Escaping big-city light pollution and sharing quality time with fellow stargazing enthusiasts are among the attractions of star parties held across Canada. The events listed here are open to the public, but be sure to contact organizers to confirm details and inquire about registration, accommodations and fees.
Events are listed by region, and then by date. Note that several gatherings occur on multiple dates spread over several months. Be sure to scan the entire list for your region to avoid overlooking an event you might wish to attend.
Quick links to events in your area: Atlantic Canada | Central Canada | Western Canada
ATLANTIC CANADA
June 7-8, September 27-28
KOUCHIBOUGUAC STARFEST
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Paul Owen
Tel: 506-343-7975
E-mail: pacificpaul@msn.com
Website: rascnb.ca
July 5-6
MACTAQUAC CAMPING & OBSERVING WEEKEND
Mactaquac Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Paul Owen
Tel: 506-343-7975
E-mail: pacificpaul@msn.com
Website: rascnb.ca
August 2-3
MOUNT CARLETON STAR PARTY
Mount Carleton Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Paul Owen
Tel: 506-343-7975
E-mail: pacificpaul@msn.com
Website: rascnb.ca
August 9-10
BUTTER POT STAR PARTY
Butter Pot Provincial Park (west of St. John’s), Newfoundland
Organizer: RASC St. John’s Centre
Contact: Randy Dodge
E-mail: info@stjohnsrasc.ca
Website: www.stjohnsrasc.ca
August 23-25
KEJIMKUJIK DARK SKY WEEKEND
Kejimkujik National Park & National Historic Site, Nova Scotia
Organizers: Parks Canada & RASC Halifax Centre
Contact: Audrey Levesque
Tel: 902-682-2770
E-mail: audrey.levesque@canada.ca
Website: www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/kejimkujik/activ/evenements-specia-events
August 23-24
TERRA NOVA PARK NIGHT SKY CELEBRATION
Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland
Organizer: RASC St. John’s Centre
Contact: Randy Dodge
E-mail: info@stjohnsrasc.ca
Website: www.stjohnsrasc.ca
August 30-31
FUNDY STARGAZE
Fundy National Park, New Brunswick
Organizer: RASC New Brunswick Centre
Contact: Paul Owen
Tel: 506-343-7975
E-mail: pacificpaul@msn.com
Website: rascnb.ca
August 30-September 2
NOVA EAST STAR PARTY
Smileys Provincial Park (near Newport), Nova Scotia
Organizers: RASC Halifax Centre & Minas Astronomy Group
E-mail: novaeast2019@halifax.rasc.ca
Website: halifax.rasc.ca/ne
CENTRAL CANADA
April 27, May 25, June 22, July 27, August 24, September 21
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHERS ASSEMBLE
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area, Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Tel: 613-354-4883 ext.3271
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: www.DarkSkyViewing.com
May 3-4, May 31-June 1, June 28-29, August 2-3, August 30-31, September 27-28
LASER-GUIDED STARGAZING TOURS
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area, Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Tel: 613-354-4883 ext.3271
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: www.DarkSkyViewing.com
May 10, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4
MILLENNIUM SQUARE STARGAZING NIGHTS
Millennium Square (south end of Liverpool Road), Pickering, Ontario
Organizer: RASC Toronto Centre
Contact: Arnold Brody
Tel: 905-903-2822
E-mail: arnbrody@gmail.com
Website: rascto.ca/events
May 11, June 1, July 6, August 3-4, August 31-September 1, October 5, October 26
FRONTENAC STARGAZING EVENTS
North Frontenac Stargazing Pad, 5816 Road 506, between Plevna and Fernleigh, Ontario
Organizer: Township of North Frontenac
Contact: Corey Klatt
Tel: 613-479-2231, ext.233
E-mail: recreation@northfrontenac.ca
Website: www.northfrontenac.com/dark-sky-preserve.html
May 24-26, August 30-September 3
AURORA BOREALIS WEEKEND
Gordon’s Park Dark Sky Preserve Campground (on Manitoulin Island), Ontario
Organizer: Gordon’s Park
Contact: Rita Gordon
Tel: 705-859-2470
E-mail: rita@gordonspark.com
Website: www.gordonspark.com
May 30-June 2
FROZEN BANANA STAR PARTY
