Lights out: Waterton Lakes National Park invites visitors to explore the night

Waterton Lakes National Park is inviting guests to enjoy a new festival that turns out the lights on some interstellar exploration. (File)

Offering an escape from the big-city lights, Waterton Lakes National Park is hosting the inaugural Dark Sky Discovery Days festival starting Friday night.

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Organizers hope the aurora borealis will make an appearance, since it’s the inspiration behind the three-day ticketed event.

“As a designated dark sky park, Waterton is the perfect setting to bring people together to learn, share, and experience the night sky in new and inspiring ways,” said Keith Robinson, president and co-founder of Dark Sky Guides, the festival organizers.

Beyond exploring the beauty of the Northern Lights, there will also be star and solar-gazing sun parties, planetarium shows, an into-the-night bat exhibit and a family zone.

The event takes place within Waterton Lakes National Park, primarily at the Waterton Community Centre.