Nature program to address Winter Solstice Day offers opportunity to make tin can luminary on Saturday

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal Parks and Recreation is offering a free nature program: “Lighting the Way with Solstice Luminaries,” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center. The program will be led by certified nature educator Gale Rublee and members of the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalists.

Nails, patterns and frozen tin cans will be provided along with instructions. Participants are asked to bring a hammer if possible. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Nature programs are free and open to the public. Reservations must be made on the Hannibal Parks and Recreation website, https://hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program.

Winter solstice is the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, and it is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere in terms of daylight. The solstice marks the official start of winter.