"I've loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night"
-Sarah Williams
This event has been cancelled and rescheduled. Please see below for additional information and subscribe to event news about next year's event.

Hosted by the Arkansas Natural Sky Association* & Gilbert, a Community striving to light responsibly on the Buffalo National River - Arkansas's only designated Dark-Sky Park
(*Arkansas' affiliate of the International Dark-Sky Association)

Participating Groups & Entities
Searcy Co. Chamber of Commerce
Gilbert General Store
Cabins, Campground, Food, Supplies, Canoes, & Shuttle Services
Gilbert RV Park & Campground
Memphis Astronomical Society
The Ozark Society
Arkansas Environmental Education Association
Buffalo River Community Dev. Corp. Searcy Co.
Buffalo River Partners
Supporting the Goals and Purposes of the Buffalo National River
Buffalo River Art Gallery
AR Space Grant Consortium
Central Arkansas Astronomical Society
West Tennessee IDA
Girl Scouts, Diamonds of AR, OK & TX
Lights Out Heartland
Advocating for bird migration safety in the Mississippi Flyway
Audubon Arkansas
Gilbert Christian Church
A Gilbert Cornerstone & Venue Host
Sugar Creek Astronomical Society
Explorer Scientific
North Central AR Master Naturalist
Missouri IDA
Buffalo River Watershed Alliance
Dedicated to preserving the scenic beauty and pristine water quality of the Buffalo National River
Greater Ozarks Audubon Society
Connecting people with nature in our Southwest Missouri communities
"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of the stars makes me dream."
-Vincent Van Gogh
"And oft, before tempestuous winds arise, / The seeming stars fall headlong from the skies, /And, shooting through the darkness, gild the night / With sweeping glories and long trains of light."
-Virgil
Activities and Events
Observing Activities
Learning Activities
Playing Activities
Constellation Tour
A Naked Eye Guided Tour of the Fall sky and its constellations
Telescopic Star Party
Telescopic views of the most prominent features of the Fall sky - open clusters, galaxies, planets and more
Celestial Scavenger Hunt
Bring or rent binoculars and hunt down a set of celestial objects yourself - how many can you find?
Meteor Watch
After the above, it is time to lie back and count shooting stars - we will teach you how.
Celestial Art Class
Learn to draw celestial scenes Link to sign up to be added soon.
Observing Basics
Learn the fundamentals of Sky watching - naked eye and with binoculars
Observing the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
A total cclipse is coming to Arkansas in 2024. Get ready for this once in a life time event.
Lighting Your Home Responsibly
Learn how and why to light your home responsibly
Globe at Night Citizen Scientist
Learn how to measure and report your sky's light pollution level and record it as a citizen scientist
Birds, wildlife and much more.
A Pocket Solar System
Learn about the scale of the solar system and put it in your pocket
Nightscape Photography Contest
View and vote on Arkansas night scape photographs Link to enter to be added soon.
Children's Celestial Art Contest
Try your hand a rendering a sketch of a celestial object and vote on which you think are the best.
Giant Bubble Blowing
Who can make the biggest bubble or send theirs the farthest.
Hands on Science Projects, Solar Marshmellows and More
Explore various hands own science projects and cook marshmallows with sun light.
Night Scape Photo Contest
And more: music, door prizes (by Explore Scientific), local arts and crafts...
"Time under the stars melds mind and soul, stirring one healing the other."
-Stella, the Night-Wise Owl (as all owls are you know)
Gilbert's Night Sky
Why a Dark-Sky Festival on the Buffalo?
When was the last time you laid under the Milky Way and counted shooting stars?
When have you looked upon a distant galaxy whose light has been traveling for millions of years to make you a witness to its existence?
When have you seen the ghostly remnants of a dying star or the soft glow of a stellar nursery birthing new ones?
Half of nature is at night, and as beautiful as the Buffalo is in the day so it is at night. Gilbert has among the darkest skies of any community in Arkansas. For the event, the observing site should present a 21.5 magnitude sky - as dark as most campgrounds in the park.

Ardent - the State's largest "portable" telescope will be one of many instruments whose views will take you to the stars.
So, treat yourself to some star therapy, ponder your place in the universe, and experience local arts, crafts, and music - all set in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Down Load to Learn More:
"The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff."
-Carl Sagan
Local Services and Points of Interest
The services feature below are not part of the event and the organizers take no responsibility for the services provided. These links are offered solely to make your festival planning easier. Where you stay can be half the adventure, so be open to new possibilities. PS, most places will have just started their off-season rates. (Telescope Volunteers should sign up before reserving a plate to stay.)

Places to Stay
Stella's Dark-Sky Host Map
ANSA's map of Cabins, Lodges and Campgrounds that have dark-skies and support responsible lighting.
Searcy Co. Chamber Lodging Website
Lodging options in Searcy County maintained by the Chamber of Commerce
Gilbert General Store - Camping & cabins
Gilbert RV Park
Vacation Home Rentals
There are a number of nice vacation rentals in and around Gilbert listed on the internet.
Motels
Harrison AR is about 25 minutes away and has a number of clean modern motels.
Food & Beverage
Gilbert General Store
The General Store will host live music and dinner during the Festival. Us the link to make reservations. Covered outdoor dinning downtown Gilbert
Coursey's Smoked Meats
Coursey's is really about smoked meats but they also offer Sandwiches and the like
Points of Interest & Special Services
Buffalo River Art Gallery
The Gallery will be hosting a celestial art class, and Night Scape Photo Contest. Use the link to reserve your spot in the class. A restored 1920 home featuring works exclusively by AR artist, gifts and souvenirs.
Woodland Wonders Nursery
General Store Shuttle Service
AR's first Dark-Sky Festival (ARDSF-1) Volunteers
Have telescope, will travel?
Stella, the night-wise owl, needs a few - no - a lot of telescopes and a few other volunteers as well. She will have a group campground and/or inexpensive indoor accommodation available for vaccinated telescope volunteers. If there is sufficient interest, special ARDSF-1 volunteer shirts will be made available as momentoes of the event at or near cost.

The Festival Store!
The festival is free, but there are a few things you'll need, such as a redlight flashlight. The keychain flashlights below are a ready answer for only $5.00 with a handy ANSA neck lanyard. Supplies are limited - no kidding - so reserve yours now to be safe. Add a copy of ANSA's Learn the Constellation guide and you will really be set.
You can get what you need below, or become an ANSA member and add additional items to complete your festival package. If you want to go in style, add a festival t-shirt and you will be all in. Oh, almost forgot, there's also a celestial art class. Check it out here.

The Basic Approach



Optional Membership Approach
BASIC MEMBERSHIP - $15
Members can join our member's group on our mobilize.io platform where they can meet and correspond with other members, receive special updates on ANSA activities, and participate in the annual membership meeting. Members receive a decal and literature and have priority notice of ANSA events. But, most importantly members have the satisfaction of supporting ANSA's efforts.
Please click here to join our members-only Mobilize.io group once you have paid your membership dues

ADVOCATE'S MEMBERSHIP - $25
Advocate members also receive up to two custom ANSA neck lanyards and redlight key chain flashlights (just specify two in the note to merchant). Perfect for lighting your way while preserving your night vision.
Please click here to join our members-only Mobilize.io group once you have paid your membership dues.

STELLA'S CIRCLE - $50
For those willing to make a larger contribution you'll receive your choice of a copy of ANSA's Learn the Constellations booklet or the glow-in-the-dark constellation bandana and up to two membership decals and light/lanyard sets (just specify two in the note to merchant).
Please click here to join our members-only Mobilize.io group once you have paid your membership dues.
All in? - Get the T-Shirt!


