Crimson Dawn Museum and Park

We were not ready to quit the mountains yet and went looking for another hike to do.  Saw a sign for Crimson Dawn Museum and Park and thought - let's do it.  What a wonderful shock and surprise!  Unfortunately the museum was closed till Monday, but we got a flavor by walking the trail to see what takes place each Midsummer's Eve - June 21st rain or shine - and what fun it would be!

A woman by the name of Neil Forsling developed this park with stations to honor those fairies and elves lives that were part of her story telling to her daughters when they were growing up.  Lavender Witch, Red Witch, Black Witch, Emerald Witch, Undine the Homesick Sea Witch, Shawn the Leprechaun, the dog cemetery - which has now become a cemetery for the mountain's resident's animals, the Phantom Woodchopper, the Star Witch, the Squirrel's Capitol (love that one!!), Bambi's Castle, and on and on.  Wonderful!  Oh so cute!!!

We also heard the woodchopper! 

A lot of beer bottles!

My favorite

Still lots of nuts there! 

Sea Shells under sign

The characters created by long-time mountain dweller Neal Forsling, which are dormant the rest of the year, come to life each June 21 as the stories she crafted for her children are retold with the help of community volunteers.

Neal began the celebration in 1934 as entertainment for her children, and the children of friends and fellow mountain dwellers.  Forsling and her children homesteaded on the mountain and were year-round dwellers there on the site of what is now the Crimson Dawn Museum.

At her death in August 1977 at age 88, she willed Crimson Dawn to the County Parks Department to keep as a public park with the stipulation that the Midsummer's Eve festival be held each year on the summer solstice.

According to the instructions, festival goers should meet at 7 p.m. at the Crimson Dawn Museum. Good walking shoes and a flashlight are important, as the festival ends in darkness and it's about one mile from the bonfire to the parking area. Jackets are recommended as the mountain air can be very cool at sunset.  Please bring cookies to share after the bonfire that ends the evening festivities.

Quite a labor of love.  And there are a lot of people who attend this!  People dress up as their favorite witch or elf and play that evening.