Yorkshire’s Dark Skies Festival will return for a second time in 2017, running from 18th to 26th February.
The event, described as a ‘celestial celebration’, will take place in various locations in Yorkshire, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Park.
Organisers explain that the 2017 festival will build on this year’s debut event, with an extra two days added and plans to increase the number of visitor activities.
More than 1,500 people attended the 2016 festival, and activities included a solar system scavenger hunt and telescope making.
What can groups expect?
The 2017 Dark Skies Festival will expand on the 30 events which were held across 13 different locations this year. These included Horton-in-Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales and Ravenscar on the North York Moors coastline.
Groups visiting can enjoy activities such as stargazing safaris, wildlife walks and space-related crafting sessions.
Other events will celebrate the beauty of the national parks at night with guided walks in the company of rangers.
Participants will also get to use night vision equipment; experience mountain biking under the stars; enjoy evening caving sessions; and attend astro-photography evenings.
Booking information
Advance bookings and payment are essential for many of the festival events, unless stated as a drop-in event.
Group travel organisers should visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiting/whats-on/dark-skies-festival to keep up to date with the various activates available, and to book.
More about Dark Skies
The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales are said to be ideal locations to see clear night skies; great for those with an interest in stargazing.
The Yorkshire region is an area of low light pollution, and in some places visitors are said to be able to see as many as 2,000 stars in one go. These areas have been given the name Dark Sky Discovery Sites.
For further information visit www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk.
