Come Celebrate the Midsummer Solstice at the Birthplace of Reformed Druidism!

All are invited to attend the RDNA's Midsummer Solstice Reunion on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota! Carleton College & Arboretum can be a confusing place and is easy to get lost in. A helpful resource is this campus & arb PDF map.

Contents

The Midsummer Gathering Schedule 

What to Bring

Lodging in Northfield for Travelers Staying Overnight

Air Travel & Bus Route

Minnesota Climate and Habitat for Travelers

The Midsummer Gathering Schedule

One of the Saturdays near the Midsummer Solstice coincides with the annual alumni reunion at Carleton College. That way, alumni Druids from the days of yore can attend, adding the potential to learn more history of the RDNA movement. If there are Second Order druids who arrange in advance to have their All-Night Vigil, that will commence at sunset, and ordination would be immediately upon Sunrise Sunday morning. Otherwise this is just a daytime event. Want to vigil? Contact us regarding eligibility and planning, then watch this space!

  • 12:00 PM – Arrive to campus, begin the quest for a parking spot (remember it is the alumni reunion, too)
    • The Recreation Center lot has visitor parking at 501 Three Oaks Drive, Northfield, MN
    • Residential parking is second best, anywhere near 405 1st Street East, Northfield, MN
  • 12:30 PM – Rally point: hang out with the Druids as we congregate on the bridge over the weir between Upper and Lower Lyman Lakes (see Google Maps coordinates)
  • 1:00 PM – Procession to one of the vacant Druid sites (TBA day-of) for the Midsummer ritual (sometimes other alumni like to use one of the several fire pits)
  • 1:45 PM – Conclusion of ceremony, site cleanup, Q&A
  • 2:00 PM – Optional pilgrimage to other sacred sites in Arboretum.
  • After Dark (?) – If we stay out after sunset we'll probably see lightning bugs!
    • If an eligible candidate has arranged for their All-Night Third Order Vigil, that will commence at sunset

What to Bring

This is all optional, as anyone may attend and merely be present. All attendees are invited to participate to the extent which they are comfortable.

  • Chalice or ceremonial cup - before the pandemic, it was customary that we all shared the Waters-of-Life from one common chalice. Now for improved health and safety purposes, we ask that attendees bring their own cup, and all will be served from a common pitcher.
  • Plant-based offerings - an offering to the fire or to the Earth. Animal or blood sacrifice is forbidden in the Reformed Druid movement. That's part of what makes us Reformed.
  • Bardic offerings - because not all sacrifices are physical. Some people feel encouraged to recite poetry, music, or performance art.
  • Ritual garb - some people find that ceremonial clothing helps put them in the right mindset.
  • Sunscreen - it's Midsummer at solar noon... need I say more?
  • Hat - maybe a wide brimmed hat for extra shade, especially if we're relegated to the Mai Fete Island fire pit
  • Bug repellent - If we're in the shade, there will be mosquitoes
  • Water - to stay hydrated

Lodging in Northfield for Travelers Staying Overnight

The Archer House Inn is sadly no more after the 2020 fire. It was an iconic building and a block away from the edge of the Carleton College campus. It was a great haunt for the Druids, and had superb restaurants in it. Lodging is sorted nearest to farthest (and also highest price to lowest) from Carleton College:

Air Travel & Bus Route

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is abbreviated MSP and is located 40 miles north of Northfield. If you fly in you may want to arrange a rental car or hire local transportation. There is the Northfield Metro Express bus that runs a few times per day that goes between MSP and Northfield (even right up to Carleton College) starting at $35 per trip ($70 round trip). Price is current as of 2025.

 

Minnesota Climate and Habitat for Travelers

Weather Patterns:

Minnesota has a continental climate with very cold winters and hot and humid summers. Thunderstorms and severe weather are a distinct possibility in June. The humidity of summer is usually here to stay by mid June as well. On dry spring days you can have warm clear weather that plummets down to seeing your breath at night and early morning. The last frost advisories usually end by May 10th. Keep an eye on our forecasts, and bring a good hat for shade. Sunscreen and insect repellent are a good idea, too.

 

Critters:

  • Snakes in the area include common garter snakes and bull snakes. Bull snakes are non-venomous. Rattlesnake sightings occur extremely rarely in the Mississippi River Valley near Red Wing, 45 miles away from Northfield.
  • Mosquitoes are out in relatively low numbers around Beltane, and are a strong presence around Midsummer.
  • Ticks such as dog ticks and deer ticks are common, the latter of which are tiny, with bodies a bit larger than a Sharpie dot. Up to half of deer ticks carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.
  • Black bears are very uncommon in Northfield. Most sightings in Minnesota tend to be north of (or sometimes in) the Twin Cities
  • Cougars exist, but in occurrences so rare, they're virtually mythological and stick to the Mississippi, Saint Croix, and Minnesota River Valleys, or the Arrowhead region near Lake Superior.
  • Wolves hide way up north. Nowhere near the Twin Cities or Northfield.
  • Moose, ditto.
  • Coyotes are common and tend to move in packs at night. They really don't want to be around humans and will sooner shy away.
  • Raccoons and skunks are common and can carry the rabies virus, though the prevalence of rabies is relatively isolated.
  • Snapping turtles can remove a finger. Other turtles will sometimes "snap" as well, but are less dangerous. You're completely safe as long as you just don't try to pick any turtles up.
  • Canada Geese will hiss at you. They might even bite with their spiky bills but they'll usually back away first.
  • Ghosts - the Arboretum is an enchanted place, with more than one "something" in it.
  • People - there are almost six million people in Minnesota, doncha know! Luckily lots of them are "Minnesota nice." Could be worse, though eh?

Mean Plants:

  • Stinging nettles are common, especially off-trail in sandy soils. They can grow in full sun or shade. I might advise long pants if you are going off-trail. Primary and secondary trails are well maintained.
  • Poison ivy is the most common of the poisonous plants, though relatively well controlled. Poison sumac and oak are also allegedly here though I've never seen any.
  • Giant hogweed allegedly exists though I've never seen any here.
  • Buckthorn is invasive but not noxious. The ends of twigs tend to be spiny like thorns and are strong enough to catch and sometimes tear clothing. More of a minor nuisance for those who go off-trail.
  • Burs, stickers, thistles: exist.
  • Pollen: ask your doctor if pollen is right for you.