Image: Rocky Mountain Star Stare
The first time I heard about a Star Party, it sparked my curiosity. I didn’t know what a Star Party was, but it sounded wonderful.
I quickly discovered the magic. Star Parties are more than just astronomical events. They are gateways to understanding our place in the universe. Amateur astronomers transform into cosmic storytellers as their green laser pointers guide guests across the constellations. My favorite ones weave both scientific facts and rich cultural star stories that enliven the imagination and inspire awe.
My first guided constellation tour was at Tonto National Monument when they celebrated their International Dark Sky Park certification. Ranger Rader Lane transformed the night sky into a living story. Standing with about three dozen guests, he traced the mythological stories of Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, and Andromeda. The moment he showed us how to spot the Andromeda Galaxy with just our naked eyes, I felt so small, while at the same time, my inner world expanded. I thought, “I want to do this for others.”
That experience changed everything. It added fuel to my love of stargazing, eventually leading me to start a business that helps others connect with the night sky. I went from wondering what a Star Party was to co-chairing two Dark Sky Festivals that included Star Parties.
The list that follows highlights Dark Sky Festivals and Star Parties across the United States. While not comprehensive, it’s designed to inspire you to explore the wonders above. If you know of events that should be added, I’d love to hear from you.
JANUARY
MINNESOTA
Ely Dark Sky Festival
https://www.ely.org/events/annual-events-and-festivals/ely-dark-sky-festival/
FLORIDA
Southern Cross Astronomical Society Winter Star Party
https://www.scas.org/winter-star-party/?y=2025
FEBRUARY
ARIZONA
iHeart Pluto Festival
ARIZONA
Star Party at Oracle State Park
https://azstateparks.com/oracle/events/star-party-oracle
CALIFORNIA
Death Valley Dark Sky Festival
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/darkskyfestival.htm
FLORIDA
Orange Blossom Special International Star Party
https://www.stpeteastronomyclub.org/OBS/
MARCH
ARIZONA
Fountain Hills Dark Sky Festival
March
ARIZONA
Star Party at Cattail Cove
https://azstateparks.com/cattail-cove/events/cattail-star-party
ARIZONA
Star Party at Lost Dutchman State Park
https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/events
ARIZONA
Star Party at Red Rocks State Park
https://azstateparks.com/red-rock/events/star-party-at-red-rock
ARKANSAS
Winter Milky Way Star Party at Lake Sylvia State Park
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/events/116243/
NEW MEXICO
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Spring Equinox Program
https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/nightsky.htm
APRIL
ARIZONA
Star Party at Catalina State Park
https://azstateparks.com/catalina/events/tucson-star-party
NEVADA
Cosmos in the Desert Dark Sky Festival
TEXAS
Texas Star Party
https://texasstarparty.org/tsp-2025-overview/
MICHIGAN
Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival
https://keweenawdarksky.com/events/upper-peninsula-dark-sky-festival/
MISSISSIPPI
Mid-South Stargaze & Astronomy Conference
https://rainwaterobservatory.org/events
WORLDWIDE
International Dark Sky Week
MAY
IDAHO
Craters of the Moon Star Party
(ongoing from May-August)
https://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
ARIZONA
Star Party at Cattail Cove
https://azstateparks.com/cattail-cove/events/cattail-star-party
JUNE
OREGON
Oregon Star Party
CALIFORNIA
Golden State Star Party
https://goldenstatestarparty.org/
ARIZONA
Grand Canyon National Park Star Party
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm
UTAH
Bryce Canyon National Park Astronomy Festival
https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/astronomyprograms.htm
UTAH
Astrocon at Bryce Canyon
COLORADO
Rocky Mountain Star Stare
Lake City Star Fest
https://www.lakecitystarfest.com/
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Star Party
NEW MEXICO
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Summer Solstice Sunrise Program
https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/nightsky.htm
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Observer’s Weekend
PENNSYLVANIA
Cherry Springs State Park
https://sites.google.com/astrohbg.org/Cherry-Springs-Star-Party
NATIONWIDE
On the Moon Again
https://www.onthemoonagain.org/
JULY
WASHINGTON
Washington State Star Party
MONTANA
Glacier NP Logan Pass Star Party
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/astronomy-programs.htm
SOUTH DAKOTA
Badlands National Park AstroFest
https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/badl-astronomy-festival.htm
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Star Party
https://www.nebraskastarparty.org/
WEST VIRGINIA
Green Bank Star Quest
https://greenbankstarquest.org/
VERMONT
Stellafane Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers
AUGUST
CALIFORNIA
Starfest Big Bear
https://www.bigbear.com/events/skyfest/
MAINE
Maine State Star Party
https://darkskymaine.com/events
MINNESOTA
Northern Nights Star Fest
https://www.mnastro.org/event/2025-northern-nights-star-fest/
VIRGINIA
Shenandoah National Park
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm
WEST VIRGINIA
Almost Heaven Star Party
SEPTEMBER
CALIFORNIA
Sequoia- Kings Canyon National Park Dark Sky Festival
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/dark-sky-festival.htm
IDAHO
Idaho Star Party
NEVADA
Great Basin National Park Astronomy Festival
https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/great-basin-astronomy-festival.htm
NORTH DAKOTA
Dakota Nights: Theodore Roosevelt State Park
https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/nature/dakota-nights-festival.htm
COLORADO
Black Canyon Astro Fest
https://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/astrofest.htm
NEW MEXICO
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Fall Equinox Program
https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/nightsky.htm
WISCONSIN
Northwoods Star Fest
https://www.cvastro.org/northwoods-starfest/nwsf-information/
ILLINOIS
Illinois Dark Skies Star Party
OKLAHOMA
Okie-Tex Star Party
MICHIGAN
Great Lakes Star Gaze
http://www.greatlakesstargaze.com/
PENNSYLVANIA
Black Forest Star Party
MAINE
Stars Over Katahdin
https://www.friendsofkww.org/stars/
OCTOBER
CALIFORNIA
Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm
CALIFORNIA
Nightfall Star Party
https://nightfallstarparty.com/
CALIFORNIA
California Dark Sky Festival
https://www.easternsierraobservatory.com/california-dark-sky-festival
ARIZONA
Star Party at Cattail Cove
https://azstateparks.com/cattail-cove/events/cattail-star-party
TEXAS
Eldorado Star Party
https://eldoradostarparty.org/
GEORGIA
Peach State Star Gaze
September/October
https://sites.google.com/view/peachstatestargaze/home?authuser=0
WORLDWIDE
International Observe the Moon Night
https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/
DECEMBER
NEW MEXICO
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Winter Solstice Alignment Event