Mew Lake Campground (in Algonquin Provincial Park), Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Bill Montague
E-mail: astronomer123@cogeco.ca
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
June 13-16
RASC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
York University, Toronto, Ontario
Organizer: RASC
Website: rasc.ca/ga2019
June 27-July 1
NEW MOON IN JUNE
Grundy Lake Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizers: North Bay Astronomy Club & Sudbury Astronomy Club
Contact: Linda Pulliah
Tel: 705-671-8127
E-mail: pulliah@fibreop.ca
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
June 28-July 1
STARGAZING MANITOULIN
Gordon’s Park Dark Sky Preserve Campground (on Manitoulin Island), Ontario
Organizer: Gordon’s Park
Contact: Rita Gordon
Tel: 705-859-2470
E-mail: rita@gordonspark.com
Website: www.gordonspark.com
July 25-28
GATEWAY TO THE UNIVERSE
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Bill Montague
E-mail: astronomer123@cogeco.ca
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
July 29-August 4
15TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL VIDEO STAR PARTY
Johnstown, Ontario
Contact: Rock Mallin
Tel: 613-749-7592
E-mail: mallincam@gmail.com
Website: www.mallincam.net/video-star-parties.html
August 9-13:
PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER PARTY
Gordon’s Park Dark Sky Preserve Campground (on Manitoulin Island), Ontario
Organizer: Gordon’s Park
Contact: Rita Gordon
Tel: 705-859-2470
E-mail: rita@gordonspark.com
Website: www.gordonspark.com
August 13
PERSEID METEOR SHOWER
Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area, Erinsville, Ontario
Organizer: Lennox & Addington County
Contact: Rob Plumley
Tel: 613-354-4883 ext.3271
E-mail: stargazing@lennox-addington.on.ca
Website: www.DarkSkyViewing.com
August 22-25
HALF THE NIGHT STAR PARTY
Halfway Lake Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizer/Contact: Linda Pulliah
Tel: 705-671-8127
E-mail: pulliah@fibreop.ca
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
August 22-25
STARFEST 2019
River Place Park (near Mount Forest), Ontario
Organizer: North York Astronomical Association
Contact: Ken Knox
Tel: 519-665-2228
E-mail: starfest@nyaa.ca
Website: www.nyaa.ca/starfest.html
August 23-25
THE ROC (LE RENDEZ-VOUS DES OBSERVATEURS DU CIEL)
Saint-Romain, Quebec
Contact: Pierre Tournay
Tel: 514-421-4164
E-mail: PierreT@aei.ca
Website: www.roc-qc.net
August 29-September 1
THE AUGUST STAR PARTY
Chapman Observing Field, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Robert or Lillian Chapman
Tel: 705-386-7087
E-mail: bobandlil14@gmail.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
September 26-29
THE LAST CHANCE STAR PARTY
Restoule Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizer: North Bay Astronomy Club
Contact: Robert or Lillian Chapman
Tel: 705-386-7087
E-mail: bobandlil14@gmail.com
Website: gatewaytotheuniverse.org
September 27-29
STARS OVER KILLARNEY
Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario
Organizers: Science North & Sudbury Astronomy Club
Contact: Natural Heritage Education
Tel: 705-287-2900
E-mail: starsoverkillarney@ontario.ca
Website: www.ontarioparks.com/park/killarney/events
September 27-29
FALL ‘N’ STARS
Camp Sagonaska Boy Scout Camp, Thomasburg (north of Belleville), Ontario
Organizers: RASC Kingston Centre & RASC Belleville Centre
Contact: Kim Hay
Tel: 613-377-6028
E-mail: cdnspooky@gmail.com
Website: rascbelleville.ca/fallnstars
November 2
CAFTA 2019
(Concours Annuel de Fabricants de Télescopes d’Amateurs)
Centre Communautaire Sarto-Desnoyers, Dorval, Quebec
Organizers: Dorval Astronomy Club & SRAC/Société d’astronomie de Montréal
Contact: Marjolaine Savoie
Tel: 514-953-9038
E-mail: marjos@ca.inter.net
Website: astrosurf.com/cdadfs/cafta.html
Bayside Astronomy
Public stargazing events held at several locations on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, throughout the summer to labour day.
