You are invited to Valles Caldera National Preserve on Friday, July 5, for a night of stargazing in your International Dark Sky Park. Registration is not required. The main entrance will be open to all during this special event!

The event runs from 7 pm to 11:45 pm and includes special ranger programs, cultural performances from local pueblo communities, telescope viewing guided by local astronomy clubs, and pastries and night sky items for sale.

“As an International Dark Sky Park, Valles Caldera has some of the best dark skies in the region,” said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “We continue to explore ways to provide opportunities for visitors to safely experience this magnificent resource. This year, besides our periodic ranger-led night sky programs, we are excited to offer this event that is open to all.”

The park will reopen the gates starting at 7 pm. The gates will be open until 11:45 pm, though we ask visitors to arrive by 9 pm to minimize bright lights and maximize the enjoyment of the night sky. All event activities will take place near the Entrance Station. Parking is limited, so we recommend carpooling as much as possible. As this event takes place at night, we recommend bringing red lights to aid in navigating the event area.