierge bicycle parking is available 9am-4pm (Gold coin donation to Avalon Bulldogs Rugby Fundraiser) west of the Scout Hall and Extra Parking Des Creagh & Netball Courts opp Avalon Public School –subject to weather. Gold coin donation
This is Avalon -Winter Solstice Festival - Events
Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club - Event Space - Upper Deck
5.45am - 6.45am Living Oceans Yoga Practice by Donation Avalon Beach SLSC
6.45am - 7.45am Watch the Sunrise through Stonehenge Surf Board Installation
6.45am - 7.45am Living Oceans Sunrise Celebration - Join hands to pay homage to our elders, Welcome our whale gurus as they migrate north. Stand together to celebrate our wonderful community in a show of unconditional love and collaboration.
7am - 10am Chill Bar will be serving an eco friendly nourishing breakfast and coffee at the Beach - BYO or compostable plates & bowls. All profits donated to our first Bottle Refill Station for Avalon.
South Avalon Headland Reserve
8am - 2pm Sea Shepherd Whale Watching Talks
Avalon Beach Village - Avalon Parade & Old Barrenjoey Rd
8.30am - 12pm Johnson Bros Hardware - 49 Avalon Pde – Solstice Specials 1
9am - 3pm Music Performances in 6 locations co-ordinated by John Stone & MV Music
9am - 4pm Ozzie Mozzie Nets - 2/36 Old Barrenjoey Rd Huge Sale & Astrology Readings by Lynda Hill –Bookings - 0432 922 368
10am - 3pm Avalon Wholefoods - 25 Old Barrenjoey Rd Solstice Specials.
10am - 3.30pm Catts Boutique - 25 Old Barrenjoey Rd Bubbling with Champagne & Special Prices.10am – 4pm: Next Door Bar & Dining- on the day we will have $10 burgers all day + $3 coffee all day as a special for the festival.
10am - 4pm Peaches Boutique - 55 Avalon Pde Fantastic Solstice Bargains.
10am - 4pm Pinko Boheme - 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd Designer Showcase & Solstice Specials.
10am - 4pm Jenny’s Painted Pots - 5/11 Avalon Pde Free Christmas Tree & Lolly Bags for Painting Purchases from our Christmas Range.
11am - 5pm YODA - 68 Old Barrenjoey Rd $14 Lunch & $6 Wine Special
11 am - Bookocino Fred Watson Astronomer Talk
11am to Late Meltimi - 1/46 Old Barrenjoey Rd $12.50 Souvlaki Wraps & Greek Specials.
11am - 1pm Avalon Art Gallery - Cinema Arcade - Fairy Tale Reading & Painting Workshop for 8 years & up. $20 per person - pre book on 0410 966 404
11am - 1pm Avalon Organics - 25 Avalon Pde Free Tastings for Dips, Muesli & Thermomix Cooking.
12 - 2pm Rust - 45A Avalon Pde Free Belle Fluer Chocolate Tasting & Mulled Wine
12 - 2pm YODA Free Roti & Sambal Tasting
2pm - 4pm Bookoccino - 37A Old Barrenjoey Rd Free Petite Hot Chocolate in the Courtyard & Poetry Readings by Poet - Rebecca Law
Wickham Lane North Wow Walk
9am - 4pm Giant Chess & Checkers and other Fun Games in the Lane Way
9am - 4pm Street Art in the Lane Way — come see the experts.
Dunbar Park - Avalon Beach Village
9am - 4pm Shimmer Jewellery Designs - Local Artisan Jeweller
9am – 4pm - Giant Chess /Checkers & other games in Dunbar Park & Patterson Lane,
Including Chalk Art in Patterson Lane
9am - 4pm Free Reuse Lantern Making Workshops by Reverse Garbage at the Scout Annexe include:
2 x Workshop operators providing a day-long drop-in lantern-making workshop for kids 5-15yrs
Scout Annexe 9am -2.30pm: Overflow lantern workshop for under 5s (to be confirmed).
2 x Workshop operators providing adult workshops (up-cycled furniture with surf-boards and milk-crates) High school to adult in Dunbar Park 9-3pm with a building professional to oversee safe and reliable construction of outdoor furniture
A “tardis” to store giant chess set: High school to adult Dunbar Park 9-3pm
9am - 4pm The Rolling Fix - Mobile Bicycle Mechanics – Info Booth
11.30am - 12.30pm Free Beginners Bike Safety Check Workshop
1.30pm - 2.30pm Free Intermediate/Advanced Bike Mechanics Workshop
9am - 4pm More Fun Art in the Park Activities to Be Advised
9am - 4pm Northern Beaches Permaculture - Bee Keeping Workshop – (May be Seed Saver)
9am - 4pm Pittwater Council - Plant Giveaway
10am - 4pm Bowral Farm Yard Friends
9am - 4pm Boomerang Bags, Friends of Soibada, Living Oceans, Sea Shepherd, Surfrider.org and more. Boomerang Bags will be in Dunbar Park and Room 1 of the Recreation Centre doing bag making demos/workshop
10am - 6pm Avalon Fire Brigade
2pm - Jamestown Project will run a Percussion instrument recycling workshop or 2 in Recreation Centre Hall from approx. 2pm. This is geared to suit ages 4 – 12 years
4.30pm - 6pm Finale Lantern Parade and Fire Twirlers
Website: www.avalonpalmbeachbusinesschamber.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/avalonwinterfestival/
The June Winter Solstice in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia is on Monday, 22 June 2015 at 2:39 AM AEST.
