Unfortunately I’ve found the popularity of Kensington Market's Festival of Lights has caused the number of spectators to grow every year as the number of actual participants dwindles
As the temperatures starts to drop, I’ve been thinking about our annual pilgrimage to Kensington Market for the Festival of Lights. It is one of my favourite things to do. The true start of the season for me. A group of like minded people marching together through the emptied out market by the closed darkened stores down the streets devoid of cars, the only people there carrying lanterns or noisemakers. Watching the fire eaters and costumed volunteers make the streets feel like our own personal Cirque du Soliel. Feeling our hearts shift to meet the beat of the drum bangs.…
Winter Solstice Festival of Lights Kensington Market – Originally uploaded by tysonwilliams.com Last night was the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market. It was the oddest solstice for us. Perhaps the one that most embodied the Winter Solstice as the darkest day of the year. Nothing really bad happen, just enough little stuff to take the shine off my tinsel. Continue reading my solstice whine… Or just skip it and tell me something lovely that happened in your day! p.s. Tyson was kind enough to let me use the photo on the left from last night’s procession. The ribbons in…
Winter Solstice Festival of Lights Kensington Market — Originally uploaded by tysonwilliams.com Last night was the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market. It was the oddest solstice for us. Perhaps the one that most embodied the Winter Solstice as the darkest day of the year. Nothing really bad happen, just enough little stuff to take the shine off my tinsel. Continue reading my solstice whine… Or just skip it and tell me something lovely that happened in your day! p.s. Tyson was kind enough to let me use the photo on the left from last night’s procession. The ribbons…
I have to get me some of these! Throwies are a revolution in temporary art: invented by the Graffiti Research Lab, they can stick to anything that is ferromagnetic and glow for about two weeks. Graffiti Research Labs Useful for newmindspace’s Radical Illumination “On December 8th, we will create a thousand points of light when we decorate a massive surprise with colourful brilliance. Each participant will be given a handful of these delightful devices and let loose simultaneously “ Perhaps I’ll have to hit Active Surplus and whip some up for this year’s Festival of Lights – think a participatory,…
My friend stampgeek who has just recently started blogging posed the question: Thinking of the Season? Then waited for my comment. And waited. And waited. Then he emailed asking “what gives”. It’s my own fault, I had set him up by commenting almost immediately on all his previous posts. After leaving a comment that was actually longer than his original post, I realized my comment could be my penultimate NaBloPoMo post. So here it is, in all it’s raw glory with a little extra formatting and extra photos thrown in to make it prettier. The things that make me warm…
Gerrard India Bazaar celebrates Diwali and Eid every year in the Bazaar. This year these two important holidays happen to occur at the same time of the year. To celebrate the holidays, the Gerrard India Bazaar has planned Diwali-Eid celebrations for 2pm-10pm from Friday October 20th to Sunday October 22nd. Gerrard street from Greenwood to Coxwell will be filled with lights and music, food and shopping. A large movie screen on the south side of Hiawatha Street, screening Bollywood songs.. Henna artists will be on hand along Gerrard St, as will sweet tables where Surati Sweet Mart will be distributing…
Burning — Photo courtesy of LexnGer. Wow. Another wonderful year at Kensington’s Festival of Lights. Drums, dancing, lanterns, candles, and wonderful performances on rooftops and street corners. We were joined by friends and then proceeded to lose them in the crowds of celebrants. This year the market shops were open and the market filled with shoppers and observers, which does take away from the group celebration. But it was still the most wonderful, powerful and inspiring event of the season for me. Thanks to our Solstice Posse who joined in making light and noise, and anyone we didn’t find, but…
It is finally here. The day I talk about all year round. The event I missed most of all!!! It’s time for the Festival of Lights!!! So here is the plan for this evening: Meet @ 5:30 in front of Oishi Kada (on the west side of Augusta between College & Oxford) Come with: Hats, gloves, scarves, and layers, lots of layers. A light sources – candle, lantern, glow sticks. (no flashlights please.) A noise makers – drum, maraka, tamborine, pots & pans, spoons, a can & a stick. Share any extra light sources, noise makers and clothing layers with…
. Last night I succumbed to a Solstice Eve baking frenzy and filled our house with the smell of warm gingerbread. Generally, I try and hold off any Xmas baking, shopping and decorating until after the Festival of Lights (tonight!!!!) which is the official start of the season in our house. This year it is even more important to keep the holiday at bay, with so much work to accomplish before Jan 2nd However, (here comes that justification) yesterday was very productive with JS’s help, so while Ger cleaned up and did laundry, I whipped up a batch of Triple…
Unite to ignite the longest, darkest night at the Festival of Lights in Kensington Market on December 21st. Fire breathers, stilt walkers, giant puppets, choirs, dancers, drummers all join in a lantern-lit carnival parade through Kensington Market culminating in a huge burning-man-esque revel at Bellevue Square Park. This is one of those wonderful community celebrations where you join in. No standing on the sidelines watching the light go by. Wrap your self in colourful scarves and ribbons. Decorate yourself with bells and bangles and glow sticks. Light your lanterns. Bang your drums. Bring your noise to chase off the demons and…
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