The Best Star Parties in the World (And Why you Need to Go)

There are so many incredible star parties happening all over the world each year.

From stargazing with the naked eye, to deep sky astrophotography through a telescope, a star party is the best way for amateur astronomy enthusiasts to get to know the night sky on a deeper level, together.

We are working our way through some of the star parties listed in this article, as they are the perfect excuse to travel to some of the darkest places in the world.

No matter what the landscape is, there is one thing that all of these star parties have in common, dark skies.

As an amateur astrophotographer, visiting a star party is the perfect way to add an element of astronomy to your next trip.

The Best Star Parties in the World

Over the years, we have attended a number of star parties to observe and photograph the night sky with others.

They typically take place at a dark sky location, which offers a great chance for amateur astrophotographers to take advantage of these conditions.

I typically bring a refractor telescope (and shoot unfiltered) but visual astronomy with a Dobsonian Telescope, is also very popular for observing faint deep-sky objects in the through the eyepiece.

Star parties are often held in some of the best places for Milky Way photography. This is because the location for a star party is usually chosen due to it’s low view of the horizon.

Many of them also take place in the summer months, when the Milky Way core is at it’s highest position in the sky.

The core of the Milky Way as seen from the Cherry Springs Star Party in the USA.

These nights are some of the most memorable moments of my life, but what exactly is a star party anyway? If you are new to astronomy, you have likely never been to a star party, and are wondering what goes on at one.

What is a Star Party?

A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers under dark skies to observe, photograph, and appreciate the night sky.

They may even revolve around a particular celestial event, such as a lunar eclipse, meteor shower, or during the new moon phase of Milky Way season. This is why so many of the star parties in North America take place during Milky Way season, from June to August.

The Cherry Springs Star Party in Pennsylvania, USA. (CSSP on Facebook)

Local star parties may take place on a single night with a small group, but larger star parties can last up to a week or longer. Some of the largest star parties in the world can attract thousands of participants. Many astronomy clubs around the world will have monthly star parties during the warmer months.

A dark site away from light pollution is one of the most important reasons a site is chosen to host a star party, but not the only one. Some star parties are held in locations at high elevation (such as the Southern Skies Star Party in Blovia) to get above unpredictable weather patterns.

Star party participants are encouraged to bring observing instruments like telescopes and binoculars to spend the night viewing astronomical objects. This includes the planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and even comets.

It is not uncommon for large, annual star parties to host lectures, swap meets, raffles and/or vendor booths selling a wide assortment of astronomy equipment.

Top 10 Star Parties in the World

The following image is an infographic shared in an issue of BBC Sky at Night magazine of the World’s Top Star Parties.

I can’t confirm that all of these star parties are still active, but I have personally attended several of these and hope to visit a few new ones in the future.

Click the image for a larger version of the infographic created by BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

There are, of course, many more incredible star parties taking place all over the world that are not included on this list.

The Milky Way as seen from the Queensland Astrofest. Osamu Yamishita.

Included below is a breakdown of the star parties we have attended, organized by date. This list includes many of the top star parties in the world and we hope to add to this list.

Winter Star Party

When: February
Where: Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Host: Southern Cross Astronomical Society
Features: glam tents, warm weather, unique location, electrical for field and glam tents
Bortle: 3

The Winter Star Party is unique in location and climate. It happens during the winter months here in Canada, and offers a nice break from the cold weather. It is also the only star party (we have been to) where you are set up steps from the water.

This further south location also offers views of some of the Southern Hemisphere constellations that we don’t get at home, including ETA Carina and the Southern Cross. It does get windy on the coast, so plan accordingly.

In addition to the star party, there are loads of things to do nearby, including venture into Key West, water sports, fishing, running/walking trails etc.

Texas Star Party

When: May
Where: Fort Davis, Texas, USA
Host: Mix of astronomy clubs with support from McDonald Observatory
Features: lots of room to spread out, housing lottery offered, not far from the McDonald observatory
Bortle: 2

The Texas Star Party happens in a remote location, so a housing lottery is offered, along with meal plans. Many people choose to camp, though we stayed offsite at one of the limited hotel options.

The town of Fort Davis is small, but does offer a few restaurants and a grocery store for an essential items.

The McDonald Observatory is nearby, and makes a great day trip. Be sure to check out their three observatory domes and exhibits.

Cherry Springs Star Party

When: June
Where: Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA
Host: Astronomical Society of Harrisburg
Features: DarkSky Certified Park, 360-degree view of the night sky, electric on the observing field
Bortle: 2

We have been to the Cherry Springs Star Party a number of times and it continues to be one of our favourite star parties. Not only does it offer Bortle 2 skies, but it is close enough that we can bring our trailer to camp on the field. We have been here so often, that it feels almost like a home away from home.

The party itself is well organized, well attended, and we often get a chance to meet up with many of our astro friends. They have a lineup of speakers, some vendors and merch.

You can also find some mega Dobsonian telescopes on this field, which are memorable to look through and object faint deep-sky objects.

Starfest Star Party

When: August
Where: Ayton, Ontario, Canada
Host: North York Astronomical Society
Features: RV full service sites, electrical on field, large tent for speakers, buffet dinner.
Bortle: 4

Starfest is the only star party that we regularly attend in Canada. For this reason, it’s fun to interact and hang out with our fellow Canadians and members from our local astronomy club in Niagara.

It is a large event, held at a private campground, with plenty of space to accommodate attendees. There are full service RV spots and open field for setting up.

