Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:17 am Post subject: Record crowd for Solstice sunrise
Record crowd for Solstice sunrise
A record crowd of about 36,500 revellers has welcomed the dawn of the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.
The number of people attending the event caused roads in the area to become gridlocked in the hours leading up to sunrise at 0458 BST.
Druid ceremonies took place alongside music and Morris dancing, however overcast skies obscured the sun.
Police praised the crowd and said there had been only 25 arrests for minor disorder and drug offences.
Sam Edwards, from Wiltshire police, said: "We are very pleased everything went to plan.
"The atmosphere has been very good, especially around the stones.
"Most people have been very co-operative with us and very understanding of the reasons for our presence.
The event to mark the dawn of the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere has grown in popularity since a four-mile exclusion zone around the site was lifted nine years ago.
English Heritage, which manages the ancient monument, said the car park was full with 6,500 cars two hours before sunrise.
Meanwhile the main route into Stonehenge, the A303, was closed due to volumes of traffic.
Peter Carson, head of Stonehenge, said: "We were expecting it to be busy this year, but we had ensured that it has been a peaceful and enjoyable solstice.
"There has been a great atmosphere and where else would you want to be on midsummer's day?"
Police drafted in extra officers and said there would be a zero tolerance approach to drugs and drunkenness, with an alcohol limit of four cans of beer or a bottle of wine per person imposed by English Heritage.
'Jovial mood'
Druid King Arthur Pendragon told the BBC shortly before sunrise: "It's a very nice atmosphere and everything's fine at the moment.
"There have been more police present this year, more security, but everything's passed off very jovially and everyone's in a good mood.
"And the police for the most part are wishing people a happy Solstice and so are the security guards."
English Heritage issued an advisory note to visitors which warned: "The police will be on site during the access period and will take immediate action against anyone flouting the law.
"Summer Solstice is not a good time to experiment with drugs - the crowd, the noise and the sheer size of the place are likely to make any bad reaction much, much worse."
Meanwhile, a limit of 200 tents was set at a field near the Avebury Ring after residents complained about the number of visitors to that site in 2008.
While Stonehenge is awesome, I personally want to go to Chichen Itza for the spring equinox. I've been there but never during the time the serpent appears.
That's a cool option too, Sky. I had forgotten about Chichen Itza (NOT chicken pizza as the tour guide said....before he started handing out shots of tequilla!!) I saw Chichen Itza as a land excursion from a cruse I took in the late 90's. We only had about 90 mins to see it, but it was awesome!
That's a cool option too, Sky. I had forgotten about Chichen Itza (NOT chicken pizza as the tour guide said....before he started handing out shots of tequilla!!) I saw Chichen Itza as a land excursion from a cruse I took in the late 90's. We only had about 90 mins to see it, but it was awesome!
We got the chicken pizza thing as well Spurs However, I was lucky enough to spend a good three hours there. It was amazing.
Like you need one! Heck, I want to go back so bad. It was an awesome trip for sure. Well worth it and a place to see more than once. I also did some great swimming that day, which felt awesome on the killer sunburn I got.
True, I never need much prodding to go on walkabout! It is definately a place on the revisit list...I spent 6 hours on a bus (3 there and 3 back) and on the way back watched the bus driver do "to-kill-ya" shots with everyone else! That was fun...It was a great day.
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However, I was lucky enough to spend a good three hours there. It was amazing.