Tired of the dark already?

Help us light up the longest night of the year!

Join us for Longview's annual Solstice Lantern Walk Through the Solar System. We'll follow the model solar system given to the City of Longview by Friends of Galileo in 2001. It's on the west side of Lake Sacajawea (map below).

Bring some light and cheer to the longest night of the year, and celebrate the return of longer days. Meet some of the small organizations that make Longview a great place to live! They will light up their planet markers. What can you do?

  • Bring the family.
  • Dress for the weather.
  • Bring headlamps and balloon lanterns and flashlights.
  • Look for Santa!

Let’s celebrate the return of longer days, and warm up the start of winter by meeting new friends!

  • Get your solar system passport stamped as you reach each planet.
  • Vote for the best planet.
  • Submit your photo of the event.
  • Enjoy a 3.7 billion mile stroll through our solar system as we celebrate the solstice!
Picture
Details

Where: meet at the marker for the Sun, south end of Lake Sacajawea Park. Walk at your own pace to the marker for Pluto 1.64 miles north (or 3.7 billion miles, according to our model!)

When: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Saturday, December 18, 2021.
(The solstice is Dec. 21 but the walk will be on the Saturday before).

Cost: free!

Space Shuttle: round trip too long? No problem! We'll arrange our popular space shuttles for a quick drive between the Sun and Pluto. Space shuttles and pilots courtesy of the Afifi Shriners - thank you!

Restrooms: Park restrooms should be open through the event at the Lions Shelter (south end, Nichols side) and over the footbridge (Kessler side, at Hemlock north of the playground).

Changes: check here from time to time for updates, or check our Facebook page. We're working with the City of Longview and participating groups to arrange this awesome event, and details will evolve.


Planetary sponsors

Here are our sponsors so far. Come by and check 'em out!


(We know Sacajawea isn't a planet, but it's her park and we think she'd like to participate.)

We are talking with other groups and will update this page when they confirm participation. Who do you think would be a great sponsor? Let us know!

How can you make this a great event? 

We're a small club and we'd appreciate organizational help. Check our info page for volunteers.

Check our info page for sponsors if your group would like to sponsor a planet in 2021. We have plenty of room!

Contact Friends of Galileo with your name, contact info, and how you'd like to help. Thanks!

Past Solstice Lantern Walks

In 2018, we had our first annual Solstice Lantern Walk from the Sun to Pluto. What a great event! We had clear skies, a full moon, and over 500 people walked the route. We even had Santa!

A wet week dried up just in time for our second annual Solstice Lantern Walk in 2019. We had more community groups take part, and more than half the route - more than half a mile! - was lined with luminaria to light your way through the solar system.