KABETOGAMA — Few places in the United States can match the beauty of the night skies of Voyageurs National Park, and on Aug. 29-30, those skies will be the star attraction.
On Saturday, Aug. 30, Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service will host their annual Star Party at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center, giving families, stargazers, and science lovers a chance to experience one of the darkest skies in the country. A companion Star Party will also be held Friday, Aug. 29, at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center in International Falls.
Voyageurs was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2020, joining an elite group of sites worldwide recognized for exceptional quality of night skies. Shielded from urban light pollution, the park offers a rare view of the heavens, from the swirling Northern lights to the dusty glow of the Milky Way.
One of the Star Party’s featured speakers, Todd Burlet, president of Starry Skies North and a delegate of Dark Sky International, is a strong promoter of Voyageurs as one of the nation’s premier stargazing destinations. He underscores how preserving the park’s darkness not only enhances human experiences of the night sky but also protects wildlife, habitats, and community well-being.

Films, music, and
science by day and night
The program begins Saturday afternoon with special showings of “Northern Nights, Starry Skies” from 1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. The film highlights Ojibwe and Dakota cultural astronomers alongside scientists who share the wonders of the cosmos. Following the screenings, Burlet will discuss how reducing light pollution protects both human health and natural habitats.
As evening falls, the visitor center grounds will transform into a festival of science, culture, and family fun. From 7-9 p.m., visitors can:
• Experiment with “gravity jars” alongside staff from the Bell Museum.
• Explore wolf ecology with the Voyageurs Wolf Project.
• Sing along with local duo Alyssa and Jep Fator in Singing with the Stars.
• Toast marshmallows during S’mores and Stories (continuing until 9:30 p.m.).
• Help kids earn their Dark Sky Junior Ranger badge.
• Connect with Starry SkiesNorth to learn practical steps for reducing light pollution.
From 7-7:45 p.m., Burlet will also give a focused talk on light pollution – how it affects health, wildlife, and communities, and how dark-sky tourism is becoming an economic driver in places like Voyageurs.
Canoeing enthusiasts will have the chance to paddle the lakes under twilight with Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile, offering free rides in ten-person canoes from 7-11 p.m. No prior experience is necessary, and the event is open to all ages and abilities.
From 8-8:45 p.m., Voyageurs Conservancy’s NASA ambassador will lead Celestial Wonders, an introduction to what participants can expect in the skies above. Then, from 9–10 p.m., acclaimed photographer Travis Novitsky will share Indigenous perspectives on the cosmos through images and stories from his book “Spirits Dancing” and the award-winning documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies.”
The evening will culminate in “Telescope Night: Exploring the Skies Together” from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, when park rangers and astronomers will help visitors spot planets, galaxies, and star clusters.
Both the Kabetogama and Rainy Lake Star Parties are free and open to the public.
For a complete schedule and details, visit www.voyageurs.org or the Voyageurs National Park website.