This Stargazing Festival In Joshua Tree Is What Dreams Are Made Of

Lovers of the starlit sky should act fact. Tickets for Joshua Tree’s Night Sky Festival went on sale July 1 — and word on the street is that the stargazing gathering sells out rapidly.

This year’s programming is going down at the Sky’s The Limit Observatory. The annual stargazing festival is friendly for all ages, so you can make it romantic, go on a friendly bonding trip, or squad up for family fun.

The Night Sky Star Pass for attendees 13 and over is $75, and the tickets for ages 6 through 12 are $35. The October 5 night pass allows stargazers to view through over 20 telescopes with an astronomer detailing the sky’s sights at each one. Constellation tours, access to live music, the Night Star Party, and night sky storytelling” are all included. Ticket holders also get to venture through the Walkable Solar System (Orrery), attend a solar jewelry-making class, and much more.

Other tickets are available for the festival, depending on what you’d like to participate in. The event’s website notes that the two-day gathering is a fundraiser presented by Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center. It is also presented by Joshua Tree Residential Education Experience (JTREE).

“Plan a weekend getaway, see the Night Sky, the National Park and appreciate the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities with a unique blend of food, accommodations and sights you will not forget,” says the site.

When Is the Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival?

This year’s festival will be held October 4 to 5.

What Should Travelers Know About Stargazing In Joshua Tree?

Thanks to less light pollution, Joshua Tree’s gleaming starry skies offer a unique stargazing experience. If you can’t make it to October’s festivities, the Joshua Tree National Park has year-round programming. The latter’s tips for stargazing in the desert include wearing layers, bringing a chair, and watching the ground while you walk to avoid hazards like “cacti, nocturnal animals, and uneven surfaces.” Also, avoid going during fuller phases of the moon (so you can see the most stars), and use red lights instead of bright white flashlights.