Celebrating summer solstice 2016 at Stonehenge: Photos

PA
Updated


Summer solstice at Stonehenge
Summer solstice at Stonehenge


It's that time of year again – thousands of people have celebrated the sun rising over Stonehenge for the summer solstice.

Approximately 12,000 people attended the Wiltshire monument to witness the stunning sunrise at 4.52am. Which sounds like a lot of people – but the figure was down on the 25,000 expected and the 23,000 who descended on the site last year.

See also: England's quirkiest annual events

See also: Look out for the Strawberry Moon!

Wiltshire Police described events at Stonehenge and at the stone circle in nearby Avebury as "positive and peaceful". Here's how people celebrated throughout the night and into the morning:

performer spinning a light
performer spinning a light


A poi performer spins light balls, as you do (Andrew Matthews/PA)

stonehenge sunrise
stonehenge sunrise


Just look at those colours *heart eyes emoji* (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Stonehenge
Stonehenge


There were flower head crowns aplenty... (Andrew Matthews/PA)

revellers wearing cloaks
revellers wearing cloaks


And there were plenty of cloaks around too (Andrew Matthews/PA)

people sit and watch the sunrise
people sit and watch the sunrise


Crowds witness dawn breaking (Andrew Matthews/PA)

people doing yoga at stonehenge
people doing yoga at stonehenge


A little spot of morning yoga (Andrew Matthews/PA)

This year's summer solstice was even more special, thanks to the very unusual strawberry moon – a full moon which marks the start of the strawberry season. FYI, it hasn't coincided with the summer solstice for almost 50 years.

strawberry moon over London
strawberry moon over London


The stunning strawberry moon over London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Until next year...

revellers walk back to the car park
revellers walk back to the car park


People head back to the car park at Stonehenge (Andrew Matthews/PA)

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