Thousands of partygoers, pagans and self-styled druids cheered and banged drums Saturday to greet the dawn at Stonehenge on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice.

Blowhorns signaled the rise of the sun over the ancient stone circle at 4:58 a.m. (0348 GMT) -- although in typical English fashion, the sunrise was barely visible through the clouds.

Still, the mist and drizzle did not dampen the spirits of revelers who gathered under umbrellas, ponchos and plastic bags to greet the dawn.

"I've done this for the last three years," said Peter Rawcliffe, 26, who cycled the 50 miles (80 kilometers) from his home in the city of Oxford. "I suppose I'm a bit of a closet druid.

"It's a really magical experience," he said.

Police estimated 28,000 revelers had made the trip, one of the largest numbers in years. They said there were 15 arrests for theft and other minor offenses.

Trevor Wyatt, 55, described the historic site as his "cathedral."

"It's been a sacred place for 6,000 years for the people of this country," he said.

Wyatt, who lives in London, said he is neither pagan nor druid, "just English."

More: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/21...n.ap/index.html

"I suppose I'm a bit of a closet druid." - makes me wonder which bit and whose closet?

Still, that's it for another year. All downhill from now on. Each day gets shorter and shorter. No point in getting up really

" in typical English fashion, the sunrise was barely visible through the clouds." I had been wondering that day whether or not they would've seen the sun at all.

Glad they had fun. It would be interesting to go one day.

someday my husband and I will attend this...not only has my husband been dreaming of seeing stonehenge, but being able to celebrate the summer solstice would make him really happy...seeing as it's also our wedding anaversery, I'd think it would be pretty awesome.