Stargazing gets a lot of attention, while the moon often takes a backseat. And when the Full Moon comes out, stargazers talk about how the moon is ruining their ability to see the stars. But moon viewing is an incredible experience in its own right.
The monthly phases of the moon have played a vital role in cultures around the world for as long as humans have noticed the beautiful orb. Although most of us don’t rely on it to mark out a calendar, determine when to plant our crops, or celebrate a sacred tradition, planning lunar observations and gatherings is a fun way to connect with our nearest celestial object. With a bit of planning, families, friends, and individuals can enjoy special moments and memories under the moonlight.
This 2025 guide will take you through the lunar seasons, inspire ideas for gatherings and celebrations, and give tips for connecting with nature and others in thrilling ways. Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering or leading a moonlit hike, each season brings its own lunar magic.
LUNAR WINTER: Fireside Stories & Starlit Skies
Depending on where you live, Winter’s Full Moons either glitter over snow-covered mountains, trees, and prairies, or illuminate a chilly desert landscape or seascape. The cold, crisp air brings the clearest skies of the year, where the brightness of the moon and stars are amplified.
Winter Full Moons
- January: Wolf Moon on January 13
- February: Snow Moon on February 12
- March: Worm Moon on March 13
The Hopi tribe of Arizona calls January’s moon “Paamuya,” meaning the moon of life at its height. In Chinese tradition, February’s moon often coincides with the Lantern Festival, marking the end of lunar new year celebrations. The Kalapuya of Oregon call March’s Full Moon “Atcha-uyu” which means women dig camas, a root that was a staple of their diet.
Create Your Winter Moon Gathering
Your Winter celebrations can blend indoor coziness with outdoor adventure. Start your evening indoors with moon-themed crafts and storytelling, then venture out for moon viewing. A fire pit creates a warm gathering point that connects us to one another and our ancestors who celebrated winter moons around flames.
Set up stations both indoors and out:
- Craft area for moon-themed art: sketch the night’s moon, moonlit sky diorama (use a shoe or cereal box with one side cut open and fill it with a nature landscape of collected sticks, rocks, or moss, and paint the sky with the moon shining brightly), or really go for it by making a papier mache moon.
- Outdoor fire pit with surrounding seating. Add blankets, slippers or giant fuzzy socks, and beanies to encourage a longer moon-viewing time in colder weather.
- Hot cocoa bar: It’s more fun to stay out in the cold when you can warm up from the inside. Prepare themed drinks like “Moonbeam Hot Chocolate” and “Celestial Cider” and offer a fun variety of toppings.
Winter Moon Hiking Tips
Winter Full Moon hikes offer spectacular views thanks to leafless trees, snow reflection, and super clear skies on nights that aren’t overcast. However, they require extra preparation:
- Layer clothing appropriately with moisture-wicking base layers
- Bring extra warm drinks
- Check weather forecasts carefully – winter storms can arise quickly
- Consider snowshoeing for deeper snow conditions (check nature centers, Nordic villages, and cross-country ski companies for rentals and special trails)
LUNAR SPRING Awakening Earth & Evening Blooms
Spring moons rise over a landscape that is coming back to life. The nights get a little warmer but are sometimes overcast, requiring you to plan according to the weather forecast for clear skies.
Spring Full Moons
- April: Pink Moon on April 12
- May: Flower Moon on May 12
- June: Strawberry Moon on June 11
April’s Pink Moon isn’t actually pink – it’s named for the wild ground phlox that blooms in some parts of North America in early spring. The Shoshone of the Great Basin, Nevada, and Wyoming call the May Full Moon “Buhisea’-mea’,” which means budding. In Japanese tradition, spring moons hold special significance during the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season.
Create Your Spring Moon Gathering
Host an evening that celebrates growth and renewal:
- Create an outdoor tea garden with vases of flowers and solar lights
- Set up moon-viewing blankets near wildflowers or a backyard flower garden
- Offer seasonal treats featuring edible flowers and fresh berries
- Give guests seeds of white, night-blooming flowers and provide small pots and potting soil for planting and taking home
Spring Moon Hiking Tips
Spring hiking brings the incredible scents of new leaf buds, flowers, and rain-soaked soil. The night air is just as rich and connects other senses during our moon-gazing experiences. A few considerations are important for a good experience:
- Watch for muddy trails after spring rains. Hiking on muddy trails in the desert specifically can cause damage that lasts all summer.
- Pack layers for unpredictable temperatures that can shift within a few minutes
- Bring field guides to identify spring nocturnal wildlife
LUNAR SUMMER: Summer Nights & Water Lights
Summer moons lure us outside when the hot days cool in the evenings. We tend to be more adventurous and stay up late.
