Celebrate Nevada's Dark Skies at the Second Annual Cosmos in the Desert Dark Skies Festival
via Nevada Division of State Parks
SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. – Nevada Division of State Parks, Division of Outdoor Recreation, and Friends of Nevada Wilderness, invite visitors to experience the beauty of Nevada's night skies during the second annual Cosmos in the Desert: Northern Nevada's Dark Skies Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14–15, 2026, at Lahontan State Recreation Area.
Both nights of the festival will take place from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Beach 3 Day Use Area on the Silver Springs side of Lahontan State Recreation Area. Visitors can enjoy telescope-assisted stargazing, constellation presentations, wildlife programs, dark skies storytelling, interactive art experiences, local artists and vendors, and educational exhibits from Travel Nevada.
Saturday's festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. with a Dutch oven cooking demonstration presented by the Northern Sierra Dutch Oven Group. Activities continue from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Silver Springs Senior Center (2945 Fort Churchill St.), where visitors of all ages can enjoy astronomy-themed arts and crafts, astronomy trivia, and other family-friendly activities before returning to the park for the evening festival.
Lahontan State Recreation Area offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. The park's relatively low levels of light pollution allow visitors to see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, planets, and other celestial objects that are often hidden from view in urban areas.
Admission to Cosmos in the Desert is free, though normal park entrance fees apply. Visitors planning to camp during the weekend should also expect standard camping fees.
For a complete schedule of events or to learn more, visit parks.nv.gov/events.
