The summer solstice — the longest day of the year — arrives on Saturday 21st June, marking the official start of summer with more daylight, warmer evenings, and a touch of seasonal magic.
Traditionally celebrated with rituals, music, and community gatherings, the solstice is a chance to pause, reconnect with nature, and welcome the light.
From soulful sound baths to countryside walks and festival-style parties, here’s how to celebrate the summer solstice in and around High Wycombe this year.
Summer Solstice at The Hellfire Caves & Walled Garden
📍 West Wycombe
🗓️ Saturday 21st June | 4-8pm
🎟️ £5 per person
A unique festival-like experience with live folk music and Morris Dancing, summer wreath making, communal eating with food vans, a costume competition, face painting and a spectacular Midsummer bonfire at the Walled Garden.
For those wanting to learn more about the solstice and Midsummer, head to the caves for some fascinating lectures on the history, myths and meaning of the festival with author Stevyn Colgan.
👉 Find out more and buy tickets here.
Hartbeats Drummers on Coombe Hill
📍 Coombe Hill
🗓️ Saturday 21st June | 7.30pm – sunset
🎟️ Free
Celebrate the Solstice with the moving and atmospheric beats of West African djembe and dundun drumming and dance from the Hartbeats Drummers. They’ve been playing at the Solstice almost every year since 1999!
Make sure you keep an eye on the weather forecast and the Facebook event page as they’re unlikely to play in a downpour.
👉 Find out more here.
Summer Solstice New Moon Retreat at Lopemead Farm
📍 Long Crendon
🗓️ Saturday 21st June | 2-6pm
🎟️ £72.22 per person
It’s all about nourishing and nurturing yourself at this retreat, which coincides with the Cancer New Moon and will take place inside a firelight tipi.
Expect practices like Qi Gong, a cacao ceremony, fire and water ritual, sound bath, guided meditation, Reiki, intention setting and much more. There’s also the option to take part in sauna and cold plunge too if you really want to up the ante.
👉 Find out more and buy tickets here.
Summer Solstice Celebration on the Downley School Fields
📍 Downley
🗓️ Thursday 19th June | 7.30-9pm
🎟️ £20 per person
A special evening to spend time in nature and connect with the local community.
The evening will start with a slow outdoor yoga flow, followed by a gong, crystal and tongue drum sound bath, finishing up with tea and snacks. In situ will also be a variety of stalls from local businesses that you can browse as well.
👉 Find out more and buy tickets here.
Summer Solstice at Hughenden Village Hall
📍 Hughenden Valley
🗓️ Friday 20th June | 7-9pm
🎟️ £25 per person
An evening designed to honour the ‘sacred shift’ that occurs with the Solstice, moving through yoga, Qi Gong, meditation and a sound journey to invite in the energies of summer.
👉 Find out more and buy tickets here.
Solstice Bike Show at The Dashwood Roadhouse
📍 Piddington
🗓️ Wednesday 18th June
For something a little bit different for all the local bikers, head over to the Dashwood Roadhouse!
All bikes are welcome (there’ll even be an award for the best bike) and you can expect food from the outside kitchen and live music from Lynch Mog on the outside stage from 7pm.
👉 Find out more here.
Sound & Nature Workshop at Marlow Bottom Village Hall
📍 Marlow Bottom
🗓️ Sunday 22nd June; 4-6.30pm
🎟️ £33 per ticket
Celebrate the longest day of the year with an uplifting evening of nature, reflection and sound healing. This special Summer Solstice experience begins with a peaceful nature walk, followed by a guided journaling session to connect with the energy of the season. It all ends with a deeply restorative gong bath meditation — the perfect way to realign body, mind and spirit under the midsummer light.
👉 Find out more here.
Summer Fest at Waddesdon Manor
📍 Waddesdon
🗓️ Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June
🎟️ From £15 per adult, £10 per child
While not solstice-themed specifically, Waddesdon’s Summer Fest is a joyful weekend of live music, artisan food and drink, creative workshops and family-friendly fun.
The festival is actually inspired by the Rothschild family’s annual garden party – The Baron’s Treat – and is definitely a great way to kick off the summer season. I’ve got my eye on the Pimm’s bar…
👉 Find out more and buy tickets here.
Whether you’re looking for ritual and reflection, nature and movement, or music and merriment, there’s a summer solstice celebration for everyone in and around Wycombe.
Mark the date, soak up the light, and celebrate the turning of the seasons with your local community ☀️
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