Bring back a sense of wonder: Orleans to welcome spring with music, dancing on Saturday

For thousands of years, the turning of the seasons has inspired awe and reverence among humankind, connecting people closely with nature and the earth's natural cycles.

Bringing back a sense of the wonder — especially in the face of climate change — is the aim of those organizing a spring equinox celebration this Saturday, March 18.

The outdoors event for all ages, which will ring in springtime with dancing, live music and an equinox ceremony, takes place starting at 3 p.m. on the Orleans Village Green — the lawn at the corner of Main Street and Route 28 by the Snow Library, 67 Main St., Orleans.

Truro's Michael Holt originated the idea.

"My band, Woof Woof Meow, was formed to encourage such a tradition: Cape folks remembering the earth by dancing at the seasons' turnings," he said. "We've done this about seven times now, in Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham. This'll be our first time in Orleans. Hoping for dry weather. It may be cold, but we'll warm up by dancing."

The event is sponsored by the Snow Library and the Orleans Cultural District.

Snow Library Assistant Director Kaimi Lum said Holt approached the library administration and asked if they would like to support the spring equinox concert, which they were happy to do.

"Music programs and nature programs are both stimulating, fun, wholesome activities for our community, so an event that pulls those two themes together seemed ideal," she said, adding, "Michael is very active in the climate change movement, and there's a seriousness in the thought behind this program — a wanting to raise awareness, to keep people connected to the grass beneath their feet — but it's also just an opportunity to be joyous about the arrival of spring."

The library contributed funding toward the event, and staff helped with designing a flyer and getting the word out.

"Emerging from winter, even as mild as it was, we tend to forget that nature is stirring on this elbow of the Cape, never still, always beckoning," Orleans Cultural District Chairwoman JoAnna Keeley said. "Step out, celebrate this space, new every day."

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Keeley said she became acquainted with Holt through the Pop Up Practices Live Music Series the organization started in September 2021 — a program that gives local musicians a welcoming space on Main Street to rehearse informally while allowing the public to discover who they are, their insights on crafting songs and the steps behind the scenes in creating a performance.

"Solving the climate and other eco crises of our time is the most important challenge humanity faces, to prevent the suffering and death they are already causing from spreading everywhere," Holt said. "Sorry for the strong words, but we need to wake up to this. .... That's the doom side."

But there is a "bloom side," too.

"Joining to make the needed, big changes in how we live and consume will actually bring us great purpose, adventure, and even fun," Holt said. "For example, dancing to celebrate the spring reminds us of the earth, and that can be joyous. If the work isn't grounded in love and togetherness, we'll never do it."

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Lum and the rest of the library staff like the idea of joining in celebration of the season's change, as well.

First event in Orleans park since replanting from sewer construction

"The equinox concert will be the first public event to happen in that little park since it was replanted and restored," Lum said, referring to Orleans' sewer construction. "We're glad the community will be able to gather there again."

The event will include reggae, ska, funk, new wave and Afro beat by Woof Woof Meow (tinyurl.com/wwmeow), with Holt on vocals and keyboard, Orleans’ Rikki Bates on drums, Wellfleet’s Lisa Brown on vocals and percussion and singing, Eastham’s Trevor Pearson on bass and Truro’s Ken Field on sax and flute.

Additionally, the event will include an equinox ceremony led by Tracy Plaut and Susan Starkey. Anyone attending is invited to bring a chair or blanket.

In the northern hemisphere, the spring equinox — when there are nearly equal hours of light and darkness — happens on March 19, 20 or 21 every year. The spring equinox occurs this year on Monday, March 20.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Live music, dancing: Spring equinox celebration March 18 in Orleans