The Town of Fountain Hills and the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Preservation are excited to announce the annual, free Dark Sky Festival happening on March 29 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Fountain Hills Community Center (13001 N. La Montana Dr.).
This year’s event will feature talks from NASA astronaut Chris Birch and naturalist Amy Burnett. Birch’s “From the Desert Toward the Moon, an Astronaut’s Journey” talk will walk guests through the road from dark sky nights in the Arizona desert to training to live in space and closing in on a return to the Moon. Burnett’s “Living in a ‘Too Lit’ World” features personal stories of rescued animals who have been indirect victims of light pollution, and talks about its far-reaching impacts: from individual animals to wild populations already in trouble.
The student art contest returns to the festival this year, where students ages k-12 in Fountain Hills can win cash and showcase their art. This year’s theme is The Night Shift: Critters that Crave the Dark Sky.
The festival’s lineup of activities include:
- A passport activity where kids can visit various activities and exhibitors, get a stamp in their passport, and enter a drawing for a free bike from McDowell Mountain Cycles.
- The chance to meet live animals from Wild at Heart, Southwest Conservation Center, Center for Native & Urban Wildlife, Arizona Bat Rescue, and more
- An exhibit about Arizona State University’s contributions in designing the Mars rover
- Virtual reality tours of the solar system
- A solar walk
- Face painting
- A star party with a dozen telescopes
- And much more!
Guests can also enter an auction for the chance to win stargazing experiences, baskets filled with night sky-related items, golf and resort packages, jewelry and more. The online auction begins at noon on Sunday, March 23, and closes at 8 p.m. on March 29.
Live music and a variety of food options will also be available for attendees. More information can be found at fhdarksky.com/events/festival.
For more information about happenings in Fountain Hills, please visit experiencefountainhills.org.