Stone Soup will host its annual WinterFest gathering on December 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its new, expanded location in Fort Walton Beach. Owner Jan Myers says the celebration acknowledges the astrological beginning of winter, a time for “rest, self-reflection and renewal of our strength and goals.” With various vendors, intuitives, healers and activities, WinterFest is an opportunity to shop for gifts or just be with other people who enjoy the season.

“The winter solstice is a time for us to manifest our desires and expand our understanding of who we really are,” Myers says. “It’s perfect for reflecting on our journeys throughout the past year and visualizing our next steps as we enter into a new one. There are many ways to celebrate, either with friends and family or alone.”

She suggests a candle ritual for setting intentions for the coming year: 

“Set an intention or goal to manifest during the solstice, then write down your intention and draw a symbol or sigil to represent your desire. You’ll then carve it into a candle. As you focus on the year ahead, your intention is burning in the background, projecting that energy out into the universe. . . . Once the candle is burned, give thanks to the magic that was just manifested by meditating and envisioning the new future you are creating.”

Location: 314 Carmel Dr., Fort Walton Beach, FL. For more information or to inquire about exhibitor space, contact Myers at 850- 533-6565 or [email protected], or visit