Arkansas Dark Sky Festival

October 2 & 3, 2026
Bear Creek, near the Buffalo River

The 2026 Arkansas Dark-Sky Festival will be two days & two nights alongside picturesque Bear Creek, just off Highway 65 south of the Buffalo River, an International Dark-Sky Park.  During the day, there will be presentations, hikes, and other activities for adults and children.  Each night, we will rediscover the night sky as our ancestors knew it, complete with guided constellation tours and telescopic views of celestial objects under the Summer Milky Way. On this page, you will find information on activities, participating organizations, places to stay and eat, event guides, and registration links.  You might view videos of past festivals here.

Registration is required for all guests.  Whether camping or commuting, a fee of $7.50 per vehicle and $1 per person is charged to cover event costs.  Any profit will be used to support ANSA’s advocacy efforts.  The number of vehicles registered may be limited,
and registration will be closed once the limit is reached.

Registration and more details at https://darkskyarkansas.org/darkskyfestival/.