Dark Sky Festival 

  • Lectures & Workshops
    • Lectures & Workshops
  • Science & Nature
    • Science & Nature Exhibits & Events
  • Themed Getaways
    • Themed Getaways

About

Cook County is home to some of the darkest skies in the world. Every year, explorers, adventurers, artists and photographers from around the world travel to Cook County to experience the northern lights, the Milky Way, and the wonders of the northern night sky. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) has been named as one of only 15 certified International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world! And at over a million acres, it is the largest. 

Help us to celebrate our world-class dark sky at the sixth Dark Sky Festival, December 7-9, 2023.

See the official landing page for the most up-to-date details, to get free tickets to presentations and more.

2023 Festival to Include:

  • Presentation and meet & greet with author and dark sky advocate Paul Bogard
  • Presentations by researcher Jessica Heim and Native Skywatchers, an initiative that seeks to remember and revitalize Indigenous star and earth knowledge.
  • Presentation and book signing with Grand Portage-based astrophotographer Travis Novitsky. Novitsky is releasing a book titled “Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos” in November.
  • Star Party with the University of Minnesota Duluth Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium
  • Guided night sky walk and telescope viewing opportunities
  • Additional presentations by the Superior National Forest, Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center
  • Dark Skies art exhibition featuring the work of Adam Swanson and Sam Zimmerman
  • And more!

FIND LODGING

Dates

  • Thursday, December 07, 2023
  • Friday, December 08, 2023
  • Saturday, December 09, 2023
  
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