TEHKUMMAH— While the moon’s away, the stargazers will play! Sunday, September 13 is the next new moon, when the sky is darkest and at its best for astronomy, and Gordon’s Park on beautiful Manitoulin Island is the place to be! Join the Dark Side of the Moon Star Party, September 11-14, to watch the stars from the darkest skies in Ontario in the RASC designated Dark Sky Preserve, and enjoy fabulous events!
Kicking off on Friday, September 11, enjoy a wine and cheese welcome reception to shake off the shadows of the end of summer season before you feast your starry eyes on the sparkling skies. As the summer draws to a close, the night creeps in a little sooner and the stars stretch out their reign, so head back to the Dark Sky Preserve to join in on a Public Astronomy and Laser Sky Tour session, and then sit back and fall in love with the universe all over again in the twinkling lights of billions of stars under the blanket of the Milky Way.
On Saturday, September 12, enjoy a restful morning and then while away the daylight hours with a fun-filled horseshoe tournament, followed by a delicious potluck supper where you’ll have a chance to win some fantastic prizes! Then, meet Olympus Trailblazer Peter Baumgarten of Creative Island Photography–a well-known Manitoulin Island Photographer–who will be presenting a stunning astrophotography slide show. When the sun finally slides below the trees and the colours of the world shift to the tones of darkness, enjoy another Public Astronomy and Laser Sky Tour session, and feel the earth spinning under your feet in the throes of a magnificent love affair with the world above.
When the sun once again rises on Sunday, September 13, join a Guided Nature Hike, and reacquaint yourself with all the reasons to love the world in colour, like dappled sunlight on swishing leaves and the twittering calls of birds winging by on the wind. Relax in crisp September sunshine and enjoy free mini putt or bocce ball, and as evening draws in, celebrate and salute this amazing weekend with a wind-up campfire.
Enjoy camping in the Dark Sky Preserve itself, or settle yourself into one of our sturdier accommodation options, like our stargazing cabin, camping cabins or bed and breakfast. Call 705-859-2470 to register or make a reservation for an accommodation! For more information, e-mail rita@gordonspark.com, visit the website at www.gordonspark.com and check out the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gordonspark.
