Compiled by Christine Kulyk
Events across Canada offer astronomy enthusiasts a chance to enjoy stargazing at its best. Many sites are noted for their exceptional dark skies or unique regional flavour. Be sure to check event websites for important information about advance registration, fees, accommodations, directions to event sites, and updates relating to park regulations or COVID restrictions.
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ATLANTIC CANADA
June 17-18
KOUCHIBOUGUAC STARGAZE
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Yvon Hachey
Phone: 506-866-9204
E-mail: yvon.hachey@gmail.com
Website: rascnb.ca
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July 21-22
BUTTER POT STAR PARTY
Butter Pot Provincial Park, Newfoundland
Organizer: RASC St. John’s Centre
Contact: Randy Dodge
E-mail: info@stjohnsrasc.ca
Website: stjohnsrasc.ca/upcoming-events/upcoming-events.shtml
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August 11-13
KEJIMKUJIK DARK SKY WEEKEND
Kejimkujik National Park & National Historic Site, Nova Scotia
Organizers: RASC Halifax Centre & Parks Canada
Contact: Colleen Anderson
Phone: 902-682-2772
E-mail: kejimkujik@pc.gc.ca
Website: parks.canada.ca/kejimkujik
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August 18-19 (tentative dates)
MT. CARLETON STAR GAZE
Mount Carleton Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Yvon Hachey
Phone: 506-866-9204
E-mail: yvon.hachey@gmail.com
Website: rascnb.ca
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August 18-20
NOVA EAST STAR PARTY
Smileys Provincial Park, Nova Scotia
Organizer: RASC Halifax Centre
Contact: Chris Young
Website: novaeast.rasc.ca
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August (Dates TBA)
TERRA NOVA STAR PARTY
Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland
Organizers: RASC St. John’s Centre & Parks Canada
Contact: Randy Dodge
E-mail: info@stjohnsrasc.ca
Website: stjohnsrasc.ca/upcoming-events/upcoming-events.shtml
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September 8-9
FUNDY STAR GAZE
Herring Cove Site in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Paul Owen
Phone: 506-343-7975
E-mail: pacificpaul@msn.com
Website: rascnb.ca
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September 22-23
KOUCHIBOUGUAC FALL STAR FEST
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Yvon Hachey
Phone: 506-866-9204
E-mail: yvon.hachey@gmail.com
Website: rascnb.ca
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CENTRAL CANADA
April 14&15, May 12&13, June 23&24, July 21&22, August 18&19, September 15&16, October 13&14
LASER-GUIDED TOURS OF THE NIGHT SKY
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area (7980 County Rd. 41), Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Phone: 613-453-1010
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: DarkSkyViewing.com
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April 22, May 20, June 17, July 15, September 9, October 7
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHERS ASSEMBLE
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area (7980 County Rd. 41), Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Phone: 613-453-1010
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: DarkSkyViewing.com
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April 28, May 26, June 23, July 21, August 25, September 22, October 20
MILLENNIUM SQUARE PUBLIC STARGAZING
Millennium Square (at the south end of Liverpool Rd.), Pickering, Ontario
Organizer: RASC Toronto Centre
Contact: Arnold Brody
Phone: 905-903-2822
E-mail: arnbrody@gmail.com
Website: rascto.ca/events
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May 19-22
FROZEN BANANA STAR PARTY
Mew Lake Campground in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Bill Montague or Randy Currie
Phone: 705-492-3048
E-mail: astronomer123nb@gmail.com
or: stargazingran@yandex.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
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June 15-18
THE NEW MOON IN JUNE STAR PARTY
Chapmans’ Observing Field, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Robert or Lillian Chapman
Phone: 705-386-7087
E-mail: bobandlil14@gmail.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
