Experience Waterton Lakes National Park's first-ever Dark Sky Discovery Days! From September 26 to 28, 2025, this three-day community festival celebrates the beauty, mystery, and wonder of the night sky amid Waterton's breathtaking backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Offering a rare chance to look up, learn, and reconnect with the cosmos in one of the brightest dark sky reserves on Earth, this event beautifully blends science, storytelling, and stargazing — all inspired by the natural magic of the Aurora Borealis.
This year’s festival theme is all about curiosity and connection. While the event can't promise a glimpse of the Northern Lights, it will explore their beauty through art, science, culture, and imagination. From fascinating presentations to Indigenous sky stories, you'll journey into the heart of what makes the aurora so captivating, even when unseen.
Festival Schedule Overview
The full weekend pass grants access to a lively mix of:
- Guided night sky viewings and stargazing experiences.
- Cultural teachings, storytelling circles, and Indigenous sky lore.
- Interactive workshops, family-friendly zones, and planetarium sessions, Dark Sky Guides.
Attendees can anticipate a schedule rich with concurrent, self-directed, and expert-led sessions scattered throughout the park—each designed to reignite a personal connection with the night sky.
Keynote Speaker Spotlight: Monika Deviat
Festival attendees are in for a treat with keynote programming led by Monika Deviat, a celebrated, award-winning photographer, educator, and Nikon Ambassador based right here in Alberta.
Click here for the full list of Discovery Days Presenters!
