Dark Skies
The festival season starts early in Yorkshire and there’s bound to be something to tempt you to visit the coast.
Those dark nights make the perfect backdrop for the North Yorkshire Moors National Park’s Dark Skies Festival (February 15th to March 3rd). This year, the park has teamed up with the Yorkshire Dales National Park for the fourth annual festival.
A new exhibition in Whitby – Whitby and the Cosmos: The Search for the Dark Matter, which will trace the port’s place in understanding our universe.
Spine chilling ghost walks take place in Robin Hood’s Bay with tales of the strange and supernatural, ancient legends, smugglers, shipwrecks and spiritual mysteries. And Whitby photographer Richard Burton leads photographic workshops on night-time photography in the town. There are stargazing sessions running also.
Dark Skies
The full Festival programme is available on the Discover North Yorks Moors website at Dark Skies Festival website
Highlights include:
- Special talk at Castle Howard: Our Place in the Universe by Dr Tim O’Brien, University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics
- Go Ape! Night Zip
- Dining on the HM Bark Endeavour and stargazing on its deck
- Dark Skies gravel biking challenge with True Grit
- A multimedia, indoor planetarium pop-up experience, a 360 degree journey through the stars
- Moonrock geocache, astro treasure hunts, rocket workshops and other crafty activities at our visitor centres
- Whitby and the Cosmos Exhibition at Whitby Museum as well as a special preview lecture with Henrique Araujo, Professor of Physics at Imperial College
- Ghost walks through Robin Hood’s Bay
- Dark Runs and Night Navigation Expeditions
- Saving the Dark Film Screening
- Photography workshops
Bookings and information
Advance bookings and payment are essential for many of the festival events, unless stated as a drop-in event.
Booking details are included under each individual event. Please note:
- Children are welcome at suitable events but minimum ages may apply.
- Dogs are allowed at some events, but must be kept on a short fixed lead at all times.
- Appropriate clothing and footwear is essential. Wrap up warm especially for evening outdoor activities! A torch could be useful too.
JORVIK Viking Festival, York (Wednesday 20 – Wednesday 27 February 2019)
Why not combine your trip with a visit to the 35th JORVIK Viking Festival, a week-long celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage. This year’s theme is ‘The Untold Story of Women in the Viking Age’.
An exciting programme of events is held across the city and includes living history encampments, walks, talks, tours and, dramatic combat performances. Find out more.
Enjoy
Joe and Geoff