About Solstice River

Come to the beloved Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 21, at 8:30 p.m. sharp to watch the astonishing, site-specific dance event, Solstice River, which celebrates the Mississippi River on the longest day of the year. Dancers annually bring the river corridor to life by appearing on the dike, nearby grain silos and rooftops, and in kayaks. Learn about the river’s environmental issues and appreciate its beauty.

The last note of the music ends just as the sun sets at 9:03 p.m. on the longest day of the year in this beloved annual tradition, which began in 1997. The event is choreographed by Marylee Hardenburgh and Stephanie Engebretsen, with music by J. David Moore.

Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education provides public information about the care and health of the river.

Viewers' reactions

One attendee of these annual performances has said, "By attending these events, I have gained an intimacy with a river that I had merely lived beside. Through music and dance, we are invited to appreciate, experience and learn about the historic St. Anthony Falls, the historic touchstone of Minneapolis, and a geological vestige of the ancient waterfalls, which long ago were 175 feet tall and over 10 times as wide as Niagara Falls. These waterfalls surely are symbols of power to ponder during trying times. Water abundance and wealth is writ large here in our past. Solstice River asks us to consider the future of these water resources and offers solutions."

Directions

The Stone Arch Bridge is approached from the downtown Minneapolis side at West River Road and Portland Avenue; from the east side of the river, the approach is from 6th Avenue SE and Main Street.  The site is wheelchair accessible.

For more about this event, visit Global Site Performance.