FOSM’s Summer Solstice Celebration Festival
Join us, June 19-21, 2026, as we celebrate the first days of summer among the foothills of the Appalachia mountains.
Our annual festival highlights the area’s history, heritage, ecology, as well as the multitude of aspects associated with the Serpent Mound Park. The Great Serpent Mound effigy, built by the Ancient Indigenous Peoples, incorporates alignments to the rising and setting of the sun and moon on the solstices and equinoxes. The summer solstice sunset alignment is through the open jaws and across the oval.
There are many theories, stories, ancient knowledge, and unknowns with Serpent Mound. The Friends of Serpent Mound started this festival as a way for the public to share and learn about the many facets of Serpent Mound. Our presenters vary from locals, historians, Indigenous Americans, Scientists, Spiritualist, Musicians, and more. Learn about Serpent Mound and the surrounding area’s history, uniqueness, wildlife, and ecology, along with some fun family friendly summer activities!
Event Rules
- This is a family friendly event – there is to be NO alcohol, drugs, guns, or nudity!
- Children are welcome and must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
- There is no smoking in the Main Tents, in the port-o-lets or within the group hikes. There are proper places to put one’s cigarette butts, so please do not throw them on the ground.
- Dogs are permitted, but must be leashed at all times, next to owner, and must be cleaned up after.
- The back gate to the Serpent Mound Park is closed. One can use the Buckeye Trail to access the park during open hours.
Our 2026 Main Tent &
Workshop Schedule
Scroll to the right to see the Workshop Schedule.
Scroll down to see full description of presentations.
This years Festival Theme
“Appalachian Food & Culture”
Join us any or every day of the festival, for FREE.
No registration required to attend.
Sorry, we don’t have any public camping.
Visit Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau,
Visitor’s Bureau of Highland County,
or Visit Pike County, Ohio
Scroll down to learn more about our presenters.
the WORKSHOP SCHEDULE is here.
Festival Hours
Friday
3 pm – 7 pm
Saturday
10 am – 7 pm
Sunday
10 am – 7 pm
Festival Parking
Anyone planning to spend the day with us, should enter the festival from Horner Chapel Rd and park in the field. Anyone parked at Serpent Mound may visit us via the Buckeye Trail, but you will have to pay a parking fee. Look for our sign behind the large conical mound and follow the Buckeye Trails’ Blue Blazes to our other signs.
Friday Main Tent Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
This is a work in progress.
3:00 – 4:00
Dr. Catherine McNabb & Delsey Wilson
Opening Prayer, Welcome, & Tree Dedication
Opening Prayer by Dr. Catherine McNabb. Then Delsey Wilson, Executive Director of Friends of Serpent Mound will have a brief introduction of why we hold the festival and why our theme this year is Appalachian Food & Culture. Around 3:30 there will be a Tree Dedication to commemorate several of our past FOSM Members and supporters.
4:00 – 5:00
Delsey Wilson
Appalachian Little Grannies: Family Traditions, Ways of Healing, & Superstitions
Mrs. Wilson is the Executive Director of the Friends of Serpent Mound. Plus, she has been researching her Family Tree for over 30 years. She has very strong ties to the Appalachian Region. Learn about family traditions in her family, as well as throughout Appalachia.
5:00 – 6:00
Okandada Voice of the People – Spirit Wind Drum
Inter-tribal Drumming
Okandada was founded at Pine Ridge Agency in 1979 as a ceremonial group for the Okandada medicine Society. Our drum was donated to Slaysafar from the Porcupine Singers and has since become a teaching drum for those called to sing and drum. We play for donations and do not charge for playing as our drumming is looked at as a sacred calling. Okandada Drum welcomes all who wish to learn and welcomes all nations.
6:00 – 7:00
Delsey Wilson
The Everett “Patches” Patch Memorial Talking Circle
For many years FOSM had the honor to get to know, learn from, and be supported by Everett “Patches” Patch. Last year he attended our festival in his usual spot, in the teepee by the food. When FOSM helped him put up his tent he told us that this would probably be his last time. Oct. 13 he passed away. We will use his CD and hold a Talking Circle one last time in his honor.
7:00
FOSM
Driving Tour To Crater’s Rim
Each day our festival ends at 7:00 pm. At around 7:15 a caravan of cars leave the parking area to travel a few minutes to the crater’s rim on private property, to enjoy a scenic view of the crater’s uplift.
Saturday Main Tent Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
10:00 – 11:00
Okandada Voice of the People – Spirit Wind Drum
Inter-tribal Drumming
Okandada was founded at Pine Ridge Agency in 1979 as a ceremonial group for the Okandada medicine Society. Our drum was donated to Slaysafar from the Porcupine Singers and has since become a teaching drum for those called to sing and drum. We play for donations and do not charge for playing as our drumming is looked at as a sacred calling. Okandada Drum welcomes all who wish to learn and welcomes all nations.
