35,000 at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice

By Gary Stafford | Published: Sun 21st Jun 2009

Stonehenge 2009 - solstice 2009
Photo credit: Gary Stafford

Stonehenge 2009

Sunday 21st June 2009
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE, England MAP
FREE (including FREE car park)

With this years Solstice falling on a Sunday & weather forecasts predicting a clear night it was no surprise a record breaking 35,000 or so attended Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice.

solstice 2009

A heavy police presence, both around the site & within, were kept busy, with people climbing on top of the stones being a popular problem. One man had his face scraped down a stone when one over enthusiastic policeman managed to get hold of his leg & give it a good tug.

solstice 2009

Under a starry cloudless night the majority of the crowd were peaceful & enjoying the sites & sounds. Many small non-amplified bands had set up around the stones along with a speaker’s corner to the west of the henge.

Unfortunately the cloudless night was not to last, when at 3.00am the stars disappeared under a thick blanket of grey cloud, which stayed well past sunrise, resulting in a sunless solstice. By 5.00 many of the disappointed solstice goers called it a night & headed back to the car parks. Maybe better luck next year?

solstice 2009
review by: Gary Stafford

photos by: Gary Stafford


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