Willow Springs Park invites the community to celebrate the winter solstice, the official start of winter, with introspection, meditation, music and nature.
In partnership with Neighbor-to-Neighbor, under the Long Beach Office of Climate Action and Sustainability, Willow Springs Park has four hours of free, nature-filled mindfulness scheduled. The Winter Solstice event will take place at Longview Point at Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.) from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, and usually takes place on Dec. 21 or 22 each year.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., there will be a peaceful guided tour of Willow Springs, where attendees can learn about and rejuvenate with the flora of the park. For this introspective tour, attendees should bring water, closed-toed shoes, sun protection and layers of clothing for comfort. Space on this walk is limited, and residents should register ahead at lbcity.info/solstice.
From 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., Kali SoundBaths will host a sound bath with guided meditation. During this experience, attendees will encounter the soothing power of sound while they relax and restore themselves with nature. Participants can bring something comfortable to sit on during the sound bath, and should register at lbcity.info/solstice.
At noon, all attendees can enjoy a solstice viewing at the highest point in Long Beach at Longview Point. Afterwards, the Long Beach Ukulele Club will perform to ring in the winter season. Music will be accompanied by arts and crafts provided by the Friends of Willow Springs Park. Residents are welcome to bring a chair to sit on for this portion as well.
Visitors can park in the lot at 2745 Orange Ave. For those using public transportation, the 104 bus line operates daily along Willow Street with stops a short walk from the park. Use LB Transit’s Trip Planner at ridelbt.com/ to preview the commute.
Visitors can also schedule a ride with Dial-A-Lift at idelbt.com/dial-a-lift/, a curb-to-curb, shared-ride paratransit service.
Friends of Willow Springs Park notes that the trails of the park are unpaved and, in places, have steep hills. For questions about park accessibility, please email sustainability@longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-6396.
