Be the First to Celebrate the Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival 2027

Join us at the Dales Countryside Museum for the official launch event of the Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival 2027. Returning by popular demand, this special evening marks the beginning of the festival and offers a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of the night sky at one of the darkest times of the month, just after the New Moon, when skies are at their darkest and ideal for stargazing.

Experience Our Exciting New Virtual Reality Night Sky Adventure

We are delighted to launch our brand-new Virtual Reality Headsets, offering visitors a remarkable way to explore the night sky. Whether the evening delivers crystal-clear conditions or a blanket of cloud, everyone will be able to journey through the cosmos and experience the stars, constellations, planets and deep-sky wonders that make the Yorkshire Dales one of the UK’s premier Dark Sky destinations.
The new VR experience will allow visitors to discover exactly what can be seen in the night sky throughout February 2027, bringing the universe to life in an immersive and accessible way for all ages and abilities.

Supper & Stargazing
The evening begins with a delicious supper provided by Mill Race Tearoom, before astronomer Richard Darn takes us on a fascinating guided tour of the winter night sky.
February 2027 promises to be a spectacular month for amateur astronomers. Mars will be making one of its brightest appearances of the year, while Jupiter shines brilliantly in the evening sky. Above us, the magnificent winter constellations of Orion, Taurus and Gemini will still be dominating the heavens before they disappear into the western twilight as spring approaches.
Richard will guide guests through the highlights of the season, helping you identify constellations, planets and deep-sky objects. We’ll search for distant star clusters, admire a sky filled with brilliant winter stars and learn how the heavens change as winter gives way to spring.

Bring your smartphone so you can enjoy a beginner-friendly tour of the night sky using planetarium software, providing an excellent introduction for anyone new to astronomy.

Whether you’re an experienced observer or simply curious about the universe above us, this opening event offers the perfect way to launch the Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival 2027, discover our exciting new Virtual Reality experience, and enjoy the very best of the winter night sky.

Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

Tickets

Adults £25 each

Under 16's £15 each

6:30pm - 9pm

Please email dcm@yorkshiredales.org.uk for any dietary requirements.