Summer Solstice 2019: How DC, Virginia Mark The Season's Start

VIRGINIA — The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year — and the beginning of the season of vacation days, museum visits, trips to the beach, hikes in the mountains and other fun across Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.

Summer officially arrives in Washington, D.C., at 11:54 a.m. Friday, June 21, at the moment the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer, its highest point. The summer solstice is also the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

There will be 15 hours and five minutes of daylight on Friday. The sun rises at 5:42 a.m. and doesn't set until 8:36 p.m in Washington, D.C.

Here's a few events set this weekend to celebrate the solstice/start of summer:

Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle: The event, sponsored by grocery store chain Giant, is "one of the largest and unique food and music festivals in the country," according to a statement. It will take place Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th streets in Washington, D.C. Check out performances by musical groups Everlast (Saturday) and the Spin Doctors (Sunday).

Solstice Illuminated Dance Party: Hosted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, the party includes an afternoon of Andean music, dance, and family friendly activities celebrating the Great Inka Road. At 7 p.m., the celebration becomes the Solstice Illuminated Dance Party, taking place on the museum’s Welcome Plaza. There will be a DJ, refreshments, fun, and food, with all galleries open throughout the evening.

Fairfax City Beer Garden: Held on June 23, 2019, from noon to 7 pm. This summer solstice outdoor event is filled with community fun: 20+ craft brews, drinks, food, charity, games, and music. Loudoun County breweries (Ocelot, Rocket Frog, and Solace) will serve some delicious brews as well. Cake Bee will provide desserts.

Saturday, June 22

• Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (through June 23)
• Taste the Philippines: D.C. Filipino Food Festival
• Portside in Old Town Summer Festival
• Well Ray Festival
• Solstice Saturday Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian
• Battle of the Bands: Summer Festival at Fort Hunt Park Pavilion
• Mayor Muriel Bowser's 2nd Annual District of Pride
• Animal Enrichment Weekend at Leesburg Animal Park
• Astronomy Festival on the National Mall
• Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd's The Wall at Wolf Trap
• Nordic Jazz Festival in DC
• Summer Solstice Hip Hop Film Festival
• Carlyle Block Party in Alexandria
• Superheroes and Dinosaurs: After Hours at Smithsonian
• White Ford Bronco - All 90s Music at Tarara Winery
• Reston Concerts on the Town presents Hard Day's Night
• Summerfest at NewLife Alexandria
• National Day of Play at Gymboree Play & Music Burke
• Columbia Pike Movie Nights — Wonder Woman
• The Stranger: A Tribute To Billy Joel at State Theatre

Sunday, June 23

• Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band with Samantha Fish at Wolf Trap
• Fairfax City Beer Garden
• Blagden Market in DC
• Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards- free concert in McLean
• Kids Summer Kickoff in Occoquan

Here are four things to know about the summer solstice:

1. Native American tribes have long observed the summer solstice and many continue the rituals today. Tribes in present-day Wyoming constructed a "medicine wheel," a stone wheel with 28 spikes, at the top of Bighorn Moutain to observe the solstice. It was aligned with the sunrise and sunset of the solstice and is accessible only in the summer months.

2. Thousands will gather at Stonehenge, a Neolithic megalith monument in the south of England, to celebrate the summer solstice. Stonehenge, built around 2500 B.C., lines up perfectly with both the summer and winter solstices.

3. The summer solstice is steeped in pagan folklore and superstition. According to some accounts, people wore protective garlands of herbs and flowers to ward off evil spirits that appear on the summer solstice.

4. June 21 marks the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The forecast high temperature for the first day of winter in Esperanza, located on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (the coldest place on Earth), is 8 degrees.