Night Sky Festival at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park protects dark night skies.

NPS/Lian Law

News Release Date: October 14, 2015

Contact: George Land, 760-367-5507

Twentynine Palms, CA – Joshua Tree National Park will host the 2015 Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival this weekend, beginning Friday, October 16th and ending Sunday, October 18th. This event will kick off the NPS Centennial year of celebration, marking the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. The festival will feature a variety of activities scheduled at a number of different locations in the park as well as the Sky's the Limit Observatory, located just outside the park's north entrance.

Joshua Tree National Park is known internationally for the night sky and this event promises to deliver an entire weekend of viewing, lectures by experts in the field and projects for everyone from those with a casual interest to serious astronomers. A free shuttle will run from the Oasis Visitor Center to Sky's the Limit, Friday and Saturday evening. A few things to keep in mind: 

- Normal park entrance fees will apply during the weekend of the Night Sky Festival.

- Parking is limited at many locations. Please carpool. If parking fills, you may be turned away from a particular event.

- You may download the festival program (2.8MB PDF) before you come to the park.

- Bring water, extra layers of clothes and a chair.

Find out more about the festival at go.nps.gov/JTnights or call 760 367-5522. Come celebrate the night skies and Find Your Star! 

For more information visit, www.nps.gov/jotr, or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook at JoshuaTreeNPS.