Date: June 21, 2012
Contact: Ryan Koepke, 219-395-1882
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Celebrate summer on Saturday, June 23 with the Solstice Celebration from 1 - 4 pm at the historic Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Join park rangers and volunteers at the Chellberg Farm to learn how the summer solstice was celebrated a century ago by Swedes. Explore the timeless traditions of how regional Native Americans have recognized and celebrated this season at the Bailly Homestead. Enjoy music, dance, kid's activities, and other traditions of this much anticipated time of the year. There will be a free shuttle available to take visitors between the Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead.
The Bailly Homestead will resonate with the sound of drums and dancing as members of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi and other local tribes sing and dance in celebration of the season. The group will perform at 1:30 pm and again at 3 pm on the homestead grounds. The public is invited to participate in some of the dances and learn about Native American traditions from this region. In addition to the music, families can enjoy hands-on activities for children around archeology and Native American culture. Visitors can experience a mock archeology dig, earn a Junior Archeologist badge, and throw an atlatl spear. The Bailly Homestead and outbuildings will be open for touring throughout the open house from 1 pm-4 pm.
Just down the trail, enjoy a Scandinavian Midsummer celebration at the national lakeshore's Chellberg Farm. Music, dancing, and traditional kid's games highlight this fun summertime event. Visitors can even bring flowers from home to help take part in the age-old custom of decorating the Maypole. At 1 pm, watch a musical procession culminating in the raising of the newly decorated pole. Enjoy performances by the children's dance group, Nordikids and by the Indianapolis group Dans Norden, as they perform in their colorful costumes.
For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact our information desk at 219- 395-1882.
www.nps.gov/indu
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 397 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