11:00 – 12:00
Ann Taylor
The Legacy of Quilting
Description
12:00 – 1:00
Randy Sanders
The John “Barney” Barnhart Collection
Randy Sanders – The John “Barney” Barnhart Collection
1:00 – 2:00
3-Fold
American Music (Tentative)
3-Fold – American Music (Tentative)
2:00 – 3:00
Steve Free
Folk Music
“Among contemporary Singer/Songwriters Steve Free is one of the most versatile artist on The Americana Music scene, an unorthodox tunesmith and smooth voiced troubadour with a voice comparable to James Taylor and John Denver…yet with a timbre uniquely his own. Combined with heart-felt lyrics and well crafted story-songs that have continued to win him legions of fans worldwide…” ~ Power Source Music Review Nashville
3:00 – 4:00
Okandada Voice of the People – Spirit Wind Drum
Inter-tribal Drumming
Okandada was founded at Pine Ridge Agency in 1979 as a ceremonial group for the Okandada medicine Society. Our drum was donated to Slaysafar from the Porcupine Singers and has since become a teaching drum for those called to sing and drum. We play for donations and do not charge for playing as our drumming is looked at as a sacred calling. Okandada Drum welcomes all who wish to learn and welcomes all nations.
4:00 – 5:00
Lawrence Greene
Friends of the Plains Mounds
Lawrence R Greene is a founding member of the Friends of The Plains Mounds a new non profit formed to preserve the mounds and educate people about them. He is the lead Natural and Historical interpreter with Rising Appalachia in Athens county Ohio. Lawrence is also the lead drummer and founder of Ugata: drum and dance, a Pan African drum group in southern Ohio and West Virginia.
5:00 – 6:00
Buckeye Trail
Serpent Mound 3-D Crater Sign
More to come.
6:00 – 7:00
Mothman
Americana Music
Mothman is a band that began with college friends in 1990. Since then we have performed on stages from Maine to Mississippi. We have an eclectic sound featuring many familiar sounds from the scrapbook of American life, and always ready to play an original composition for you. With over 1000 shows, we how to keep the volume moderate, and are always Family friendly. Hope to see you at the Celebration.
Mothman will play a set of music for the FOSM Summer Solstice Celebration, blending familiar songs of Americana with some extended instrumental jams.
7:00
FOSM
Driving Tour To Crater’s Rim
Each day our festival ends at 7:00 pm. At around 7:15 a caravan of cars leave the parking area to travel a few minutes to the crater’s rim on private property, to enjoy a scenic view of the crater’s uplift.
Sunday Main Tent Schedule
The views and opinions of the presenters are their own and not that of the Friends of Serpent Mound’s.
10:00 – 11:00
Deo Abellera
Plays Crystal Singing Bowls
Deo Abellera is a member of the Great Serpent Mound Society of Dowsers. Along with volunteering many hours throughout our community here in Adams County. He loves sharing his enjoyment for Singing Bowls. He will do a demonstration at 10:00 AM on Sunday. Visit his tent any time to learn more on the subject of self healing.
11:00 – 12:00
FOSM
Native Pollinator/Medicinal Lean-to Trail Dedication
The beginning of a new project! We will add a new path from from the current Buckeye Trail over to the their Lean-to. The new loop trail will go through the electric easement where Native Plants will be identified and added to teach the public and those hiking along the trail about local native pollinator plants and those species that can also be used medicinally throughout there hikes. This will be a new addition to the site and the festival for years to come.
12:00 – 1:00
Darren Grimes
How an Ancient Cataclysm Cycle was Silenced for 50 Years
Podcaster from the Grimerica show and author. He will discuss Cycles of catastrophe, what the ancients knew and how they tried to warn us. How the elites have known for almost 100 years.
1:00 – 2:00
Mike Buford and the Bulldogs
Musician
Music
2:00 – 3:00
Okandada Voice of the People – Spirit Wind Drum
Inter-tribal Drumming
3:00 – 4:00
Family Traditions Animal Adventure & Feather, Inc.
Live Animal Show
4:00 – 5:00
Chris “Flint Eagle” Davis
Appalachian Music
Chris “Flint Eagle” Davis, songwriter and musician, retired teacher and poet. Graduate of OU and WSU. Munay Ki initiate and follower of Star Knowledge, and the same time a down home Kentucky boy who’s lived most of his life in Ohio.
He will performance some of his original songs including a discussion of how and why these songs were written. Many of the songs represent remembering a lost time or family history or personal experience. Some are “Song Visions” written spontaneously.
5:00 – 6:00
Jeffrey Wilson
A History of Serpent Mound
Learn about Serpent Mound park. More to come.
6:00 – 7:00
Jeffrey Wilson
A History of Serpent Mound
2 hours
7:00
FOSM
Driving Tour to the Crater’s Rim
The Festival ends at 7:00 pm. At around 7:15 a caravan of cars leave the parking area to travel a few minutes to the crater’s rim on private property, to enjoy a scenic view of the crater’s uplift.
Where is Soaring Eagle Retreat?
Soaring Eagle Retreat is east of Serpent Mound and the Ohio History Connection has asked that all of our participants come in from the Horner Chapel entrance and park in our field. One can assess Serpent Mound park via the Buckeye Trail during Park hours.
375 Horner Chapel Rd., Peebles, OH 45660
1-937-205-0094