WE'RE IN FULL MOON MODE... as August winds down, thanks to the incandescent arrival of the Sturgeon Moon and the partial lunar eclipse taking place Aug. 27-28 in California. But sometimes, though we love everything lunar, we must gaze in the direction of a moonless night, one that can fully grant us ethereal access to the stars. Those nights are coming up in September when the Dark Sky Festival begins its popular run in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The event's anticipated return had been announced awhile back, but now the schedule, and all of the astronomically awesome things to do, is live and luminous. And something new for 2026? Three Rivers will be included, meaning you can call upon the beautiful community in addition to participating areas up the hill.
THE SUN ZONE... in Kings Canyon will be the place to swing by during the daytime, while a Kings Canyon Junior Ranger program led by a National Park ranger will welcome aspiring astronomers. A Bat Chat in Sequoia National Park will welcome mammal mavens and, a bit down the hill, Visalia will be the earthly spot to jump into The Great Solar System Adventure. Night hikes, stargazing, and intriguing moments of animal education are on the packed-to-bursting roster, too. As for the terrestrial dates of this twinkle-filled to-do? Sept. 11 through 13 is the weekend to circle should you want to be in the middle of the astronomical action, though visitors are invited to participate in one or several activities, no commitment required, so swing by when you can. Important to know? Festival events and activities are free, but there is a fee to enter the national parks.
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WATCH HERE"NATURAL NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENTS MATTER": "The night sky is an important part of the experience of Sequoia and Kings Canyon, but natural darkness is also part of the environment we protect," said Clay Jordan, superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. "Whether someone is looking through a telescope, listening for bats or standing beneath the giant sequoias and looking at the stars, this festival gives people an opportunity to experience the park after dark and better understand why these natural nighttime environments matter." Discover more about this cosmic complimentary delight, a low-lit love-in focused on the universe we exist in and its many after-sundown splendors.
