Last Stand, the newly-formed band whose members all hail from endangered species, will be just one of the additions to this year’s Celebration of the Winter Solstice, it has been announced.

At a short press event this morning, Aintza Kanariar, Director of Public Relations for the Department of Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations, confirmed not only the department’s invitation to the band but a number of other novel additions to the celebration’s lineup.

“We are taking a leaf out of the Groundhog Dog playbook,” Kanariar joked, as she listed a number of different performers and activities that will make their Winter Solstice début this year.

Along with Last Stand, whose founder and lead guitarist RAYdius tweeted out his delight at the invitation this morning, the celebration will include other musicians who have never performed at the Solstice, such as NIML. As well, there will be karaoke, stand-up comedy, poetry readings, tail painting, dancing, games, and athletics, among other things.

But Kanariar was quick to reassure attendants that all of the past celebratory items will be on the menu this year, as well.

“Our celebrants count on us to retain certain aspects of the event, and we promise we won’t let them down,” she said.

To that end, Kanariar confirmed that the celebration will include an original dance choreographed for the occasion by Herman Stoat and performed by his eponymous dance company. The entertainment will also include jugglers, clowns, a Human imitator, painting by students from the Hani Gajah School of Art, and costume dress-up events hosted by the Park Historical Society.

And, as always, a major component of the festivities will be the food. The suppliers of this year’s fare include The Cackling Goose Tavern, The Battering Ram Café, The Compost Heap, The Broop ‘n Miaow, The Draft, and The Pound Gastropub. Appetizers will be served for the first two hours of the celebration courtesy of Chef Mikko Tiikeri’s The Feeding Station. Ants in Your Pantry and Provisions by Petrounel will once again send all attendees home with tasty party favours.

The complete itinerary for the event will be released shortly, Kanariar said.

The Celebration of the Winter Solstice begins at sunrise on December 21. Food will be served until 11:00 pm.