Dark Skies Festival is back for 2025 – and this year is marking ten years of celebrating the wonders of the night sky.
For its tenth anniversary, the annual starry festival features a packed programme of stargazing, constellatory crafts, a special birthday bash, a silent disco under the night sky, and a launch event with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE.
Dark Skies Festival takes place from Friday 14 February to Sunday 2 March 2025.
The festival takes place across England, but we’ve put together a guide of highlight events happening in the North York Moors.
The North York Moors is one of only 21 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies – and it was made an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association) in 2020.
For more information and to see the whole programme of events, visit the Dark Skies Festival website.
Nine highlights for the Dark Skies Festival 2025
An evening with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE: The Dark Skies Festival’s 10th Anniversary launch event
Kick off Dark Skies Festival’s Anniversary celebrations with this special event! Space scientist and broadcaster Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE is joining us with a special talk ‘Reaching for the Stars – an exploration of the night sky’. The event will begin with a look back at the 10 years since the Dark Skies Festival began, and will end with a chance for you to ask your questions to Dame Dr Maggie.
- Sneaton Castle, Whitby, YO21 3QN
- Thu 13 Feb
- 7:30pm
- £40
- Booking essential
- More info
Felt Planets drop-in craft activity
This February, your little explorers can embark on a cosmic crafting adventure and create their very own solar system using wool felting – an ancient craft that’s out of this world! Using pure wool, kids will learn the art of felting while discovering fascinating facts about the planets in our solar system. What’s in store? Craft all (or some) of the planets in our solar system. Master the magical technique of felting with hands-on guidance. Take home their very own wooly creation to show off.
- Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Thirsk, YO7 2EH
- Sat 15 – Fri 28 Feb
- 11am – 2pm
- £3
- No booking required
- More info
The Robin Hood’s Bay Dark Skies Ghost Walk
Come on a lantern led walk through streets and alleyways as you listen to tales of the Strange and Supernatural under deep dark skies. Journey into a mysterious past of Spirits, Shipwrecks, Smugglers, Local Folklore and Legend, in this magical village beside the sea under starry skies.
- Meet at The Old Coastguard Station, The Dock, Robin Hood’s Bay
- Sat 15 Feb
- 6:30pm
- From £5
- Booking essential
- More info
Neon Painting Workshop at Danby Lodge
Join us for a mesmerising experience during our 10th Dark Skies Festival with an immersive Neon Painting Workshop! Experience two hours of vibrant creativity as we transform a canvas into a glowing, fluorescent universe. Under dimmed lights, you’ll be guided by the talented artist Garth Bailey, who will introduce you to a variety of exciting painting techniques.
Whether you’re a budding artist or a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome. All materials will be provided, so all you need to bring is your imagination and a sense of adventure.
- Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Whitby, YO21 2NB
- Sun 16 Feb
- 2-4pm
- £20
- Booking essential
- More info
Big Dark Skies Festival Birthday Bash at Sutton Bank
Get ready to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Dark Skies Festival with an out-of-this-world stargazing event. Join experienced astronomers Richard Darn and Neill Sanders as they guide you through the wonders of our skies with powerful telescopes and binoculars. Spot breathtaking planets like Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, and discover the secrets of the universe up close through expert equipment.
There will be an engaging talk inside our Nature and Star Hub to begin, including a beginner-friendly guide to the cosmos and tips on catching the Northern Lights.
- Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Thirsk, YO7 2EH
- Sat 22 Feb
- 7-9:30pm
- From £14
- Booking essential
- More info
Astro Crafts Family Activity
Drop in and join us for an out-of-this-world crafting session! Create a variety of space-themed crafts and discover the wonders of our dark skies. Perfect for all ages—come explore, create, and be inspired!
All money raised from this event will go towards the purchase of equipment which will be used by children experiencing a ‘night out under the stars’. This is part of the North York Moors National Parks ongoing engagement work, linking children from urban areas who would not normally have such an opportunity.
- Guisborough Methodist Church, Guisborough TS14 6AF
- Wed 26 Feb
- From 10am
- Pay what you can
- No booking required
- More info
Starry Night Watercolour Workshop
A workshop to celebrate and explore a starry, starry night. This watercolour workshop is suitable for adults of all levels, from absolute beginners to anyone wanting to explore new techniques. No drawing needed. You’ll create two starry night skyscapes to take home with you.
- Welburn YO60 7EP
- Wed 26 Feb
- 10am – 3pm
- £95
- Booking essential
- More info
Dancing with The Long Dead Stars
An invitation to walk to Boggle Hole and dance under the stars as part of the Dark Skies Festival. Join electronic Dance Artists The Long Dead Stars for the Spotify launch of their debut Album Whitby Mudstone.
Whitby Mudstone is a site-specific electronic dance poetry album inspired by the geology of the North Yorkshire coast and the dark skies above. The event will involve in a 0.25 mile walk from the car park on Bridge Holm Lane, down to the Boat Shed of the YHA for an indoor silent disco followed by and outdoor beach experience as we dance under dark skies.
- YHA Boggle Hall, Whitby YO22 4UQ
- Sun 2 Mar
- 6:45pm
- Free
- Booking essential
- More info
The Dark Matters
Join us for an evening of discussion, performance reflections and film with leading dark sky experts, artists and academics to hear how cities can become dark sky-friendly. As part of the North York Moors National Park’s tenth anniversary Dark Sky Festival celebrations, we will debate how we can all contribute to tackling the issues of light pollution, and the climate crisis and achieve better environments in urban and natural environments. Panellists will debate how York could become the UK’s first Dark Sky City.
- York St John Creative Centre, York St John University, York YO31 7EX
- Tue 4 Mar
- 6:30pm
- Free
- Booking essential
- More info