North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2023

The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is back for 2023 – running for two weeks between Friday 20 October and Sunday 5 November. This year is the seventh edition of the annual festival – with over 30 events on offer. Events are being organised by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and a variety of other organisations and businesses – all with expert astronomer guides to help you enjoy the fabulous dark night skies in the North Pennines.

The North Pennines is the darkest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is one of the darkest areas in the country. The festival has been running since 2017 to make it easy for people to celebrate the area’s dark night skies and to discover the area’s nocturnal wildlife.

• All of the events in the festival are listed below – with clickable links for more information.
• For all events – bring warm/waterproof clothes/a torch (red light if you have one). No dogs please – they’re a trip hazard in the dark around telescopes.
• Most events MUST be booked in advance – see individual events for ticket booking links.

Museum of the Moon, Hexham Abbey – 29 September to 11 November

Creatures of the night trail at Bowlees Visitor Centre – 20 October to 5 November

Bugs, bats, birds and bloody light pollution, Bowlees Visitor Centre – 20 October. **Cancelled due to Storm Babet weather warning**

Stargazing at the Crewe, The Lord Crewe Arms – 20 October. **Rescheduled due to Storm Babet**

Stargazing experience at High Force waterfall, Teesdale – 20 October

Dark sky astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 20 October

The Orionid Meteor Shower, Grassholme Observatory – 20 October

Dark sky astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 21 October

Family astronomy at Grassholme Observatory– 21 October: FULLY BOOKED

Stargazing experience at High Force waterfall, Teesdale – 21 October

Stargazing suppers at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall – 21 October: FULLY BOOKED

Aurora night, Grassholme Observatory – 22 October

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 25 October

Pies and Skies, The Hive – 27 October

Jupiter and Saturn – the giant planets, Grassholme Observatory – 27 October

Star camp, Doe Park Caravan Site – 27 to 29 October

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 28 October

Aurora night, Grassholme Observatory – 29 October

Go Stargazing at Hannah’s Meadow, Baldersdale – 29 October

Storytelling and Stars at Hannah’s Meadow, Baldersdale – 30 October

Aurora night, Grassholme Observatory – 1 November

How far is that star? A very short history of very big distances, North Pennines Observatory, Allenheads – 1 November. **Cancelled**

Drawing the Moon workshop, North Pennines Observatory, Allenheads – 2 November. **Cancelled**

Discover the creatures of the night, Bowlees Visitor Centre – 2 November. **Cancelled due to Storm Ciaran forecast**

The Nest – Skygazing Pavilion: Meet the Makers, Talkin Tarn Country Park – 3 November

Storytelling at The Nest – Skygazing Pavilion, Talkin Tarn Country Park – 3 November

Talkin Tarn Skywatch, Talkin Tarn Country Park – 3 November: FULLY BOOKED

Stargazing experience at High Force waterfall, Teesdale – 3 November

Stargazing suppers at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall – 3 November

Stargazing in the Crewe Gardens, The Lord Crewe Arms – 3 November: FULLY BOOKED

Family astronomy at Grassholme Observatory – 4 November

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 4 November

Stargazing experience at High Force waterfall, Teesdale – 4 November: FULLY BOOKED

Stargazing suppers at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall – 4 November

Aurora night, Grassholme Observatory – 5 November

Celebrating dark skies in the North Pennines AONB