This page features special events planned for 2024 at Great Sand Dunes. There are no reservations or fees for these events, but regular park entrance fees are in effect.
For the schedule of regular day and evening programs, please visit our Ranger Programs page.
Sandhill cranes fly toward a wetland at sunset, with the dunes in the distance.
NPS/Patrick Myers
Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 2024
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Celebrate Great Sand Dunes in downtown Alamosa April 5
Visit Alamosa
Friday, April 5, 2024
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
We Love Our National Park Celebration
Alamosa hosts an annual evening in downtown each spring to celebrate Great Sand Dunes.
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Booths and Activities
7:00 pm Evening Ranger Program at San Luis Valley Museum: Stars Above the Sand. There are more stars than grains of sand! Through images and video, we’ll explore the unexpected wonders of the universe - from Great Sand Dunes, to other dunes in our solar system, to the first images of distant galaxies captured by the new James Webb Space Telescope. After the presentation, you can touch small pieces of our Moon and the planet Mars! 45 minutes.
Evening Program with Guest Speaker Dr. Matt Nehring
Adams State University Professor Dr. Nehring will present Galaxies: Islands in the Cosmos. Come learn about the astronomical structures known as galaxies - once described as island universes. The Milky Way Galaxy is our home and we are fortunate to be living in an age where we can use our phones and computers to pull up amazing photographs of other galaxies taken by impressive telescopes around the world and in space. In addition to viewing and appreciating some compelling pictures of galaxies, we will explore when and how we came to understand galaxies, the many sizes and shapes of galaxies, interactions and collisions between galaxies, a puzzle involving dark matter, and more. After the presentation, weather permitting, Dr. Nehring and a ranger will have telescopes available to peer into deep space. Amphitheater, 1 hour.
Dr. Matt Nehring earned his Ph.D. in experimental particle physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and has been a professor of physics at Adams State University for the past 26 years where he teaches astronomy, physics, engineering, and computer science courses. Matt is also the Director of Zacheis Planetarium and the campus observatory and serves as the department chair for Engineering and Computer Science.
Regular ranger-led evening programs are posted weekly on the Ranger Programs page.
Adolph & Greta Heersink, two of many 19th century Dutch settlers in the San Luis Valley.
Painting by S. Bateo, used by permission
Friday, July 19, 2024
3:30 pm
Visitor Center
Dutch Heritage of the San Luis Valley
The first Dutch settlers came to this valley over 130 years ago. Some of their descendants will share the stories of how they settled here, their traditional culture and unique artforms. They will have Dutch items on display, and individually wrapped Dutch treats called Stroopwafels, made in Holland, for all who would like one! There are no signups or reservations for this program, which will be held in the Visitor Center movie room. The program itself is free, but regular park entrance fees are in effect.
'Kozmic Kyle' Doane
Courtesy Kyle Doane
Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
8:45 pm - 10:30 pm
Amphitheater
Cosmic Connections with 'Kozmic Kyle'
Until modern times, every culture has looked to the skies to find their direction, set their calendar, record their stories and contemplate their place in this amazing cosmos. Rather than retelling the stories from the ancient Greek perspective, we will create new connections with the stars based on YOUR experiences. You will learn to use a monthly star map to find your new stories in the real night sky. This program is interactive and best for ages 7-Adult (but all are welcome). If you can, bring a red light and a pencil or pen for drawing on your skymap!
Regular ranger-led evening programs are posted weekly on the Ranger Programs page.
About 'Kozmic Kyle' Doane
Kozmic Kyle has been a planetarium educator for 25 years and helped set up planetarium education programs in the UK, Poland, Ghana, Kenya and many places in the US. He is especially interested in helping empower Indigenous cultures around the world to use modern planetarium tools to record, preserve and teach their own cultural knowledge in a good way. He looks forward to moving from cloudy, light polluted Seattle into the San Luis Valley's dark skies.
A ranger and an intern help two children do the Pronghorn Sprint at Junior Ranger Day.
