The Longest Night Run & Walk

Why We Gather to Move Through the Night Together:

The Longest Night Run is a community event in which we come together on the longest night of the year to signal our support and solidarity with one another through times of grief, loss, waiting, and challenge.

Too often, grief, waiting, and the times in between the moments of sunlight in our lives can be the loneliest experiences, but The Rewilding Ministry, Somos, The NliveN Movement, Growing Greatness, Pajaro Valley Run Club, and other partners are committing to changing this.

We run, walk, and move to embody resilience, to keep moving forward together through the night with faith that a new dawn will come, and to carry the light and hope with and for one another during the long nights.

This an untimed, friendly, short, and meaningful candlelight run or walk to celebrate resilience, create courageous and compassionate community, and honor grief. You'll be surrounded with the light of your running and walking partners and friends as you move through the Longest Nights in with-ness together!

What to Expect:

We will gather at the Somos and head out for a candlelight walk or run. Then, we will return to Somos for interactive reflection stations, chances to connect, and a closing commemoration of what we carry, experience, and create together.

All paces, people, and movement styles are welcome, wanted, and celebrated!

What to Bring and Cost:

We are inviting everyone to wear reflective and lighted gear and will provide everyone with a battery-operated candle to carry on the run or walk. This is a donation-based/pay-what-you-wish event, with a suggested donation of $10; there is no mandated cost, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

This event is proudly co-sponsored and organized by the following partners: The Rewilding Ministry, Somos, The NliveN Movement, Growing Greatness, and Pajaro Valley Run Club

Proceeds benefit The Rewilding Ministry/Center for Courageous Compassion, a nonprofit movement to cultivate coming alive together through reclaiming our sacredness and following our wildness. The Rewilding Ministry uses the wisdom of the earth, embodied joy, deep learning, and wild creativity to transform trauma at the individual, collective, and systemic levels into survivor-centered sacred spaces, courageous spirituality, transformative communities, sustainable compassion and justice, post-traumatic thriving, and planetary liberation.

Info: Hear the inspiring stories and reflections of guest speakers, poets, and artists. Take a moment to set your own intention for the evening, and perhaps share it with others.

Info: Candlelight run and walk! Return to the Watsonville Center of the Arts to visit the reflection stations, socialize, and enjoy the space and what you created, honored, and celebrated this evening.

Info: Visit our interactive reflection stations, learn more about the sponsoring partners, connect with other participants, or take this space as a chance to center and ground as you contemplate what you want this night to be for you.

Info: Finish with a collective closing ritual

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Host or Publisher Center for Courageous Compassion