Northampton Night Fest 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 8 to 9:30 pm
On the Grounds of Historic Northampton | Free
(Rain/cloud date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 8:00-9:30 pm)
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Join us for the third annual Northampton Night Fest in celebration of International Dark Sky Week 2025. Learn about the night sky from astronomer James Lowenthal, followed by a mix of stargazing and night-time exploring in and around Historic Northampton.
We will observe together the profound changes nature undergoes every 24 hours:
Special guest Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra will read the City’s proclamation recognizing April 21-28, 2025 as International Dark Sky Week 2025. All are welcome, including families with children. Rain/cloud date: Saturday, April 26, 8:00-9:30 pm Free. No registration required. Telescopes will be on hand for stargazing, but the primary focus will be on human-eye viewing. “We’ll use all our senses to tune in to nature,” says James Lowenthal, coordinator of Northampton City Lights. |
Coordinated by Northampton City Lights, a volunteer citizen organization focused on controlling light pollution in the city, in partnership
with Historic Northampton. |
Northampton City Lights is a volunteer citizen organization focused on controlling light pollution in the city, and is sponsoring this event during International Dark Sky Week 2025 in partnership with Historic Northampton.
Special guest Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra
will read the city’s proclamation officially recognizing April 21-28, 2025 as International Dark Sky Week.
will read the city’s proclamation officially recognizing April 21-28, 2025 as International Dark Sky Week.
Event Information
- Rain/Cloud date: If skies are more than 75% cloudy that day, we’ll meet to celebrate International Dark Sky Week on Saturday, April 26, 2025 instead. That decision will be posted by noon on April 22 at NorthamptonCityLights.org.
- FREE. No registration required.
- All are welcome, including families with small children.
- Parking is available at Historic Northampton, the Bridge Street School, and along Bridge Street.
We don’t need more light, we need better light. We’re thrilled that the City of Northampton has just adopted a new, better outdoor lighting ordinance that will significantly enhance the city’s ability to promote human health and safety and protect the nighttime environment.
Numerous scientific studies over recent decades have shown that light pollution causes serious harm to most plants, animals, and ecosystems. In humans, light pollution suppresses production of the hormone melatonin, and is associated with elevated rates of hormonal cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, sleep disruption, diabetes, obesity, and mood disorders in adolescents. And a recent study based on citizen science observations found that light pollution is growing worse at an astounding 10% per year worldwide and in the United States.
Northampton City Lights advocates for high-quality, carefully designed outdoor lighting that provides safety at night without causing harmful glare, sky glow, and light trespass.
Northampton City Lights advocates for high-quality, carefully designed outdoor lighting that provides safety at night without causing harmful glare, sky glow, and light trespass.
About International Dark Sky Week
International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the starry sky and natural darkness at night, and the importance of protecting it for humans and other living things. Organized more broadly by the non-profit DarkSky International, based in Tucson, AZ, International Dark Sky Week is recognized by dozens of US cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Albuquerque, and Washington DC; multiple states including Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Illinois; and international communities in countries from Italy to Australia to the UK to Mexico. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy issued the first-ever Massachusetts proclamation recognizing International Dark Sky Week in 2024.
International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the starry sky and natural darkness at night, and the importance of protecting it for humans and other living things. Organized more broadly by the non-profit DarkSky International, based in Tucson, AZ, International Dark Sky Week is recognized by dozens of US cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Albuquerque, and Washington DC; multiple states including Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Illinois; and international communities in countries from Italy to Australia to the UK to Mexico. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy issued the first-ever Massachusetts proclamation recognizing International Dark Sky Week in 2024.
For more information:
Mayor Sciarra’s proclamation recognizing International Dark Sky Week
(2024: https://www.northamptonma.gov/1589/Proclamations)
International Dark Sky Week
https://idsw.darksky.org/
Dark Sky International
https://www.darksky.org/
Northampton City Lights
https://northamptoncitylights.org/
(2024: https://www.northamptonma.gov/1589/Proclamations)
International Dark Sky Week
https://idsw.darksky.org/
Dark Sky International
https://www.darksky.org/
Northampton City Lights
https://northamptoncitylights.org/