This page features special events planned for 2023 at Great Sand Dunes. More events will be added as they are confirmed.
For the schedule of regular afternoon and evening programs, please visit our Ranger Programs page.
A silhouetted ranger gestures toward an image of the dunes and Milky Way at the park amphithteater
NPS/Brady Richards
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Amphitheater
Locals Night Under the Stars
Representatives from the International Dark Sky Association and San Luis Valley Great Outdoors will be present. Constellation tour, telescope viewing, program, and more - details to be announced soon!
Visitors look through telescopes at the park amphitheater during an event in 2022. The scene is bathed in red light, due to only soft red lights being used to protect night vision.
NPS/Brady Richards
Friday, May 19 – Sunday, May 21, 2023
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge (Friday)
Great Sand Dunes Amphitheater (Saturday evening and Sunday)
First Annual Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Festival
Discover the dark skies and nocturnal ecology of the San Luis Valley in this first of what will be an annual event. Constellation tour, telescopes, and programs are being planned - details to be announced as they are confirmed.
A glowing cluster of galaxies is visible in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope
NASA
Saturday, June 17, 2023
8:45 pm
Special Evening Program: Galaxy Clusters
with Guest Speaker Tobin Wainer
Tobin Wainer is an expert on galaxy clusters, groupings of galaxies in deep space. Learn more about this phenomenon at the park amphitheater. Telescope viewing to follow program, weather permitting.
Zuni presenters Octavius Seowtewa and Curtis Quam will present Zuni culture on July 22 at 10:00 am.
Crow Canyon Archeological Center (left) and NPS (right)
Saturday, July 22, 2023
10:00 am
Visitor Center Auditorium
Zuni Culture and Jewelry
with Guest Speakers Octavius Seowtewa and Curtis Quam
The Zuni are one of Great Sand Dunes' affiliated tribes. Learn about the Zuni people's history, culture, and jewelry with two Zuni presenters. More details to come as they are confirmed. The presenters will be available until 1pm, so come for the whole presentation or just stop by for part of it.
A ranger and an intern help two children do the Pronghorn Sprint at Junior Ranger Day.
NPS
Saturday, August 5, 2023
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dunes Parking Area
Junior Ranger Day
Join us for Junior Ranger Day August 5 from 9am – 1pm! 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/
Milky Way over Dune Ripples
NPS/Patrick Myers
Saturday, August 12th, 2023
Amphitheater
Annual Astronomy Event
Constellation tours, telescope viewings, program, and more - details to be announced soon!
Full moon over the dunes
NPS/Patrick Myers
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Full Moon Hike
Dress warmly and hike under a full moon with a park ranger! The hike will start at the Amphitheater parking lot and end at the base of the dunes. Details to be announced as they develop.
