Keweenaw Dark Sky Park to host first-ever Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival

Copper Harbor, Michigan, March 14, 2023 — The Keweenaw Dark Sky Park is hosting its first-ever event during Dark Sky Week. The Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival invites stargazers and astrophotographers to participate in two days of workshops on April 21 and 22.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) encourages people worldwide to discover the night during International Dark Sky Week (April 22-30). The annual week-long event aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of light pollution and the solutions that exist while simultaneously celebrating the night.

Attendees of the first-ever Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival will learn about the impacts of light pollution and the value and beauty of dark skies. The Keweenaw Dark Sky Park is hosting a sustainable event that values the environment while drawing people into the area.

“We are excited to host the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, which is the headquarters for the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park,” said John Mueller, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge owner. “Having people from near and afar enjoy an educational event to learn more about topics related to dark skies fits everything we do at the resort and the dark sky park. This event coincides with IDA’s International Dark Sky Week and continues to up the game with what everyone in the world is doing to enjoy and foster the dark skies and get closer to nature.”

The festival will take place on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 at the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. All ages of dark sky enthusiasts are invited. If you’re interested in learning about light pollution and have an interest in dark skies, astronomy or night sky photography – this event is a must-attend for you.

Speaker Melissa Kaelin is highly respected in the Midwest aurora-chasing community. She will present “Chasing the Northern Lights in Michigan” on Saturday, April 22 during the Festival.

“Our dark skies are a fading natural resource. In our cities and our homes, we have a tendency to put up more lights all the time, as if we’re afraid of the dark,” said Kaelin. “But there is beauty in the darkness! In fact, sometimes one outdoor porch light is enough to ruin your night vision and take away any chance you have of seeing the aurora dance — even when it’s already present. The finer things in nature are nuanced, and the aurora is no exception. She can appear as subtle as a smear of pastel paint on the northern horizon, or she can sweep powerfully across the entire sky during strong geomagnetic storms. Without the preservation of our dark skies, we could lose the opportunity to enjoy this natural wonder.”

The evening of Friday, April 21 will allow guests to check into their accommodations, have a meal and then take in a workshop. Saturday’s events in the afternoon allow guests to have a morning adventure and an afternoon and evening of learning.

SCHEDULE:

• Friday, April 21: 5:00 p.m.  – 6:00 p.m. – Meet and Greet – Main Lodge by the Fireplace
• Friday, April 21: 6:00 p.m.  – 8:30 p.m. – Evolution of the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park by John Mueller 
• Friday, April 21: 8:45 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. – Stargazing on Snowshoes led by Chris Guibert and Amy Oestreich
• Saturday, April 22: 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – Rustic and Worldly Lunch (included in your festival ticket purchase)
• Saturday, April 22: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Chasing the Northern Lights in Michigan by Melissa Kaelin
• Saturday, April 22: 4:00 p.m.  – 5:30 p.m. – The Story Behind the Images – by MaryBeth Kiczenski
• Saturday, April 22: 8:00 p.m. -10:30 p.m. – Stargazing: Northern Lights Photography Workshop by Nate Bett

HISTORY:

High school student Jennifer Barlow started the dark sky week in 2003 to make it possible for everyone to enjoy the beauty of the night sky. She realized that just by switching off our lights, we can decrease light pollution to get a much better view of the starlit sky. The International Dark-Sky Association, the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical League and Sky & Telescope understood the importance of her action and went on to endorse the day. It grew in popularity, and now it is an international week celebrated on the darkest week of April during the week of the new moon. 

“The night sky is a gift of such tremendous beauty that should not be hidden under a blanket of wasted light. It should be visible so that future generations do not lose touch with the wonder of our universe,” said Barlow. “It is my wish that people see the night sky in all of its glory, without excess light in the sky as our ancestors saw it hundreds of years ago.”

International Dark Sky Week has grown to become a worldwide event and a key component of Global Astronomy Month. This event always occurs in April, during the new moon so that the sky can be as dark as possible for optimum viewing conditions.

COST:

The event cost is $125 per person. This ticket includes admission to all workshops and lectures as well as a rustic worldly lunch on Saturday. You can purchase tickets online.

MEDIA:

• Dark Sky B-Roll (Credit: Visit Keweenaw)
• Dark Sky Gallery for Media Download (Credit: Visit Keweenaw)
• Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Blog
• Register for the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival
• More Information on the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival
• Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
• Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
• Visit Keweenaw Dark Skies

 

[ Print Version (PDF): PR 20230314 – VK and KML – UP Dark Sky Festival ]

This is a joint press release from both the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and the International Dark-Sky Association. Contact: KML Public Relations, pr@keweenawresort.com | Jesse Wiederhold, Visit Keweenaw, (989) 551-3191, jesse@visitkeweenaw.com