Organizer: Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association
Contact: Mike Warkentin
Tel: 416-837-2959
E-mail: m_warkentin@rogers.com
Website: www.facebook.com/baysideastronomy/
WESTERN CANADA
June 1, July 27
BEYOND THE BIG DIPPER
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan
Organizer: Grasslands National Park
Contact: Visitor Centre
Tel: 306-298-2257
E-mail: grasslands.info@pc.gc.ca
Website: www.pc.gc.ca/grasslands
July 5-7
ALBERTA STAR-B-Q
Eccles Ranch Observatory (north of Caroline), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Calgary Centre
Contact: Roland Dechesne
Tel: 403-510-4330
E-mail: RolandD@cnrl.com
Website: calgary.rasc.ca/starbq2019.htm
July 27-August 4
MOUNT KOBAU STAR PARTY
Summit of Mount Kobau (near Osoyoos), British Columbia
Organizer: Mount Kobau Astronomical Society
Contact: Jim Failes
Tel: 250-763-6962
E-mail: info@mksp.ca
Website: www.mksp.ca
August 22-25
THEBACHA & WOOD BUFFALO DARK SKY FESTIVAL
Fort Smith & Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories
Organizer: Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society
Contact: Mike Couvrette
Tel: 867-872-0243
E-mail: info@tawbas.ca
Website: www.tawbas.ca/dark-sky-festival.html
August 24-31
MERRITT STAR QUEST
Near Merritt, British Columbia
Organizer: Merritt Astronomical Society
Contact: James Kanester
Tel: 250-558-0845
E-mail: fvas1@telus.net
Website: www.merrittastronomical.com
August 24-25
YUKON STAR PARTY
RASC Yukon Centre Observatory, Takhini Hot Springs, Whitehorse, Yukon
Organizer: RASC Yukon Centre
Contact: Vikki Zsohar
Tel: 250-408-4838
E-mail: yukonastronomicalsociety@gmail.com
Website: yukonastronomy.com
August 28-September 2
SASKATCHEWAN SUMMER STAR PARTY
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (West Block), south of Maple Creek,
Saskatchewan
Organizer: RASC Saskatoon Centre
Contact: Richard Huziak
Tel: 306-665-3392
E-mail: sssp.sk@sasktel.net
Website: sssp.saskatoon.rasc.ca
August 30-31
ISLAND STAR PARTY
Bright Angel Regional Park, 4528 Tigwell Road, Duncan, British Columbia
Organizer: Cowichan Valley Starfinders Society
Website: starfinders.ca/island-star-party
September 20-21
NORTHERN NIGHTS FESTIVAL
Kathleen Lake Campground (in Kluane National Park & Reserve), Yukon
Organizer: Parks Canada
Tel: 867-634-7207
E-mail: pc.infopnkluane-kluanenpinfo.pc@canada.ca
Website: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/kluane
September 21
LAKELAND DARK SKY CELEBRATION
Pinehurst Lake Campground (in Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area), Alberta
Organizer: Alberta Parks
Contact: Jaclyn Denman
Tel: 780-623-5445
E-mail: Jaclyn.denman@gov.ab.ca
Website: albertaparks.ca
September 24-29
NORTHERN PRAIRIE STAR PARTY
Black Nugget Lake Campground (southeast of Tofield), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Edmonton Centre
Contact: Rick Bramm
E-mail: npsp@edmontonrasc.com
Website: edmontonrasc.com/northern-prairie-star-party
September 27-29
ALBERTA STAR PARTY
Starland Recreational Area campground (north of Drumheller), Alberta
Organizer: RASC Calgary Centre
Website: calgary.rasc.ca
September 27-28
RASCALS STAR PARTY
Vancouver Island (Central Saanich), British Columbia
(Note: dates and location tentative.)
Organizer: RASC Victoria Centre
Website: victoria.rasc.ca
October 18-27
JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL
Jasper townsite & Jasper National Park, Alberta
Organizer: Tourism Jasper
Contact: Myriam Bolduc
Tel: 418-455-8441
E-mail: myriam@jaspercanadianrockies.com
Website: jasperdarksky.travel
October 18-20, October 25-27
MANNING PARK DARK SKY ASTRONOMY WEEKEND
Manning Park Resort (in E.C. Manning Provincial Park), British Columbia
Organizers: Manning Park Resort & RASC Vancouver Centre
Contact: Robyn Barker
Tel: 604-668-5940; cell: 604-997-4575
E-mail: marketing@manningpark.com
Website: manningpark.com/manning-park-dark-sky
