August 20, 2026 (Amado, Arizona)— A new festival celebrating the awe-inspiring dark skies of the Southwest United States is coming to Green Valley, Arizona thanks to a new partnership between Green Valley Recreation and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.
Southwest Skies, which will run from October 1-3, 2026, at facilities from Green Valley to Amado, is designed to spotlight not only astronomical research and the Southwest’s clear, dark skies but also the community that makes it possible.
“At the Whipple Observatory, we believe that the sky is for everyone, and launching Southwest Skies is just one of the many ways we are working to make the sky, and science, more accessible to our local and global communities,” said Gabrelle Saurage, Site Director, Whipple Observatory, who will provide the keynote presentation on the final evening of the festival. “We also recognize that this festival is so much more than a celebration of the night sky. It’s also opening our local community to guests from around the globe to appreciate what we all get to experience every day and night living here.”
Thanks to a new partnership with Green Valley Recreation, the festival will be entirely free for both attendees and exhibitors, allowing the community and its visitors to come together for three days of wonder in learning about the night sky and how we all interact with and protect it.
"There's something magical about looking up at the night sky. It reminds us that no matter our background or experience, we're all connected by a shared sense of wonder,” said Nick McLain, Events and Entertainment Manager, Green Valley Recreation. “Through our partnership with Whipple Observatory, Southwest Skies brings our community together to explore, learn, and create unforgettable memories under some of the darkest skies in the country. That's what Green Valley Recreation is all about—bringing people together through experiences that inspire."
The festival will feature exhibits, science lectures, community events, star parties, a pop-up art show, and a community forum with Tucson and Pima County on the Outdoor Lighting Code revisions currently under consideration.
The event isn’t just for astronomy and dark skies organizations. It’s for the entire community, and local businesses in Southern Arizona are encouraged to participate by hosting themed events throughout the festival.
"The Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center is proud to support Southwest Skies and welcome visitors from across Arizona and beyond to experience one of our region's greatest natural treasures, our extraordinary dark skies,” said Randy Graf, President & CEO of the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce. “This exciting new festival not only celebrates science, education, art, and discovery, but also creates meaningful opportunities for local businesses, restaurants, hotels, and community organizations to engage with residents and visitors alike. Events like Southwest Skies showcase the unique character of Green Valley and Sahuarita while generating economic activity and fostering community pride. We encourage businesses throughout the area to participate and help make this a truly community-wide celebration."
“As part of the Smithsonian Institution, we are always looking for new ways to work with and for our community to help make it a better place to live, work, and play, and hosting Southwest Skies here gives us the opportunity to highlight not only our counterparts throughout the Southwest, but also the local businesses, organizations, and people that make Southern Arizona unique and special,” said Amy C. Oliver, FRAS, head of education and public outreach at Whipple Observatory, and the lead organizer of this year’s festival. “As the Smithsonian in your backyard, we’re looking forward to opening our doors again this Fall with new services and opportunities around every corner, starting with Southwest Skies.”
Whipple Observatory opens to the public with expanded hours on Saturdays beginning September 25, 2026. Tickets for Up Close with VERITAS walking tours and small group private tours of the upper observatory are available now at VisitWhipple.cfa.harvard.edu.
Visit https://southwestskies.cfa.harvard.edu/ for the current and growing list of programs and exhibitors, and information on how you can take part as a community organization, speaker, or artist.
Events at Southwest Skies Take the Public to the Edge of Darkness and Beyond
The current program for Southwest Skies includes (but is continuing to grow):
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Green Valley Rec Center West, 1111 GVR Dr., Green Valley, AZ 85614
Exhibits, activities, food trucks, music, and solar telescopes, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Visions of a Southwest Sky pop-uppop up juried art show, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Artists can learn more and submit artwork at: southwestskies.cfa.harvard.edu/art-show
Prizes include a Plein Air studio session behind the private gates at Whipple Observatory and a private tour of the Hartmann Art Gallery at the Planetary Science Institute
Community Performance & Arts Center, 1250 W Continental Rd, Green Valley, AZ 85622
Light Speed Lectures, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Tickets free but strongly suggested. Visit CPAC online to secure your tickets.
Star party with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Friday, October 2, 2026
Whipple Observatory, 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd., Amado, Arizona 85645
Open house visits to the lower observatory, 10:00am-3:00pm
Hands-on activities, solar telescopes, and demonstrations, 11:00am-2:00pm
Up Close with VERITAS walking tours, 8:30am and 10:00am
Santa Rita Springs, 921 W Via Rio Fuerte, Green Valley, AZ 85614
“Protecting Our Dark Skies” presentation with Dark Sky Defenders, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code Open Q&A and Community Forum with Tucson and Pima County staff and members of the Outdoor Lighting Code Committee, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Telescopes and constellation tour with Apache Point Observatory and Whipple Observatory, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Arizona Family Restaurant, 80 W Esperanza Blvd, Green Valley, AZ 85614
Space Trivia, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Whipple Observatory, 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd., Amado, Arizona 85645
Open house visits to the lower observatory, 10:00am-3:00pm
Hands-on activities, solar telescopes, and demonstrations, 11:00am-2:00pm
Up Close with VERITAS walking tours, 8:30am and 10:00am
Santa Rita Springs, 921 W Via Rio Fuerte, Green Valley, AZ 85614
Keynote presentation: Gabrelle Saurage, Site Director, Whipple Observatory, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Star Party with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, Apache Point Observatory, and friends, 7:30pm-9:00pm
