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This year International Dark Sky Week is April 13-20, 2026.
International Dark Sky Week is a global celebration of the natural night, inviting everyone to step outside, look up, and rediscover a sky filled with stars.
IDSW introduces newcomers to the idea of light pollution and highlights how protecting darkness supports wildlife, human health, and our own sense of wonder.
There are many simple and memorable ways to take part. Enjoy a campfire and share stories, connect with a local astronomy club to look through a telescope or learn the constellations, or head out on a night hike to experience the world after sunset. You can also attend a presentation about light pollution, support astrotourism in your community, talk with local leaders about better lighting practices, or make small changes around your own home to help preserve the night.
If you are in the valley, you can join one of the many Dark Sky Week programs happening throughout the week, each designed to help you experience the night in a new way.
See below our list of events, descriptions, and ways to register for the event.
IDSW 2026 Events Flier.pdfIDSW Event Descriptions
Astronomy for the Soul: Lake Wenatchee State Park
Settle in along the peaceful shores of Lake Wenatchee and let the night sky become your guide to restoration. In partnership with WVAC, this program invites visitors of all ages to lean back in a chair or stretch out on a blanket as we explore constellations and the awe‑inspiring structures that shape our universe.
Rooted in the Park Rx philosophy, Astronomy for the Soul encourages slowing down, breathing deeply, and reconnecting with the natural world as a pathway to well‑being. The gentle rhythm of the lake, the quiet of the forest, and the brilliance of the stars create a calming space where you can feel grounded, safe, and fully present.
Give yourself permission to unwind, refill your cup, and let the night sky ease the stress of everyday life, one peaceful moment at a time.
Where: Lake Wenatchee State Park, South Park Entrance, South Beach Day Use Area
When: Monday, April 13 at 8:30p-9:30p
Registration: Call Lake Wenatchee State Park at 509-763-3101 or email at Lake.wenatchee@parks.wa.gov
Other Information:
While the program is free a Discover Pass or $10 daily parking permit is required. You may also get a free Discover Pass at NCW Library of Things.
Dress for the weather as it could be chilly and possibly windy.
If clouds cover or high winds are too high this program is subject to cancelation. You will be contacted no later than 2 hours prior the event if the program has been cancelled.
Park Gates close at Dusk. If gates are closed, permission to pass the gates is given by registration for the event. Be sure to close the gates behind you.
Please limit the amount of white lights you bring and save them for emergency use only. Red lights are highly encouraged as an alternative.
Please park facing away from the beach as to not flood the beach with light when arriving or leaving.
Sidewalk Astronomy: Leavenworth
Sidewalk Astronomy offers a casual, come‑as‑you‑are chance to explore the night sky while enjoying downtown Leavenworth. As you wander between shops and local businesses, you may spot our telescope set up along the street, ready for anyone to take a spontaneous peek at the cosmos. It’s not a scheduled program or formal event, just a simple, welcoming opportunity to pause and look up while you’re out enjoying the area.
Where: Downtown Leavenworth, around the business district on Front St
When: Tuesday, April 14th, 8-10pm
Registration: No registration, this is a spontaneous showing of space.
CDLT Cosmic Hiking
CDLT Cosmic Hiking offers a chance to explore the half of nature most people rarely experience: the night. Join WVAC and the Chelan‑Douglas Land Trust at the Mountain Home Road Trailhead in Leavenworth for a guided ridge‑line hike with sweeping views of the Leavenworth valley and the surrounding mountains. Along the way, the group will pause at several points to dive into individual constellations, their stars, and the stories they hold across different cultures. At the final stop, all of these constellations come together in a larger narrative of the cosmos.
Trail conditions may require a change of venue. If so, the program will move to the Jacobsen Preserve Trailhead in Wenatchee.
Where: Canyon Crest Trail to Rat Creek Ridge Trail, Mountain Home Trailhead, Leavenworth. The Trailhead is a small pull-off the dirt road. Carpooling is recommended.
When: 8:30p-10:00pm April 15th, 2026
Registration: Attendance will be capped, registration required on CDLT website. will post link here when registration opens.
Other Information:
Drive carefully and slowly on the roadway. No parking pass is required.
Dress for hiking and colder night time temperatures. Keep in mind the venue may change if trail and road conditions are not suitable. You will be contacted via registration information given if the venue changes.
Bring a white light for emergencies and a red light to preserve our night vision for looking up at the night sky.
Icicle Brewing Astro Trivia
Grab your trivia friends and join WVAC at Icicle Brewing for a fun, space‑themed trivia night that’s designed for all knowledge levels. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer, someone who remembers a little bit from high school science, or you don’t know a single constellation, you’re totally welcome. Expect a relaxed, social evening filled with cosmic questions, good laughs, and great beer as we explore space together, no expertise required.
