The Milky Way in Yosemite National Park, California. August 12, 2017 (Casey Horner, Unsplash) | SkyNews
The Milky Way in Yosemite National Park, California. August 12, 2017 (Casey Horner, Unsplash)

2023 Star party calendar

Events across Canada offer astronomy enthusiasts a chance to enjoy stargazing at its best.

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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