Heritage StarFest

Tyler Nordgren

Heritage StarFest 2022

Started in 2010, this annual festival celebrates the amazing night skies of Capitol Reef and surrounding Wayne County. Come learn more about astronomy, our connection to the night sky, and how darkness is important to the health of all living things.

Hosted by Capitol Reef National Park and the Entrada Institute, this year's event will take place on September 23 and 24.

Activities and events are free and will take place both in the park and in the nearby town of Torrey, 11 miles west of the visitor center.

Friday, September 23:
All events at Capitol Reef National Park. No registration needed for in park events.

11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Drop in Kids Activity: Play-doh Planets at Ripple Rock Nature Center

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Solar Viewing at the visitor center

7:30 pm - Stargazing 101 at the Campground Amphitheater

8:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Night Skies Party at the Campground Amphitheater parking area

Saturday, September 24:

11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Drop in Kids Activity: Constellations Around the World at Ripple Rock Nature Center.

The following will take place at the Entrada Institute's Robbers Roost, 185 W. Main Street, Torrey, UT.
To register for the Torrey events with Entrada, visit the Entrada website, click on "Attend an Event".

2:00 pm - Gary Pankow, Night Skies Monitoring Report

2:15 pm - Steve Dudrow, Night Sky Photographer – Starting Your Own Journey

2:45 pm - Break

3:00 pm - Bill Briggs, Astronomy Volunteer, James Webb Telescope Update

3:45 pm - Short Film: Dark Skies

4:00 pm - Awards Presentations

4:30 pm - Mickey Wright, site visit and discussion on planning for your personal observatory.

7:30pm - Kate Magargal, University of Utah “Finding Our Way to the Dark - Building community under the stars."

8:30 pm - Hands-on Telescope Viewing at Entrada

9:00pm - Night Skies Party & Fall Monitoring Activity