TWENTYNINE PALMS — The 11th annual Night Sky Festival will run Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, at venues around Twentynine Palms, just outside Joshua Tree National Park’s north entrance.
The family-friendly weekend includes constellation tours, telescope clinics, hands-on science activities, lectures from astronomers, and stargazing. New this year are a Family Space Camp and a community mural-tile activity, both from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Sky’s the Limit Observatory, and a glow-themed party from 9 to 10 p.m. Friday at 29 Palms Beer Company.
The full schedule:
• Telescope Clinic — 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at Sky’s the Limit Observatory
• Family-Friendly Glow Party — 9 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at 29 Palms Beer Company
• Space Camp and Community Mural Tiles — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Sky’s the Limit Observatory
• Astronomy Lectures — 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Patriotic Hall
• Star Party Happy Hour — 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 29 Palms Beer Company
• Night Star Party — 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Sky’s the Limit Observatory
The festival is presented by Sky’s the Limit Observatory & Nature Center and the Joshua Tree National Park Association’s Discover JTREE program, in partnership with the National Park Service, and is supported by the city of Twentynine Palms and Visit 29 Palms, among other sponsors. Tickets are limited and available at events.humanitix.com/night-sky-festival. Organizers recommend booking lodging in Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree or nearby towns, since campgrounds often fill by midweek. Attendees at night programs are asked to bring a red flashlight — white lights are not permitted around telescopes — and warm clothing; dogs are not allowed at telescope viewing events.
Source: Night Sky Festival event page and Joshua Tree National Park/NPS website