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With summer coming, the Petrified Forest National Park and Visitor Center offers a spectacular array of activities from Dark Sky viewing and cultural demonstrations to bird and wildflower walks and Paleontology Lab demonstrations.
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In celebration of becoming an International Dark Sky Park last year, Park Ranger Jake Holgerson said this year’s annual dark sky celebration will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at the Painted Desert Inn.
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With a full moon slated that night, folks will have the chance to view our lunar neighbors up close, along with planets and constellations.
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“It is a dark sky celebration with ranger talks, telescopes, astronomers and other related activities, as we share what it means to be a Dark Sky Park,” said Holgerson.
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At 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, at the Painted Desert Inn, James Romig and Ashlee Mack will be performing the song they composed at last year’s Dark Sky Celebration. “The song is entitled ‘Still,’ shared Holgerson, “And has a performance time of 55 minutes.”
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For those who want to celebrate the solstice at PEFO, there is an ancient solar petroglyph that can easily be viewed at the Puerco Pueblo. As noted on the National Park Service website, “For about two weeks around June 21, an interaction of light and shadow passes across the rings of this small, circular design as the sun rises.”
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The Solstice, a time when day and night are equal, will occur at 8:53 a.m. on Friday, June 21, at the park.
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Five more Dark Sky Park events will be held from June through October, all are free to the public and held at the Painted Desert Inn after the park closes.
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From 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, a Telescope Playground is a chance to dust off that telescope in the closet and view the dark skies under a new moon. In addition to viewing the stars, there will be a ranger talk and astronomy bingo.
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From 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, Perseid over the Painted Desert will feature meteor showers as well as telescopes and a ranger talk.
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From 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, Planets over the Painted Desert Inn will give folks a chance to view the planets under a new moon as well as deep sky objects.
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From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, New Moons Means Dark Skies will feature more dark sky viewing.
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From 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, Last Chance Orionids will be the last meteor shower of the year under the dark skies at PEFO.
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Dino Days is slated for Thursday, June 6. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be dinosaur activities and movies at the Visitor Center. A paleontologist guided hike to Dinosaur Hollow will be from 1 to 4 p.m. starting at the Painted Desert Inn and from 2 to 4 p.m. there will be a wandering paleontologist at the Giant Logs Trail.
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Free events at the visitor center include: Birder Walks at 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Paleontology Lab demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday and Wednesday.
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Cultural demonstrators will be at the Painted Desert Inn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday through Monday, while Wildflower Walks start at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday at Jasper Forest Overlook. The demonstrations and walks are free to the public, but require a pass or entrance fee into the park.
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Holgerson also wanted to remind everyone that overnight camping in the park is free, but a wilderness permit needs to be obtained at the Visitor Center. It is a pack in and pack out scenario, but it is a chance to see the stars and the night life at the park for those who enjoy sleeping under the night skies.
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The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Park is open from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. until Saturday, Aug. 3.
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