Winter Solstice Faire

A Curated Holiday Market & Sacred Community Gathering

Sunday, December 21, 2025 | 1-6 PM
Durham Central Park | 501 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701

FREE & OPEN TO ALL

Celebrate the Return of the Light

The Winter Solstice Faire is where spiritual community meets artisan craft in the heart of Durham. Now in its third year, this beloved celebration has grown from 30 makers to over 60 curated vendors, welcoming thousands of seekers, artists, and magic-minded folks each season.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or simply curious about the mystical, you'll find your people here. This is a holiday market, yes—but it's also a sacred gathering space. A place to honor the longest night, celebrate the return of the light, and connect with a vibrant spiritual community that spans traditions, backgrounds, and paths.

Join us for an afternoon of browsing beautifully crafted goods, participating in community rituals, and experiencing the magic that happens when we gather with intention.

Shop 60+ Curated Magick Makers

The heart of the Winter Solstice Faire is our incredible community of makers, artists, and healers. Their craft—and their participation fees—make this gathering possible. Browse a carefully curated selection spanning:

  • Apothecary, Herbs & Beauty - Handcrafted potions, balms, and botanical magic

  • Art & Paper Goods - Original artwork, prints, cards, and more

  • Candles & Home Goods - Ritual candles, altar tools, and sacred home items

  • Ceramics - Functional and decorative pottery from local artists

  • Food & Beverage - Seasonal treats and nourishing offerings

  • Jewelry & Apparel - Handmade adornments and wearable art

  • Plants, Bones & Crystals - Natural treasures and earth elements

  • Readers & Healers - Tarot, astrology, massage, and intuitive guidance

Meet the Magick Makers

NEW!

Sacred Celebrations

This year's Faire is bookended by two powerful community rituals, welcoming practitioners of all experience levels and spiritual backgrounds.

Opening Ritual

1:00 PM
Led by Sufia Ikbal-Doucet

Join us as we begin the celebration with a gentle, accessible ritual grounding into nature's cycles and wisdom. Whether you're newly opening a deeper connection with the Earth or seasoned in your practice, you're invited to honor this transition into the darker, colder season and set intentions to carry us toward the light.

Bring a mat or chair for your comfort.

About Sufia: Sufia Ikbal-Doucet (they/them) is a healer and artist who supports people in embodying their creative power by developing their intuitive language and direct communication with plants and other elder nature beings. They offer personalized retreats, earth-honoring gatherings, intuitive guidance, and heart-led herbalism courses. PrismaticRealm.com

Closing Ritual & Procession

5:15 PM
Led by James Stewart

As the sun sets on the shortest day, join James for a walking procession around the park to raise collective energy, followed by a community working to create a protective anointing oil infused with intention and special herbs. This ritual oil—made together and blessed by the group—is yours to take home as a tool for release, protection, and clearing to carry you through the coming year.

Bring: A small container for your oil (if you'd like to take some home), and a closed lantern or flashlight for the procession walk.

About James: James Stewart is a local Rootworker and Hoodoo practitioner with over twenty years of working experience in the tradition. As the owner of Conjure Cleaning, James offers in-home cleanses and creates spiritual products for cleansing, blessing, and protection works. He's also the author of The Hoodoo Handbook and Conjure Cleaning. ConjureCleaning.com

Music, Community & Connection

DJ thefacesblur returns to keep us grooving throughout the afternoon with beats that honor the season and the celebration.

This is more than a market—it's an invitation to linger, connect, and be in community. Bundle up. Bring a blanket or chair and settle into the park. Chat with makers, meet fellow seekers, enjoy the music, and soak in the energy of a growing spiritual community gathering in the heart of the South.

About the Winter Solstice Faire

Building Community in the New South

The Winter Solstice Faire was created to honor and uplift the magic makers in our community—to offer a supportive space for witches, pagans, mystics, and spiritually curious folks to gather without judgment or limitation.

In a region often considered the Bible Belt, we're proud to create space for a thriving, diverse spiritual community. Here, practitioners of many traditions come together to celebrate what unites us. Reverence for nature's cycles, commitment to personal growth, care for one another, and a belief in the power of ritual and connection.

This is a cross-cultural celebration where our differences are honored and our similarities celebrated. All faiths, all paths, all seekers are welcome.

Since our first Solstice Market in 2022, we've grown from 30 vendors to over 60, and welcomed over 10,000 attendees across our markets. Our community gathering has been featured in Thrillist and continues to draw seekers from across the Triangle and beyond. Each season, more people discover our gatherings—and find their community.

Plan Your Visit

Event Details

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
Admission: Free and open to the public. No tickets required.

Getting There

Parking: Street parking available along Foster Street, Hunt Street, Rigsbee Street, Roney Street, and Corporation Street. Evening and weekend parking available in surrounding lots. Durham Centre Deck at 300 Morgan Street is two blocks away. Visit ParkDurham.org for more info.

Food & Drink

We have food and non-alcoholic beverage vendors at the market, plus you're surrounded by great options. Durham Central Park sits directly across from Durham Food Hall, and Glass Jug Beer Lab overlooks the park. This area is part of The Bullpen—Durham's Social District—so you're welcome to grab an adult beverage from participating bars and restaurants and enjoy it as you stroll the market.

Bring Your Familiar

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome and encouraged! Seeing your pups is one of the highlights of the market for us.

What to Bring

  • Cash and cards (most vendors accept both, but it's always good to have options)

  • Reusable bags for your treasures

  • A blanket or chair if you'd like to settle in and spend time in the park

  • An open heart and curious spirit

For the Opening Ritual (1 PM): A mat or chair for comfort

For the Closing Ritual (5:15 PM): A small container for anointing oil and a closed lantern or flashlight

FAQ

Everything you need to know for a magical afternoon of merriment & cheer.

  • Yes! The Winter Solstice Faire is free and open to everyone. No tickets, no registration required. Just show up.

  • Absolutely not. While the Faire honors the Winter Solstice and creates space for spiritual practice, all are welcome—whether you're deeply rooted in a tradition or simply magic-curious.

  • Not at all. The rituals are open invitations for those who want to participate. You're welcome to shop, enjoy the music, and soak in the community vibes without joining the ceremonial elements.

  • Yes! This is a family-friendly event. The rituals are gentle and accessible, and kids are welcome throughout the market.

  • We'd love your help! Volunteers make this celebration run smoothly for vendors and guests alike. Check back in early December for volunteer opportunities OR Contact us at hello@themagickmakers.com to join the volunteer team.

  • We're honored you're interested! Vendor applications for our future Magick Makers markets open in early 2026. Join our mailing list to be notified when applications go live, or follow us on Instagram @themagickmakers for updates.

Press & Media

The Winter Solstice Faire highlights the growth and vitality of spiritual communities in the American South. This cross-cultural, interfaith celebration brings together practitioners, artists, and seekers from diverse backgrounds to honor the sacred and celebrate the handmade.

For press inquiries, high-resolution images, or interview requests, contact hello@themagickmakers.com.