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July 1 through September 2
BAYSIDE ASTRONOMY
Mondays: Miller Family Camp (Miller Lake), Ontario
Wednesdays: Summer House Park (Miller Lake), Ontario
Fridays & Saturdays: Lion’s Head Marina, Ontario
Sundays: Singing Sands Park (near Tobermory), Ontario
Organizer: Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association
Contact: Mike Warkentin
Phone: 416-837-2959
E-mail: m_warkentin@rogers.com
Website: www.facebook.com/baysideastronomy
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July 10-15
21st INTERNATIONAL VIDEO CAMERAS STAR PARTY
Johnstown, Ontario
Contact: Rock Mallin
Phone: 613-925-7592
E-mail: mallincam@gmail.com
Website: mallincam.net/video-star-parties.html
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July 13-16
GATEWAY TO THE UNIVERSE STAR PARTY
Michelle & Dan’s Viewing Area, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Bill Montague or Randy Currie
Phone: 705-492-3048
E-mail: astronomer123nb@gmail.com
or: stargazingran@yandex.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
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July 29, August 26, September 23
UP CLOSE WITH THE MOON
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area (7980 County Rd. 41), Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Phone: 613-453-1010
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: DarkSkyViewing.com
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August 12/13
PERSEID METEOR SHOWER
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area (7980 County Rd. 41), Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Phone: 613-453-1010
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: DarkSkyViewing.com
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August 16-20
THE AUGUST STAR PARTY
Chapmans’ Observing Field, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Robert or Lillian Chapman
Phone: 705-386-7087
E-mail: bobandlil14@gmail.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
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August 17-20
STARFEST
River Place Campground (Ayton), Ontario
Organizer: North York Astronomical Association
E-mail starfest@nyaa.ca
Website: nyaa.ca/starfest.htm
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September 13-17
THE LAST CHANCE STAR PARTY
Ontario (Location TBA)
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Robert or Lillian Chapman
Phone: 705-386-7087
E-mail: bobandlil14@gmail.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
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September 15-17
FALL ‘N’ STARS
Johnson’s RV Park (3235 County Rd. 13, RR 3), Picton, Ontario
Organizers: RASC Belleville & Kingston Centres
Contact: Dr. Randall Boddam
Phone: 705-321-3205
E-mail: rboddam@hotmail.ca
Website: rascbelleville.ca/fallnstars
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September 15-17
FESTIVAL OF STARS
North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve (5816 Road 506), Plevna, Ontario
Organizer: North Frontenac Amateur Astronomy Club
Contact: Gary Colwell
Phone: 647-273-4193
E-mail: supergiant2003@hotmail.com
Website: www.facebook.com/NFDSP
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October 13-15
STARS OVER KILLARNEY
Killarney Provincial Park Observatory, Ontario
Organizer: Killarney Provincial Park
Contact: Kathleen Houlahan Chayer
Phone: 705-287-2900
E-mail: killarneydiscovery@ontario.ca
Website: ontarioparks.com/park/killarney
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Dates TBA
CAFTA 2023
(Concours Annuel de Fabricants de Télescopes d’Amateurs)
Location TBA, Québec
Organizers: Dorval Astronomy Club & SRAC Montréal
Contact: Marjolaine Savoie
Phone: 514-953-9038
E-mail: marjos@ca.inter.net
Website: astrosurf.com/cdadfs/cafta.html
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WESTERN CANADA
May 19-20
BEYOND THE BIG DIPPER
Rock Creek Campground in Grasslands National Park (East Block), Saskatchewan
Organizer: Grasslands National Park
Phone: 877-345-2257
E-mail: infopnprairies-grasslandsnpinfo@pc.gc.ca
Website: parks.canada.ca/grasslands
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July 21-23
ALBERTA STAR-B-Q
Eccles Ranch Observatory (near Caroline), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Calgary Centre
Contact: Roland Dechesne
