Calendar spotlight: bonfire and art exhibit

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Beach bonfire

There’s a chance to go back to ancestral roots in celebrating the summer solstice Tuesday. Mid Summer’s Eve will be celebrated at 8:30 p.m. at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors with a roaring bonfire and music. Bring an instrument and some food.

According to the census record, the cultural heritage of Two Harbors is approximately 19 percent Norwegian, 18 percent Swedish, 12 percent German, 7 percent Finnish, and 8 percent Irish. Through Christian, pagan, Norse, or Celtic cultures, all of these European countries have solstice traditions. It’s likely because, like here in Two Harbors at 47 degrees north latitude, we treasure the sunlight hours we get in the summer before they fade for the long, dark winter.

June 21 marks the ancient middle of summer, the astronomical beginning of summer, the time when the sun heads south as well as the nativity of St. John the Baptist. The common feature of all the celebrations is a bonfire. Rick Anderson has volunteered to be the fire master.

Art display

“Watercolor Expressions,” an exhibit of paintings by Lyndy Colleen, is on display through July 18 at the Vanilla Bean Café in Two Harbors.

The artist, Linda Colleen Johnson, and her husband enjoy taking photos of their gardens and of the North Shore of Lake Superior, where they have a second home. Her paintings often reflect her love of nature and especially the North Shore.

“I have traveled throughout Europe and I want to use photos from those travels to inspire some of my future projects,” she said.

“Art has always been an interest and a love of mine,” she said. “I have dabbled in all kinds of art and crafts, and needlework. When I began watercolor painting, I realized that I had found my passion.”

Johnson has won several awards for her works.

The Vanilla Bean in located on Seventh Avenue (Highway 61) in Two Harbors and is open daily at 7 a.m.

Tags: vanilla bean cafe, watercolor expressions, lyndy colleen, norwegian, community