Southern California Star Parties & Dark Sky Events — 2026
NOTE: These are local events, not club sponsored events
Nightfall Star Party & Imaging Conference
Nov 6–8, 2026 – Borrego Springs, CA
Hotel & RV Resort lodging, tent camping via RV spots. https://nightfallstarparty.com/
Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival
The 2026 Night Sky Festival in Joshua Tree is scheduled for October 9-10, 2026, held at the Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center in Twentynine Palms, CA. This two-day, family-friendly event features telescope viewing, expert lectures, and guided stargazing to celebrate the park's dark skies, usually requiring free reservations.
skysthelimit29.org +2
Key Details for the 2026 Festival:
- Location: Sky’s The Limit Observatory & Nature Center, 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA.
- Activities: Night star parties, telescope clinics, and educational lectures.
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.ht m
Anza-Borrego Blair Valley Star Party
TBD 2026 – Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA Primitive desert camping, no hookups; bring water and supplies.
https://theabf.org/events/anza-borrego-star-party-blair-vall ey/
Palomar Mountain / Observatory Campground Star Parties
Various 2026 – Palomar Mountain, CA Campground available, cabins/lodges nearby.
https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/community/friends/ events.html
SkyFest Big Bear Dark Sky Festival
Aug 14th-16th 2026 – Big Bear Lake, CA
The Dark Sky Festival Saving Our Stars!
Look Up! The incredible night sky above is not only beautiful to behold, but is an important feature to a healthy ecosystem. Welcome to SkyFest Big Bear!
Stargazing in Big Bear is a magical experience in any season, but this August, we're celebrating our celestial landscape like never before! SkyFest Big Bear puts our stars front and center along with astronomical exploration and dark sky
Hotels, cabins, and campgrounds available. https://bigbear.com/events/skyfest/
San Diego Astronomy Association – Tierra del Sol Star Parties
Monthly 2026 – East San Diego County, CA Private dark-sky site; camping for members/guests. https://www.sdaa.org/
Mount Wilson Observatory Public Star Parties
Monthly 2026 – San Gabriel Mountains, CA
Hotels in Pasadena/La Cañada; no camping on-site. https://www.mtwilson.edu/star-parties/
Julian Dark Sky Weekend
Sept 2026 – Julian, CA
Local hotels, Airbnbs, and nearby campgrounds. https://visitjulian.com/
California Dark Sky Festival
October 8th - 11th, 2026
Panamint Valley — Next to Death Valley
Huge Telescopes… Astronomy Lectures… Nightscape Photography Workshops… Q&A with Astrophysicists… AstroPicPortal—Download freshly captured Pics of Galaxies & Nebulae to your phone… Food truck… Giant chess set…Giveaways… Camping onsite in your tent/RV/etc. under dark, dark skies… And More!
A Dark Sky Experience https://www.easternsierraobservatory.com/california-dark-sky-festival
Star Party Camping & Equipment Checklist
| Desert Star Parties | Mountain / Coastal Star Parties |
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Tips: Arrive before sunset. Use red lights only. Turn off headlights and phones. Keep noise low and
respect others’ night vision. Pack out all trash. Enjoy the dark skies!