The Longest Light
21 Jun, 2025
£23 – £25
Soak up the sunshine this Summer Solstice with Jodrell Bank’s action-packed programme celebrating our closest star! This special event marks the highest point of the Sun’s journey, a moment to honour the life-giving energy that nourishes our planet.
From family fun in the daytime, to our exclusive ticketed programme of talks, workshops, and live music in the evening, come and welcome the longest day of the year in style…
SUNDOWNER SESSION
18.00 – 21.30. Tickets available here.
The Longest Light evening event turns up the celebrations with an exciting line-up of live music and thought-provoking discussion. Unwind with sundowners and explore the science, significance, and symbolism of the Sun.
- World-renowned Afrobeat musician Sens Sagna, here to ignite the evening with a powerful fusion of drums and dance
- Expert evening talks exploring all things solar with Professor Philippa Browning
- A brand-new film screening in our immersive Space Dome: The Sun, Our Living Star
- Cyanotype crafting (weather dependent)
- Pre-event optional dining add-on (17.00 – 18.00). Booking form here.
Recommended for ages 14+. Tickets also include a summer cooler beverage on entry!
Families are also welcome to join us during the day for a special, Sun-themed science show, Carnival beats with Global Grooves, solar observing and the Meridian Line Moment (weather dependent), and more – included with general admission.
Join us and embrace the sights and sounds of summer, with music, live demonstrations, and activities to bring the Solstice to life. ☀️
image Immerse yourself in the ‘Rhythm of Life’ as world-renowned Afrobeat musician Sens Sagna ignites the evening with a powerful fusion of drums, dance, and joy. Sens will also be offering hands-on “have-a-go” percussion workshops where you can feel the beat for yourself and experience the power of drumming in a supportive, joyful setting.
Some of the great evening talks on offer by Professor Browning:
The Sun from the stone age to the space age, investigates how civilisations have always sought to predict the Sun’s behaviour since prehistory to the modern day. Philippa delves into Neolithic monuments, the discovery of sunspots and the latest solar probes flying closer to the Sun than ever before.
Solar flares and space weather. Listen as Philippa discusses our current knowledge of flares and how their electromagnetic radiation effects both humans in space and satellites. Find out how power and communication on Earth must adapt, making ‘space weather’ a subject of intense interest.
image Philippa Browning is a Professor of Astrophysics at Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. Philippa studies the interactions between magnetic fields and plasmas. She aims to explain why the outer atmosphere of the Sun – the solar corona – is heated to millions of degrees, and to understand the most powerful explosions in the solar system: solar flares.
image How do you know when the party’s started? When Global Grooves Bloco and Brass have arrived, that’s when! A Carnival Bloco is typically a group of revellers, raising the energy and getting everyone moving and shaking. The Global Grooves Bloco comprises of drummers, brass and horn musicians who can’t wait to bring big Carnival beats to Jodrell Bank!