English Heritage, which manages the Stonehenge site, said on Sunday: “As the sun came up on the longest day of the year, we welcomed more than 20,000 people to celebrate together, with thousands more joining in via our livestream from around the world.”
On June 21, Earth’s northern hemisphere is most tilted toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day of the year. The reverse is the case in the Southern Hemisphere, where December 21 is the longest day.
It appears that the prehistoric megalithic stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire in south-west England was built to align with the path of the sun on these days.
Why was crowd control implemented at Stonehenge?
By 1978, public access to Stonehenge began to be restricted – tourists no longer had the freedom to walk among the stones – a response to cases of vandalism and increased erosion resulting from the rapidly increasing numbers of tourists.
Modern-day Solstice gatherings first began in the mid-19th century, including train access to nearby Salisbury.
These more anarchic and free-form events came to a violent halt in 1985, when a clash broke out between police and a group of hundreds of New Age travelers calling themselves The Peace Convoy, in what became known as the Battle of the Beanfield.
As the police tried to enforce prohibitory orders to stop the convoy received by local authorities, at first the road was blocked, eventually more than 500 people were arrested.
It was one of the largest mass arrest incidents in Britain since at least the Second World War. Allegations of police misconduct and violence against officers circulated on both sides.
How do modern-day solstice ceremonies work?
By 2000, English Heritage began opening the Stonehenge site for managed entry on the two solstices, as well as the spring and autumn equinoxes. Since then the incidents have increased rapidly.
Parking is pre-paid, by booking only, and the fee increases by £5 in 2026 to £25 (about €28.20 or $33.20). Spaces sold out, and English Heritage warned people not to park along the A303 or other busy trunk roads passing through the site – a major route linking the south west with London – saying that cars would be towed.
Instead, special buses from Salisbury took other revelers to the site.
What else is happening on the summer solstice in Europe?
The weather certainly fits the bill for the first day of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere, with the UK and much of Europe facing severe heat warnings.
Temperatures in the Salisbury area were relatively mild by national standards on Sunday, with a high of 29 degrees Celsius (84.2 Fahrenheit) forecast.
However, in France, the government prohibited the public consumption of alcohol during Music Day celebrations in celebration of the summer solstice. These include thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and Paris clubs, bringing communities together and increasingly attracting international visitors.
Sweden’s midsummer celebrations, which began on Friday, were dealt a blow on Saturday after the country suffered a 5-1 World Cup defeat to the Netherlands.
Perhaps predictably, Scandinavian temperatures are currently far more conducive to outdoor fun, even amid a heat wave in the south.
Edited by: Zack Crellin
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