Summer Solstice Celebration 2023: Night at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture

Date: 

Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 5:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: 

11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
A gymnast upside down in a mounted vertical hoop in front of a crowd.

 

Free In-Person Special Event

Join the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture on the longest day of the year—free of charge—to explore the galleries and new exhibitions at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, and the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East.

See also: 2022-2023

Step outdoors to enjoy lively musical and circus performances, play mini-golf, and make a flower crown. Ice cream, mocktails, and snacks will be available to purchase from food trucks and vendors. Don’t miss out on this popular event for all ages!

Sponsored by the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate Commons and the Harvard Summer School. Presented with the generous support of the Harvard FAS Community Renewal Fund.

This festival is part of HMSC’s 10-Year Anniversary celebration.

Free event parking will be available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Please note that Divinity Avenue will be closed to traffic during the event.

The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture are an 8-minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square MBTA Red Line station.

Explore the Galleries

ACTIVITIES

Location: 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Activities are appropriate for all ages.

Flower Crowns 
5:00–7:00 pm
Design a summer crown with seasonal flowers, garden greens, and ribbons (while supplies last).

Community Paint Project
5:00–7:00 pm
Participate in a community paint project with Boston-based artist Howie Green. All ages are welcome to help illuminate 40-inch wide spheres representing the Sun, Moon, and Earth.

Traveling Farm
5:00–8:00 pm
Meet and greet a small group of farm animals visiting the museums to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Sun-Sational Museum Mini Golf
5:00–8:30 pm
Enjoy a game of sun-themed mini golf and explore the wonders of the sun in HMSC collections.

Solstice Raffle
5:00–8:30 pm
Stop by the HMSC Information Booth to enter a raffle for museum gifts and a Household Membership. 

Shopping
5:00–8:30 pm
Stop by the museum shop at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and take home a memento from your visit. Enjoy a 10% discount in celebration of HMSC’s 10 Year Anniversary.

PERFORMANCES

Time: 5:00–8:45 pm 
Location: 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts

5:00 pm until sunset
Stilt walkers, jugglers, and acrobats will be performing throughout the event.

5:15 pm
Circus Arts Feature Show
In this annual tradition at the Summer Solstice Celebration, artists from Off the Ground Circus Arts will stage a daring performance of circus arts and acrobatics.

6:15 pm
GBCCA Chinese Music Ensemble
The Chinese Music Ensemble of the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association (GBCCA) presents uplifting and joyful music to welcome the summer season. The ensemble, established in 1984 to promote awareness of Chinese culture and heritage, is one of the oldest groups of its kind in New England. 

7:00 pm
Fabiola Méndez Trio
Fabiola Méndez is a Puerto Rican cuatro player, educator, and composer who blends folkloric, jazz & Latin musical genres. With the smooth bass lines of Juan Maldonado and the lively güiro and multi-percussion rhythms of Miguel Martínez, Fabiola highlights the pride and beauty of the Jíbaro & African roots in Puerto Rican culture.

7:45 pm
Kalifa & Koliba
Kalifa & Koliba brings together musicians from two continents to blend traditional and modern styles–including West African Rhythms, Hi Life, Reggae, Ska, Zouk, and more. Bandleader Mohamed Kalifa Camara takes listeners on a joyful journey from ancient Africa to modern, urban America with a sound and beat that brings audiences to their feet, dancing and singing along.

8:20 pm
Solstice Countdown
Countdown the minutes to the end of the longest day of the year!

REFRESHMENTS

Time: 5:00 pm until sunset
Location: 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
Bon Me pan-Asian delights
North East of the Border Mexican food
Zaaki Mediterranean cuisine
Craft House Bartending mocktails

 

 

HMSC 10 Year Anniversary logo.

See also: Special Events