When: Thursday, April 16th, 6-9pm
Where: Icicle Brewing in Leavenworth
Regristration: No regristration necessary
More information:
depending on conditions, we may also set up a telescope outside for sponateous viewing of space.
NCW Libraries: Stellar Stories
Stellar Stories invites you to slow down, stretch out on the lawn by the Leavenworth Library, and let the night sky spark your imagination. Bring a blanket or a comfy chair, settle under the stars, and drift into the ancient tales woven across the heavens. As constellations rise, a presenter will guide you through cosmic lore, myths, mysteries, and the surprising ways humans have made meaning from the sky for thousands of years. It’s a relaxed, wonder‑filled evening that blends storytelling, stargazing, and a fresh sense of connection to the universe overhead.
Where: Lion's Club Park, Leavenworth, right next to the Leavenworth Library
When: Friday, April 17th, 9-10pm
Regristration: No regristration neccesary. Meet us in the park 10 minutes prior to get setup on the lawn.
Other Information:
Dress for the weather and bring something to sit or lay on.
Bring a red light and only use white lights for emergency use as it will blind us from the view of all the stars.
Audubon IDSW Bird Hike
Join NCW Audubon for a relaxed, slow‑paced birding hike at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, where the Wenatchee River provides a beautiful backdrop for discovery. As we meander along the shoreline, we’ll get to know some of our local resident birds and watch for the early migrants beginning their journey north. We’ll also chat about simple ways you can help protect the many species that travel under the cover of night.
This outing is open to all ages and all experience levels, especially those curious about birding but unsure where to start. Binoculars aren’t required; we’ll have some available to borrow so everyone can enjoy the views.
Where: Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, Parking is the lot just outside the gates
When: Saturday, April 18th, 8am-11am
Registration: Space is limited, registration is required. Register through Wenatchee River Institute Website. Link will be provided once registration is open.
Other Information:
Dress for conditions and for hiking a small distance and on uneven terrain.
Binoculars are available for use during the program
Hatchery Star Party
This is WVAC's flagship event. This event is for the whole community; members and non-members; those just curious and advanced amateurs. No registration is required, come on out and show up.
Have a telescope but don't know how to use it? or want some pointers? this is an opportunity to get to know your telescope.
No telescope? No problem! Astronomy is for sharing. Members will have red lanterns below their telescope. Come on up and see what we are looking at. Every member will have a different telescope and looking at something else. The secret password is "Whatchya Looking at?" This is a place for exploration of the curious and answering any questions you have from deep cosmic questions to what type of telescope you should get.
Have a telescope and know what your doing? Great! Come on out and meet our members. This is an event for astronomers of the community. This event allows all of us to connect to one another and to our cosmos.
Every person will be greeted by a WVAC member so new-comers know where to start and how the event works. Come on out and we can all enjoy the stars together in a comfortable environment.
Where:
We all will park at the USFWS Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Parking Lot just outside of the gate. The gate will be half closed, but please do not drive beyond the gate.
The Telescope Area is just beyond the main building, about 50 yards from the parking lot. Walk beyond the gates and follow that main roadway straight until you see our red illuminated light sign board.
Registration:
No registration is required. No need to sign up, just come on out and show up. Stay as long as you would like. But please arrive on time, so we can start introductions and explain how the event works.
While the event is free, donations are gladly accepted. All donations go to Friends of the Hatchery non-profit organization where they will use the proceeds to install a Sky Quality Meter to quantify light pollution growth.
Other Information:
During the program, please avoid the use of white light, red lensed lights are allowed. White lights are allowed for emergency use.
Please dress appropriately for the weather and possible wind; insect repellant may be necessary.
Bathrooms will be made available on nights that USFWS staff is available in the main building.
Star Party is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Cancellations will be posted on our Events Calendar.
Dark Sky Celebration
Join the Wenatchee River Institute and WVAC on Sunday, April 19, from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a full afternoon and evening of exploration, community, and celebration as we close out International Dark Sky Week. This special event brings together hands‑on learning, family fun, science engagement, and nighttime sky-watching, all set on Wenatchee River Institute property.
We’ll kick things off with an introduction to light pollution and why protecting dark skies matters. As the afternoon unfolds, enjoy kids’ activities, trivia games, and opportunities to participate in community science surveys. In the evening, guest speakers will dive into how artificial light impacts local ecosystems. Once night settles in, telescopes come out for a guided astronomy experience that highlights the beauty of a truly dark sky.
Schedule:
3:30–4:30 p.m. — Introduction to Light Pollution
4:30 p.m. — Kids’ Activities Open
5:00–6:30 p.m. — Trivia & Kids’ Activities
7:00–8:00 p.m. — Light Pollution’s Impact on Ecology
8:00–8:30 p.m. — Community Science Survey
8:30–10:00 p.m. — Astronomy Along the River
This event welcomes families, nature lovers, science enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys learning under an open sky. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate our region, our night skies, and the close of International Dark Sky Week.
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