Summer Full Moons
- July: Buck Moon on July 10
- August: Sturgeon Moon on August 9
- September: Harvest Moon on September 7
Canada’s Cree tribe calls July’s moon the “Opaskwuwipizun,” which means the moon when the ducks molt. The Shawnee tribe of the American Midwest call it the Blackberry Moon, or “Miini Kiishthwa” in their native language. September’s Full Moon fluctuates between Corn Moon and Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon that occurs closest to the Fall Equinox (September 22 this year), any time from two weeks before to two weeks after the equinox. That means the Harvest Moon can be in September or October in any given year.
Create Your Summer Moon Gathering
Desert summers are blistering hot, making late nights ideal for moon-gazing or a trip to cooler elevations for camping. For all of North America, Summer offers the best viewing of the Milky Way, which is best done on a moonless night. Consider focusing your summer moon celebrations on the New Moon.
- Set up floating candles in pools or ponds to mirror or mimic the moon
- Go for a night swim or Full Moon kayaking
- Set up outdoor movie screenings of space-themed films
- Set up an ice cream bar and give the treats lunar names
Summer Moon Hiking Tips
Summer full moon hikes are easier to plan because they require less gear to be comfortable. Plenty of water is the name of the game in the Summer, so don’t skimp on it, even if it makes your pack heavier.
- Start late to avoid residual heat, or for desert dwellers, consider a pre-dawn hike
- Bring insect repellent if you live or plan to hike where there are mosquitos
- Pack plenty of water and electrolyte drinks
LUNAR FALL: Harvest Skies & Autumn Tales
The Full Moon always rises around sunset and usually rises as much as 50 minutes later each night. But around the time of the Fall Equinox, the moon rises near sunset for several nights in a row. This was great for farmers and hunters before farming could be done with tractors equipped with lights.
Fall Full Moons
- October: Hunter’s Moon
- November: Beaver Moon
- December: Cold Moon
The Hunter’s Moon always follows the Harvest Moon. Since the Harvest Moon can land in September or October, the Hunter’s Moon will come in October or November. It’s a great time for hunters who want to catch big game to feed their families for the winter. The Sioux tribe of South Dakota referred to the November Full Moon as the “Falling Leaves” moon. In December, the Cheyenne of the American Great Plains called the moon “When the Wolves Run Together.”
Creating Your Fall Moon Gathering
Combining fall and harvest celebrations with stargazing and moon viewing is an exciting way to transition from Summer into the cooler and darker days of Fall.
- Create a cozy night sky viewing space in your backyard or community event with pumpkins, hay bales, fall flowers, and quilts
- Host a neighborhood bonfire and invite an amateur astronomer from your local astronomy club to bring a telescopes
- Carve or paint pumpkins with moon phases
- Host a backyard lunar-themed harvest feast featuring round or crescent-shaped food to represent the moon: moon-shaped cheese platters, round loaves of crusty bread, apple cider with star anise floating on top
- Lead a moonlit apple-picking session
Fall Moon Hiking Tips
Fall is like a big exhale after Summer, and a great Fall hike under the moon is just the thing to usher in the new season.
- Pack extra layers for rapidly cooling temperatures
- Plan around earlier sunsets
- Tuck a nature journal into your hiking pack and sketch the gorgeous changes around you as the Full Moon rises. Get great tips for nature journaling at night in my podcast interview with John Muir Laws in Episode 22.
Special Moon Events in 2025
Total Lunar Eclipse
March 13-14, 2025 (CLICK HERE to find out what time to view it from your time zone)
Partial Solar Eclipse
March 29, 2025 (CLICK HERE to find out what time to view it from your location)
North American stargazers in the northeastern part of the United States and eastern Canada can see a partial sunrise solar eclipse when the moon covers a small portion of the sun.
Supermoons
The moon doesn’t orbit Earth in a perfect circle. This gives us time during the year when the moon is at its closest, something astronomers call a Supermoon. A Supermoon can be as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter in the night sky, but since most people don’t study the moon frequently, it’s difficult to visually notice the difference. This year’s Supermoons are in October, November, and December. The November Supermoon will be the closest the moon has been to Earth in six years.
Major Lunar Standstill
The moon doesn’t follow the same path around Earth each month. It has an 18.6-year cycle where it rises to its highest and sinks to its lowest in the night sky, known as a standstill. On June 10, 2025, the Strawberry Moon will reach the major lunar standstill as the lowest-hanging Full Moon in this nearly two-decade cycle.
More Resources
Each Full Moon is an opportunity to pause, gather, and connect – with nature, each other, and the rhythms of our nearest celestial neighbor. Whether you’re hosting an elaborate seasonal celebration or simply stepping outside to admire the moonrise, you’re participating in a tradition as old as humanity itself.
Make 2025 your year of the moon. Let each season’s celebrations become cherished memories and each full moon an occasion for wonder.
