Book now for the Dark Skies Festival 2022

The Dark Skies Festival will take place from 18 February to 6 March, 2022, and will see events being held right across the International Dark Sky Reserves of both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks.

Visitors can expect a fantastic array of events in beautiful locations, from stargazing safaris and opportunities to run, cycle or walk under pristine dark skies, through to daytime fun activities including rocket building and planet trails, as well as expert talks aimed at fostering a greater understanding of the night sky.

New thought-provoking solo art exhibitions will help deliver a message that the night sky is precious and needs to be protected.

For the first time, the North York Moors National Park’s Inspired by… gallery has commissioned two artists to produce new bodies of work that not only celebrate the night sky but also promote a wider understanding of its fragility in the face of creeping light pollution and the detrimental impact this is having on the natural world.

Astronomy artist, Louise Beer, has spoken to national park dark sky consultants as part of her research into the philosophical and ecological importance of natural darkness.

She will then interpret their relationship to the night sky through photography, installation, sound and a visitor participatory element, for her ‘Dark Reflections’ exhibition, which will be designed to help inspire positive environmental change.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Dales-based printmaker, Helen Peyton, has spent time walking ancient routes across the North York Moors landscape at night, guided only by landmarks and the stars, to create a series of artwork entitled ‘Starscapes’.