Experience the wonders of the season 🌌
For as long as people have looked upward, the night sky has inspired our curiosity, guided our journeys, and helped us understand our place in the universe. Many of our stories are rooted in rare and remarkable sights overhead. Every so often, a rare event in the heavens becomes more than just a sight, it becomes a symbol of a season.
Join us under PARI’s dark skies, surrounded by mountain peaks and forest, as we explore the astronomical phenomena woven into our traditions and history. This season, Holidays at PARI invites you on a journey through time to uncover the stories and science behind these celestial events and objects.
You can choose from multiple ways to attend this event.
Evening & Dinner Ticket
This ticket allows one person to attend the two-hour guided event, (ticket covers two people during the Valentine’s Event) plus:
- Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
- Self-guided tour of our museum and operations center.
- Stay later if you wish to observe the sky.
- Arrival and departure times can be found in the ticket description.
Cabin Package
This ticket allows two people to attend the two-hour guided event, plus:
- Stay overnight in one of our well-appointed private cabin rooms. Rooms include private bathrooms, individually controlled heating and cooling, microwave, mini-fridge, Keurig pod compatible coffee maker, and complimentary bottle of wine.
- Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
- Self-guided tour of our museum and operations center.
- Stay up late if you wish to observe the night sky.
- Enjoy a PARI provided breakfast the following morning.
- Arrival and times can be found in your ticket description. Departure is at 10am the morning after the event.
Additional attendees may join you in your cabin room by purchasing the ticket Cabin Additional Adult or Cabin Additional Child as appropriate. These must be purchased with the Cabin Package ticket. If you need to add them after your purchase, please contact us for assistance.
Camping Package
This ticket allows one person to attend the two hour, guided event (ticket covers two people during the Valentine’s Event), plus:
- Stay overnight in your own tent or camper at a campsite at PARI.
- Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
- Drive up to one of our ridges to view the sunset.
- Stay up late if you wish for more observing.
- Enjoy a PARI provided breakfast the following morning.
- Arrival and times can be found in your ticket description. Departure is at 10am the morning after the event.
Available Upcoming Events:
Event dates are chosen throughout the year to highlight different aspects of the night sky.
Valentine Viewing – Friday, February 13th, 2026
The sky is full of wonder, and star gazing has long been an activity that creates memories and strengthens bonds between people who share it. Breathtaking nebulae with vibrant colors can invoke passion. The stories of many constellations tell of love and triumph. Catching sight of a shooting star can fill you with hope and a longing for what the future will bring.
This year’s Valentine’s event will feature a presentation about the most romantic places in space. You’ll see beautiful objects deep in the sky that are associated with love and togetherness. We’ll tell stories from around the world of devotion that are depicted in the stage of the heavens. Then, we’ll move on to view them from our observation deck or planetarium, depending on weather conditions.
Cabin Package, Camping Package, and Evening & Dinner tickets for this event cover two attendees and all include dinner.
The Star of Bethlehem – Friday, December 12th, 2025
For centuries, people have wondered if a celestial event could be found that explains the story of the Star of Bethlehem. Was it a brilliant conjunction, a rare planetary alignment, a comet, a nova, or something else entirely? Join us as we examine the sky of two millennia ago using modern astronomical tools and historical records.
Together, we’ll explore several scientific possibilities, recreate what the night sky may have looked like at the time, and consider how a real astronomical event could have left such a lasting mark on human stories and traditions.
As a bonus, this event aligns with the annual Geminids meteor shower. After the program, and weather permitting, we’ll step outside into the darkness to watch Geminid meteors streak across the sky, an unforgettable way to end the evening.
PARI events are rain or shine. The majority of the event takes place indoors; outdoor portions will be offered only if weather and sky conditions allow. No refunds will be issued.
The viewing portion of the event is outdoors, please dress accordingly for the season and weather. Viewings are adjacent to a building with heat and restroom facilities. Outdoor seating is available, though you are welcome to bring your own outdoor folding or camp chairs if you like.
We recommend reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions before purchasing your tickets. Please take special note that our campus is a dark sky site and outdoor lighting is extremely minimal to preserve the darkness for both viewing and research.
If you add multiple tickets to this purchase, you will see them appear below as Ticket #1, Ticket #2, etc. You may need to click on each one to expand it and fill out the details for each attendee.
Food allergy questions apply only to packages that include meals.
