This is a thread for listing Solstice and Megameetup events (dates, locations, links, etc.)

Those of you who have not been may be wondering what a Solstice is in this context.

Secular Solstice is a holiday designed by and for rationalists. It started as an attempt to match the sort of gatherings traditionally religious people tend to have in wintertime, but without compromising on truth.

Is it possible to create that same sense of emotional weight without making stuff up to do it? And without the aid of a long tradition? (Though this is the 14th year we're doing it, so there's some tradition).

Empirically, yes.

Because the world is full of things that genuinely inspire awe. Things entirely worth honoring and celebrating.

And the world is also full of things that genuinely inspire fear. We can and should face them squarely, and together.

This is not a silly holiday. It is not Festivus. It is not Santa Claus and Reindeer. We gather on the longest night of the year to stare together straight into the deepest darkness and *make* *it* *back* *down*.

What does it mean in practice? Lots of singing. Some speeches. Sometimes other things.  The whole thing runs a couple of hours.

And what is a Megameetup?  It's a meetup that's larger than a normal meetup (though not literally a million times larger).  Often it lasts an entire weekend and draws from multiple cities.  It may include presentations, organized discussions, games, and other activities rationalists tend to do when in large groups.

What do Solstices and Megameetups have to do with each other?  It's common for people to travel significant distances to a Solstice, so attaching a Metameetup makes best use of that travel overhead.

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Baltimore, MD, USA 

January 4. Time is TBD. The location is in Rockville. You can message me for the details. 

Seattle

Dec 21st, 6pm

Nexus Hotel, 2140 N Northgate Way, Seattle, WA 98133

Tickets available at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/seattlesecularsolstice/1489245

DM me for questions.

New York City

Solstice: December 14 [fb]
Megameetup: December 13-16 [fb]
Both: Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel
Signup: https://rationalistmegameetup.com/

I think NYC is the only solstice with a megameetup tradition. Does anyone know of a second?

Austin, Texas

December 20th. Doors open 6pm, ceremony 8pm.

LW Event link

Kansas City, MO

When: December 21st, 5p

Where: Kansas City Oasis (1717 W 41st St, Kansas City, MO, 64111)

Signup: LW Facebook Partiful

Boston

December 28th, 6:30pm.
Connexion, 149 Broadway, Somerville
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1217047559386391

Has a LessWrong Event too

(TIL LessWrong Events are a thing)

(TIL LessWrong Events are a thing)

:O they have been here for years, i would have expected you to know ahah

Portland, Oregon 

December 22nd, 6pm, ceremony starts at 7

BridgeSpace

133 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214

Meetup link: https://www.meetup.com/portland-effective-altruism-and-rationality/events/304910660/

London, UK

December 19th, 7pm.
Event link: https://partiful.com/e/0ML9Ec1F8SCWh6TszHgt

(I'm not running it, but was asked by one of the organizers to put this here!)