They offer an impressive setup for speakers, and a buffet dinner that can be added on to your star party registration.

The skies are not the darkest, thanks to the light pollution from Toronto, but they offer better views of the night sky than many areas closer to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Black Forest Star Party

When: September
Where: Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA
Host: Central Pennsylvania Observers
Features: DarkSky Certified Park, 360-degree view of the night sky, electric on the observing field
Bortle: 2

Cherry Springs State Park is also home to the Black Forest Star Party, which takes place later in the year than the Cherry Springs Star Party. It is held in September, when the nights are longer (and colder), and new astronomical objects are in the night sky.

The fall targets, such as the Pleiades Star Cluster in Taurus, are on full display, along with amazing winter targets such as the Orion Nebula late into at night.

At a higher elevation, and happening later in the year, it does get cold. Be sure to pack lots of layers and clothes to keep you warm.

Okie-Tex Star Party

When: October
Where: Kenton Oklahoma, USA
Host: Oklahoma Astronomical Society
Features: the darkest skies, meal plan options, workshops in addition to talks
Bortle: 1

The Okie-Tex Star Party was our first time experiencing Bortle 1 skies.

With zero light pollution, the skies were great for capturing the more faint deep-sky targets while the scenic, rolling landscape is well-suited for nightscape photography

This party requires a little more coordination to attend, based on how remote it is. There are limited places to stay offsite and may require making arrangements for meal plans during registration.

It is an extremely well organized star party that has been in operation for many years.

Other Star Parties

As mentioned, there are still many star parties that we would like to attend. Here are some that continue to come up as popular destinations in the astrophotography community.

Grand Canyon Star Party
Eldorado Star Party
Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Stellafane Convention

What Makes a Star Party so Special?

One of the best parts about star parties are the dark skies! Star party events are held at locations that are far away from city light pollution. This means, that they offer the opportunity to see some of the darkest skies you may ever see. We experienced this at the Okie-Tex Star Party, under Bortle 1 skies for the first time – it was a dream.

Another great aspect of star parties is being surrounded by people who share your interest for astronomy or astrophotography. Sharing in this interest means you can have conversations, ask questions, listen to presentations, look at gear, and just enjoy the camaraderie with your fellow amateur astronomers.

Lastly, a star party is about the excitement of the journey. They always include an element of travel, which is a breath of fresh air from the day-to-day scenery. How many times have you polar aligned your telescope mount in the backyard? Well, it’s time you experience this routine under a new sky.

They are the perfect excuse for a road trip and seeing new parts of the world. So pack up all of your astronomy and camping gear and hit the road.

Rules at a Star Party

If you have never attended a star party before, you should know that there are some rules you need to follow when attending.

Most star parties have their own detailed set of rules, which you should read before you go. But there are a few standard rules you should know before attending.

White Light is Prohibited: This is to maintain your night vision and enjoy the dark skies. Keep in mind that there may be people who travelled great distances to be under skies like this, so it’s important to respect everyones night sky experience. This includes limiting light from flashlights, computer screens, cell phones etc. Be sure to pack a dim red flash light or headlamp and something to cover up your laptop computer screen.

Quiet Mornings: Most people at a star party will take full advantage of the dark skies and will be awake until dawn. This means that they will be catching up on sleep in the early morning. As a courtesy, you’ll want to keep the volume down.

Star Parties in North America

Below is a list of star parties that are happening across the United States and Canada. Maybe there is one happening in your community.

If you would like us to include your local star party that is not listed, get in touch via our contact form.

Star Party Name	Location	Date
Winter Star Party	Florida, USA	February
Southern Star Star Party	North Carolina, USA	April
Texas Star Party	Texas, USA	May
Michiana Star Party	Michigan, USA	May
RTMC Astronomy Expo	California, USA	May
Bootleg Star Party	Illinois, USA	June
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival	Utah, USA	June
Cherry Springs Star Party	Pennsylvania, USA	June
Grand Canyon Star Party	Arizona, USA	June
Rocky Mountain Star Stare	Colorado, USA	June
Wisconsin Observers Weekend	Wisconsin, USA	June
New Moon in June Star Party	Ontario, CAN	June
Gateway to the Universe Star Party	Ontario, CAN	July
Nebraska Star Party	Nebraska, USA	July
Maine Astronomy Retreat	Maine, USA	July
StarFest	Ontario, Canada	Aug
Saskatchewan Summer Star Party	Saskatchewan, CAN	Aug
Oregon Star Party	Oregon, USA	Aug
Almost Heaven Star Party	West Virginia, USA	Aug
Iowa Star Party	Iowa, USA	Aug
Northern Nights Star Festival	Minnesota, USA	Aug
Acadia Night Sky Festival	Maine, USA	Sept
Black Forest Star Party	Pennsylvania, USA	Sept
Alberta Star Party	Alberta, CAN	Sept
Okie-Tex Star Party	Oklahoma, USA	Sept
Hidden Hollow Star Party	Ohio, USA	Sept
Connecticut Star Party	Connecticut, USA	Sept
Enchanted Skies Star Party	New Mexico, USA	Oct
Jasper Dark Sky Festival	Alberta, CAN	Oct

Ashley is an environmental educator, communication professional, and beginner astrophotographer. She has extensive experience writing for diverse audiences to increase public awareness and engagement. Ashley is an active Advocate and Delegate with DarkSky International, helping to protect the nighttime environment from the harmful effects of light pollution through advocacy and outreach.