Festival of a Thousand Colors

Celebrated each summer solstice, the city of Solah throws an extravagant celebration. All shops are closed and their goods are given freely. Shopkeeps and artisans work hard for one week leading up to the Festival of a Thousand Colors to provide trinkets, food, and other goods for the celebration. This is called Preparation Week. In this way, local businesses may advertise themselves while still getting a day off from work to celebrate life and its beauty.
The main event is a parade, beginning at the governor's keep. He emerges from the Rosestone Tower with his court and are soon followed by the commoners in the streets outside. As the parade winds through the city it picks up more and more people, before stopping briefly in the Great Square. Here the governor traditionally gives a speech commemorating the current year's festivities and praising local artisans, although some governors have historically used the opportunity to gain political leverage, condemning rivals and announcing new decrees. Generally, this is looked down upon, as the Festival is meant to be a distraction from everyday affairs. At the end of a governor's speech, he initiates the Color Wash. With help from his courtiers and attendants, he is doused with paints and powders of many different colors. From the tops of buildings, colors are thrown into the crowd below, washing them as well. Many commonfolk bring extra paint with them, ready to cover themselves just in case they don't get thoroughly soaked by the building-paint. From here, the commonfolk continue down the Sunset Boulevard, playing music, dancing, and singing. Whereas the governor typically leads the parade into the Great Square, the commonfolk lead the march out of the square. This represents the fabled history of civil unrest in Solah, a fiercely independent city. While lords may lead the city in the beginning, in the end the people know the best course, and ignoring the will of the people will lead to any leader's downfall. Heading down Sunset Boulevard, the crowd spills out of the walls into the fields outside the city where they feast until well after sundown.

Primary Related Location

Solah