NPS
Saturday, August 10, 2024
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dunes Parking Area
Junior Ranger Day
Join us for Junior Ranger Day! Park at the Dunes Parking Area and follow signs to the registration table to get started. There will be various stations where kids can interactively learn about the dunes, artifacts, fossils, and wildlife, and earn prizes upon completion. Stop by anytime between 9am and 1pm to participate!
This special annual event is sponsored by Friends of the Dunes, a non-profit citizen’s support group for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. In cooperation with the National Park Service, the Friends provide a forum for citizen involvement in planning decisions, focus public interest on issues and need, and provide volunteer and financial aid for projects beyond the scope of the park’s budget. Learn more: http://www.friendsofgreatsanddunes.org/
The full moon glows over the dunes and Medano Creek
NPS/Patrick Myers
Monday, August 19th, 2024
8:00pm
Full Moon Hike
Please note: This hike is fully reserved at the maximum number of 30 people. There is not a waiting list.
Great Sand Dunes rangers will lead a hike into the dunes to watch the full moon rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The hike will begin at the main Dunes Parking Lot. In a 45-minute round trip hike, you will learn more about dunes formation, dunes creatures, constellations, and cultural significance of the dunes and the night sky. Please bring closed toed shoes, water, and outerwear to safely explore the park after dark. Bring a flashlight for safety, but use a red light if possible to protect the dark environment and night vision.
The Dineh Tah Navajo Dancers at the park Amphitheater, 2023.
NPS/Patrick Myers
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Great Sand Dunes welcomes Shawn Price and the Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dancers for two special programs. These programs are free, but regular park entrance fees are in effect.
Lecture on Tribal Treaties
Visitor Center Auditorium, 3:00 pm
Join Navajo historian Shawn Price for a 45-minute lecture about the profound significance of tribal treaties.
Dineh Tah' Navajo Dancers
Amphitheater, 6:30 pm
The Dineh Tah' Navajo Dancers will perform traditional dances in the outdoor amphitheater, weather permitting.
Clockwise from top left: Pedro Trujillo Homestead, Los Vecinos Bailadores, Borderline, and Las Semillas de la Tierra.
All photos NPS except Borderline photo courtesy of Borderline
Learn about and celebrate Hispanic heritage of the San Luis Valley to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month! All events this day are free, but regular park entrance fees are in effect.
4:00 pm - Trujillo Homesteads Lecture
Learn about the Trujillo family homestead and the volatile history of early ranching in the San Luis Valley. Presented by Trujillo family descendants.
5:00 pm - Los Vecinos Bailadores
This dance group from the San Luis Valley performs traditional Spanish dances, then asks the audience to join them for a closing dance.
6:00 pm - Las Semillas de La Tierra
This local folklorico dance group performs a variety of traditional dances in full costumes from various regions of Mexico.
7:00 pm - Borderline
Borderline is a family band with father and sons members, Travis, Brandon, and Ryan Gonzales. Travis taught his sons to play bass and drums when they were 13 and 11 years old, and have since played at local venues and for local festivals around the southern portion of the San Luis Valley. Borderline plays southern Colorado and northern New Mexico Spanish music, as well as country, rock, and oldies.
8:30 pm - Evening Ranger Program
After dark, stay for a ranger-led presentation on unique aspects of the night sky and nocturnal animals. 30-minute presentation with images and video clips on the large screen, followed by a constellation tour using a laser pointer.
Mitchell Silas works on a sand painting during a demonstration.
Courtesy photo/Teresa Howell
Saturday, October 12, 2024
3:00-4:30 pm
Visitor Center Conference Room
Sand Painting Workshop with Mitchell Silas
Mitchell Silas was born and raised on the Navajo (Dineh) reservation, and has been doing traditional sand painting for over 35 years. He has led demonstrations and workshops in schools, museums, and public spaces throughout the world, reaching across many cultures.
Please note: space is limited to 20 people and the workshop is fully reserved. To get on a waiting list, call 719-378-6395 and leave your name, number of people, and a phone number so staff can return your call to confirm your interest to be on the waiting list.
