Celebrating Jasper's distinction as the largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve in the world!
October is Dark Sky month in Jasper! Home to the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky preserve, Jasper by day offers a universe of outdoor fun in a wilderness playground.
At night, Jasper is a stunning wilderness of stars. Jasper is home to the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve. Take it all in during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
They're not just looking at stars, but teaching the science of astronomy, and having fun with daytime activities like the bottle rocket launch.
With everything from self-guided experiences to helicopter tours, formal dinners and cocktail soirees and of course, the signature Symphony Under the Stars, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival offers up daily—and NIGHTLY—star-themed entertainment of all kinds.
Here are some of the highlights from 2022, to give you a taste of the experience:
Fireside Chat - Indigenous song, storytelling and conversation, led by a Knowledge Keeper
Cocktails and Constellations - climb aboard a 1930s style open-top bus for a guided tour of the stars, complete with refreshments!
Dining with Aurora - a flavourful sensory experience, in the dark
Intro to Astro Photography - learn about night photography from the pros
Jasper SkyStram Star Sessions - view the stars up close, with a dinner hosted by astronomy experts at the top of Jasper SkyTram
Symphony Under the Stars - listen to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, live, underneath the night sky!
Sign up for FestivalSeekers enews and we'll keep you in the loop.
Live music by candlelight - a performance by CHARMS (Denis and Megan Dufresne)
An evening with Seth Shostak - Shostak, an American astronomer from the SETI Institute, ranges on the topic of space exploration
Transforming ideas into reality: the story of Blue Origin with Rob Meyerson - Amazon's lead aerospace engineer talks space travel
Keynote panel - Shawna Pandya hosts a talk with Jameel Janjua, Rob Meyerson and Emma Louden on the boundaries of space exploration
ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᐣ pahkisimon - Cree for sunset, this free event celebrates sunset, hosted by Teneil Whiskeyjack
The most up-to-date festival information can be found on the Jasper Dark Sky website.
Jasper was designated a dark sky preserve in March 2011 thanks to the optimal conditions and minimal light pollution in the area.
To respect the dark sky experience, keep the lights low: if you're bringing a headlamp for night time activities, grab one with a red light setting (red light is not as strong or disruptive to the eyes.)
Nights can be cool in October, especially when you're exploring space; be sure to bring layers!
