Tag Archive for: festival

Hay on Fire Festival

Tonight (Halloween 2009) was the Hay on Fire festival here in Hay-on-Wye, Wales.  The night first started with a parade through town that slowly made its way out to the ‘Warren’ on the edge of the river Wye where the fire festival was held.  The crowd numbered in the thousands to watch the fire dancing, hear the music and see the final culmination in the burning of a wicker man giant with of fireworks.  By far the coolest celebration I’ve yet to see on Halloween.  My pictures don’t do much justice to the coolness of the night…
2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

2009 hay on fire festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, photography

Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade

Today (Saturday) was the annual summer solstice parade here in Santa Barbara.  This was the first time I’ve gone in years and years so I thought I might go and take some photos.  Definitely a lot more colorful and sunny compared to how they celebrate midsummer in Germany, but I don’t think we could get away with huge bonfires here in Southern California.

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Lots and lots of colorful costumes: some cool looking, some funny, some strange and some just a little bizarre.  But hey, it’s summer now…

Click here for a gallery of more photos