Phone: 403-510-4330
E-mail: rolandd@cnrl.com
Website: calgary.rasc.ca/starbq.htm
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July 21-22
BEYOND THE BIG DIPPER
Frenchman Valley Campground in Grasslands National Park (West Block), Saskatchewan
Organizer: Grasslands National Park
Phone: 877-345-2257
E-mail: infopnprairies-grasslandsnpinfo@pc.gc.ca
Website: parks.canada.ca/grasslands
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August 11-13
2023 (VANCOUVER) ISLAND STAR PARTY
Bright Angel Park (4528 Tigwell Rd.), Duncan (Vancouver Island), British Columbia
Organizers: RASC Victoria Centre & Cowichan Valley Starfinders Astronomy Club
Contact: David Payne
Phone: 403-874-1980
E-mail: vp@victoria.rasc.ca
Website: victoria.rasc.ca/2023-island-star-party
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August 12-20
MT. KOBAU STAR PARTY
Summit of Mt. Kobau (near Osoyoos), British Columbia
Organizer: Mount Kobau Astronomical Society
Contact: Jim Failes
Phone: 250-763-6962
E-mail: info@mksp.ca
Website: mksp.ca
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August 15-20
SASKATCHEWAN SUMMER STAR PARTY 2023
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Centre Block), 30 km. south of Maple Creek,
Saskatchewan
Organizers: RASC Saskatoon & Regina Centres
Contact: Richard Huziak (Registrar)
Phone: 306-280-1899
E-mail: sssp.sk@sasktel.net
Website: sssp.saskatoon.rasc.ca
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August 17-20
THEBACHA & WOOD BUFFALO DARK SKY FESTIVAL
Fort Smith & Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories
Organizers: Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society & Parks Canada
Contact: Mike Couvrette
Phone: 867-872-0243
E-mail: info@tawbas.ca
Website: tawbas.ca/dark-sky-festival.html
or: hwww.tawbas.ca
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Dates TBA
YUKON STAR PARTY
Location TBA, Yukon
Organizer: Yukon Astronomical Society (RASC Yukon Centre)
Contact: Christa Van Laerhoven
Phone: 867-687-2852
E-mail: yukonastronomicalsociety@gmail.com
Website: yukonastronomy.com
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September 10-15
SOUTHERN ALBERTA STAR PARTY
Whispering Pines Camp in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta
Organizer: Medicine Hat Astronomy Club
Contact: Andrew Keeley
Phone: 403-928-2639
E-mail: info@sasp.ca
Website: www.sasp.ca
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September 12-17
2023 NORTHERN PRAIRIE STAR PARTY
Black Nugget Lake Campground (southeast of Tofield), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Edmonton Centre
Contact: Rick & Susan Bramm
E-mail: npstarfest@shaw.ca
Website: edmontonrasc.com/northern-prairie-star-party
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September 15-17
ALBERTA STAR PARTY
Starland Recreation Area (north of Drumheller), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Calgary Centre
Contact: Jason Nishiyama
E-mail: albertastarparty@gmail.com
Website: calgary.rasc.ca/asp.htm
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September 15-17
NORTHERN NIGHTS, KLUANE’S ANNUAL DARK SKY FESTIVAL
Kathleen Lake Campground in Kluane National Park & Reserve, Yukon
Organizer: Parks Canada
Contact: Erin Jamieson
Phone: 867-634-5235
E-mail: erin.jamieson@pc.gc.ca
Website: parks.canada.ca/pn-np/yt/kluane/activ/nuits-nordique-northern-nights
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September 16
LAKELAND ANNUAL DARK SKY CELEBRATION
Lakeland Provincial Park & Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta
Organizer: Alberta Parks
Contact: Jaclyn Denman
Phone: 780-623-7189
Website: albertaparks.ca/events
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October 13-22
JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL
Jasper, Alberta
Organizer: Tourism Jasper
Contact: Tyler Riopel
Phone: 780-920-8678
E-mail: tyler@jasper.travel
Website: jasperdarksky.travel
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NATIONAL ONLINE EVENT
May 5-7
ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023
Virtual conference. See Website for info about programming & registration.
Organizer: RASC National Office
Contact: Samantha Jewett
Phone: 416-924-7973
E-mail: gasupport@rasc.ca
Website: rascga2023.ca
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