Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade

Kensington Market celebrates the 2011 winter solstice

The 22nd annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade marked the onset of winter last night with a colourful procession through the market that ended in a fiery ceremony at Alexandria Park. Despite a bit of rain to begin the proceedings, the parade went off without a hitch, with lantern-totting participants decked out in a variety of costumes. The music, provided by Samba Squad and some other local performers, was a good fit for the theatrical parade, and helped to foster a general sense of excitement in the air.

But it was fire that stole the show. From the fire-thrower performances mid-parade to the burning of a giant pink hand at the end, the resistance to the cold and dark was, naturally, one of the chief themes of the pagan-inspired event, which beckoned the return of the sun. Here's what it looked like.

PHOTOS

Kensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice ParadeKensington Market Winter Solstice Parade

Photos by Dan Cronin


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