On Saturday May 10, 2025, hundreds of participants and onlookers joined in the Third Annual Beltanica Festival, produced by Melissa and Catello Somma, proprietors of Lightclub Curiosity Shoppe on Main Street in the Village of Warwick, a day of celebration in which attendees were urged to give thanks for the abundance of the earth, of all that we have in our lives, and the anticipation of summer’s sunny days ahead.
The events included metaphysical craft vendors, psychic readers, herbal and magical workshops, classes, music, food, and a procession and floral dance leading up to the raising and blessing of the Maypole. Celebrations and workshops featured lavender and hawthorn–magical herbs that can enhance your life for the better, according to practitioners, many of whom were dressed in Renaissance attire. Later a procession of participants carried in the Maypole that was erected in the center of the gathering and welcomed people to dance around it and the floral garlands that decorated it.
The name Beltanica is a composite of “Beltane” (celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere marking the beginning of summer in ancient Gaelic culture) and “Botanical” (relating to the natural ingredients from plants that help us to sustain life). Beltane, according to Celtic tradition, was primarily a practical agricultural and seasonal holiday. It signaled the start of the growing season and the movement into a time of abundance.
Melissa Paone Somma, is a certified Master Instructor, a 5-time World Champion Martial Artist, a Reiki Master, Licensed Massage Therapist, Holistic Healer, Psychic Medium, Metaphysician and Mentor. She has been studying the Craft for over 30 years and is an extremely Eclectic Witch and Practical Magician, specializing in empowerment, wellness and self-mastery. She explained the background of this festival: “A lot of people think that the summer solstice is the start of summer, but the summer solstice (June 20) is near its peak. We celebrate this festival near the beginning of May with the Maypole dance, at winter’s end. It’s a celebration of nature and actually a celebration of life. We want attendees to be a little bit more aware of the world around us, and a little bit more respectful of nature.”
Magical Curiosity Shopped offers workshops and seasonal rituals that welcome in the elements that are present at the time. “We reflect whatever is going on seasonally around us. We take on that energy, so when everything starts to wake up [there are] forces dazzling everything. When people tend to try to have the same routine all year and they don’t really reflect the season, they might wonder why they’re depressed (for example),” Melissa continued.
Festival organizers urged attendees that now it’s time to get busy, the time to get outside and get things done! To learn more about upcoming events from Magical Curiopsity Shoppe, click on https://MyLightclub.com.
Photo credits: Peter Lyons Hall
