Heritage Starfest

TORREY – Wayne County has some of the darkest skies in the continental United States. And, from October 4th to October 6th, enthusiasts from around the world will converge on Torrey to celebrate the wonder of those star-studded heavens. This annual Heritage Starfest encourages participants to enjoy the dark skies of the Colorado Plateau, to share the heritage of night skies, and to preserve and protect the nighttime environment.

Heritage Starfest, photo: Mary Bedingfieldsmith

This year only, a special event will be held on Thursday, October 4th to recognize Torrey’s designation as Utah’s first International Dark Sky Community. With their newly remodeled patio and brand new star gazing deck, the Red Sands Hotel will sponsor the celebration. The public is invited to gather at 7:15 PM for refreshments, a brief presentation, and an evening enjoying the gems of the universe. The Milky Way, Mars, Saturn, and the constellation Sagittarius will be some of the celestial objects visible to the naked eye. Several telescopes, manned by knowledgeable guides to the stars, will also be available.

Capitol Reef National Park will sponsor Heritage Starfest events on Friday, October 5th. Activities at the park include a daytime astronomy event and an evening presentation by Zach Schierl, the Education Specialist and Dark Skies Coordinator from Cedar Breaks National Monument. Stargazing will follow Zach’s discussion.
Saturday, October 6th, events sponsored by the Entrada Institute at Robbers Roost in Torrey begin at 7:00 with a children’s activity and prizes. Zach Schierl will be the guest speaker and stargazing will follow.
Finally, everyone is invited to join dark sky monitors in Teasdale between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. From the home of Gary Pankow and Barb Walkush, they’ll travel to five sites in the area using sky quality meters to assess the sky’s darkness.
Put these dates in your calendar. Plan to join in the fun. Call 435.425.2228 for more information.