saturday, October 3, 2026

Stars Over Katahdin

Join us for a magical evening under the stars

Register Now

Stars Over Katahdin is the Katahdin region’s free, annual celebration of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi River. Following years of this event and local advocacy, the exceptionally dark skies above Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument were formally recognized as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Each year, Stars Over Katahdin brings people together for campfire chats, stories, and inspiration before turning our eyes upward to explore the cosmos through state-of-the-art telescopes.

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 4pm to 9pm

Schedule
4pm – Family activities and solar viewing
5pm – Campfire chats
6pm – Burnurwurbskek Singers
7pm – Guided stargazing

Detailed schedule to follow, register below for the latest information.

Taylor’s Katahdin View Campground, 38 Swift Brook Road, Stacyville, ME

Directions
From exit 264 on Interstate 95, turn north on Maine State Route 158. After 0.2 miles, turn left on Maine State Route 11 (also known as Grindstone Road.) Follow Route 11 for 6.2 miles until you hit Swift Brook Road, following signs for the national monument.

Food trucks, including Thailicious and Vona’s Lunch Wagon, will be selling dinner, snacks, and drinks from 4 to 8pm, or feel free to bring your own picnic dinner to enjoy.

The event takes place in an open field, with porta-potties available.

While service dogs are always welcome, we ask that guests leave pet dogs at home for this event.

  • Daytime Observation of the Skies (Credit: John Meader)
  • A group watches as a rocket launches into the sky, surrounded by clouds and grassy fields. Smoke billows from the launchpad.
  • A group of people sitting on a grassy field, enjoying a vibrant sunset with mountains in the background.

Detailed Schedule

4:00 pm Registration table open

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Solar Viewing with Astronomers

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Naturalist Activities with Serena Sanborn

4:40 pm – 5:00 pm Rocket Launch with Larry Berz

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Campfire Chats

6:00 pm Burnurwurbskek Singers

6:45 pm Night Sky Viewing with Astronomers and Telescopes

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Food Trucks Available

Campfire Chat Presentions

Welcome and Orientation
Brian Hinrichs, Executive Director
Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters

A Message from KAWW
Neal Labrie, Superintendent
Katahdin Woods and Waters NM

Community and the Night Sky
Kala Rush, Program Director
Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters

Bird Migration at Night
John Hanlon, Ranger
Katahdin Woods and Waters NM

Importance of Dark Skies
John Meader & Serena Sanborn
Northern Stars Planetarium

Burnurwurbskek Singers
Ron Bear

Astronomers

John Meader
Larry Berz
Colin Caissie
Richard DeMidio
Thomas Bucci

Wayne Barber
Rebecca Spitz Dwight Lampher
Justin Miller
Jon Silverman

Terri-Ann Anderson
John Haley
Shawn Laatsch
Serena Sanborn

Nearby Camping & Lodging Options

  • A speaker addresses a seated audience in a grassy area, surrounded by trees under an overcast sky.
  • A hand holds a skewer with a marshmallow over a crackling fire in a metal fire pit, surrounded by grassy ground.
  • Viewing the Dark Skies (Credit: John Meader)

To learn more about stargazing at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, an IDA International Dark-Sky Sanctuary, visit the National Park Service stargazing page or check out our Dark Sky Guide. For more information about Stars Over Katahdin, email kala@friendsofkww.org

Our Sponsors

Visit our sponsorship page to help make events like Stars Over Katahdin happen.

  • Text logo for Maine Beer Company: "Maine Beer Company" and tagline "Do what's right."
  • Logo for Richardson's, featuring script lettering and "Established 1948." Colors are maroon, yellow, and white.
  • Logo of the Elliottsville Foundation featuring three hikers and the text "Elliottsville Foundation" underneath.
  • Text logo for L.L. Bean in green, featuring the brand name in a simple, modern font.
  • Logo of the National Parks Conservation Association featuring a bear, a small animal, and the founding year 1919.
  • Logo featuring the text "VERSANT POWER" with a stylized green tree and blue geometric shapes beneath.
  • Logo of Haley Ward featuring three colored peaks with the text: "Haley Ward. Engineering | Environmental | Surveying."
  • Logo for "DownEast" in a stylish, cursive font.
  • Logo of Wright-Ryan featuring "WR" and the text "Building Maine's Great Spaces."
  • Logo of Bangor Savings Bank with the tagline "You matter more."
  • Logo of Northlight Foundation with colorful figures in an arch above the word "NORTHLIGHT" in blue.
  • Drummond Woodsum Logo
  • Logo featuring the text "NEOC" in blue with a yellow mountain graphic to the right.
  • Logo of Trust for Public Land featuring green leaf design and the sun, alongside the organization's name.
  • Logo for Katahdin Trust Company featuring the letter "K" and mountains above the text "Community Banking at its Best!"
  • Logo for Gideon Asen with the tagline "Let Us Be Your Champion" in blue text and a curved line above.
  • Logo of F. A. Peabody Insurance with the tagline "Because... Things Happen™".
  • Logo of Katahdin Collaborative featuring stylized text and an upward arrow graphic.
  • Logo featuring a mountain, trees, and sun, encircled by the text "Resurgam Forestland, Maine."
  • Logo of the Natural Resources Council of Maine featuring mountains, trees, and water. The sun is depicted above the mountains.
  • A graphic of a paddler in a pack raft, surrounded by trees and rocks, with the words "Pack Raft Maine" prominently displayed.
  • A simple black silhouette of a cat, sitting upright with a curled tail.
  • Logo of the Northern Penobscot Activities Council (NPAC), featuring stylized figures and colorful arcs.
  • Logo of the Richard King Mellon Foundation featuring text and a sunburst design.
  • Logo of the National Park Foundation, featuring text with a blue shield icon.
  • Logo of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation featuring the name in elegant font with "FOUNDATION" below.
  • Logo of the Onion Foundation featuring a stylized onion illustration and text in a modern font.
  • Logo of Maine Community Foundation featuring layered colors representing nature. Text underneath reads "Maine Community Foundation."
  • Logo of the Peter Alfond Foundation featuring stylized arches and the foundation name in blue and orange.
  • Logo of Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust in blue text on a white background.