International Dark Sky Week is part of a worldwide celebration honoring the beauty of star-filled skies, the role of darkness in healthy ecosystems, and our deep connection to the cosmos. As artificial light increases globally, the Methow Valley remains a rare haven for some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Join the Methow Dark Sky Coalition, a program of Methow Valley Citizens Council, in celebrating our rural night skies and support participating business partners across the Methow Valley. Check out the Events Calendar for a week full of activities and ways to join in the fun! To learn more about the Methow Dark Sky Coalition and how you can get involved, visit methowdarksky.org.
Event Calendar
Friday, April 4
The end of April is International Dark Sky Week! On Friday, April 4th Motive Yoga is helping to raise money to support the Methow Dark Sky Coalition and Dark Sky Week events through its 1st Fridays Give-Back program. Enjoy a mellow mindful yoga practice with Gwen Vernon, with 100% of your donations going to the Methow Dark Sky Coalition. The class is Friday, April 4th from 4:30-5:30pm. You can sign up ahead at motiveyogaco.com/events or just show up to Motive‘s Winthrop studio at 31 West Chewuch Road. Come support the Methow Dark Sky Coalition.
Sunday, April 20-
Saturday, April 26
3pm-6pm Daily
Saturday, April 26
3pm-6pm Daily
Winthrop Visitor Center
Stop by to explore a beautiful gallery of local night sky photography and dark sky–inspired artwork created by 1st-grade students at Methow Valley Elementary. You’ll also find free brochures, stickers, take-home activities, and educational materials about dark sky–friendly lighting and how to help protect our night skies. Plus, pick up a full calendar of events and a map of participating businesses offering special Dark Sky Week promotions.
Monday, April 21
4:30pm-7pm
4:30pm-7pm
Twisp Tap Room
Join the Methow Dark Sky Coalition for a laid-back evening of conversation and drinks to celebrate the start of Dark Sky Week! This casual mixer is a great chance to connect with fellow dark sky enthusiasts, learn more about upcoming stargazing events, night hikes, and community activities, and toast to the beauty of the Methow Valley’s night skies. $1 from every pint benefits the Methow Dark Sky Coalition.
Tuesday, April 22
7:30pm-8:45pm
7:30pm-8:45pm
Methow Valley Community Center, Tae Kwon Do Studio, upstairs (Room 5)
Join SafeHeart Accessible Yoga, with Shana, for a relaxing restorative yoga class in honor of Dark Sky Week. We’ll spend many minutes in each restful post using props, turning our awareness inward as we visualize the night sky slowly deepening outside. Bring a washcloth or eye mask to cover your eyes during the last pose of the night, and a large pillow if you have one. Mats and blankets will be provided.
Tuesday, April 22
7:45pm
7:45pm
Join the Methow Conservancy and retired NASA astrophysicist Tuck Stebbins for a nighttime walk at the Meadowlark Natural Area in Winthrop. Come appreciate our Methow Valley dark skies, and learn about the cosmos from a local expert!
Participants should plan on about an hour of walking, and 30-45 minutes of presentation/conversation. Bring everything you need to be comfortable hiking on single-track in the dark including a headlamp, warm layers, water, etc. Ideally your headlamp will have a red light setting. Reach out to Bridger with any questions.
Wednesday, April 23
9pm-11pm
9pm-11pm
Idle-a-While Hotel, 505 Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp, WA 98856
Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars as we celebrate Dark Sky Week with a special stargazing event! This is the perfect opportunity to view planets, distant galaxies, and deep-sky wonders through telescopes while learning more about the night sky. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just curious about the cosmos, come soak in the beauty of the universe and experience the magic of a truly dark sky!
Thursday, April 24
Time TBD
Time TBD
Location TBD
Experience the Methow Valley’s nighttime landscape in a whole new way during a Blue Hour Sound Walk with MVCC Program Director Lorah Super and nationally recognized sound and visual artist Perri Lynch Howard. This unique event invites participants to slow down and immerse themselves in the subtle sounds, sensations, and stillness of the night. Howard’s work explores the front lines of climate and place through sound, sculpture, and socially engaged art, with installations exhibited across the globe. Join us for this meditative, guided walk to attune your senses and deepen your appreciation of natural darkness—not just what we see, but what we hear and feel under the Methow’s starry skies.
Friday, April 25
6:30pm
6:30pm
RYZO tasting room, Twisp
Join us for a special Dark Sky Week presentation with local cosmologist Dr. Sean Downes, who will give a fascinating talk on the origin of the stars at RYZO Tasting Room on Friday, April 25 at 6:30 PM. Come sip, learn, and wonder—all bottles will be 10% off for your stargazing adventures (stackable with RYZO’s club discount).
Saturday, April 26
Discover the wonders of the night sky! Join Ranger Alex Ott and members of the Methow Dark Sky Coalition for a stargazing adventure at Pearrygin Lake State Park, where we’ll explore planets, constellations, and deep-sky objects through telescopes. This event is weather permitting and is open to campers and community members alike. Everyone is welcome! Participants are asked to bring a flashlight or headlamp (red-light preferred), warm clothes, and a blanket or chair. Come experience the magic of the Methow Valley’s night skies!
Sunday, April 27
TBD
Sponsors and Business Partners
We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and organizations supporting Dark Sky Week 2025. Their generosity and participation help make this weeklong celebration of the night possible. Want to participate? Become a business partner here.
From special discounts and dark sky-themed offerings to financial sponsorships that support community events, these partners share our vision of preserving the Methow Valley’s incredible night skies.
Please support these businesses that support dark skies!
Gold Sponsor
Did you know that our namesake & inspiration is the brightest star in the winter sky, also known as Sirius, or the Blue Star?
We’re excited to celebrate Dark Sky week in the Methow Valley with a special drink offering. Stop by our coffee bar and roastery in Twisp to try the celestially delicious “Starry Night”. We’ll donate a portion of the profits from every Starry Night served to the Methow Dark Sky Coalition.
Silver Sponsor
Methow Reservations began 40 years ago with an idea and an 800 number. This business is incredible, and we cherish the people we get to meet and know. We rent legal, licensed, nightly rentals as well as extended stays and local inns in the Methow Valley, and we support local, local, local! We have also had state-of-the-art, online booking since 2006.
Major Sponsors
Lodging Partners
Hotel Rio Vista
10% off multi-night weekday stay
Idle-a-While Motel
20% off nightly rates by using coupon code DARKSKY20 during booking between April 19-24th
Sun Mountain Lodge
Lodging promo code: DRKSKY, Celestial themed drink special, 15% lodging during Dark Sky Week
River Pines Inn
Reach for the Stars (and s’mores!): during Dark Sky Week, enjoy 20% off your stay, stargazing supplies, and fireside s’mores at River Pines Inn.
Mt. Gardner Inn
More details shortly
River Run Inns and Cabins
More details shortly
Food, Drink, and Treats
Blue Star Coffee Roasters
Stop by our coffee bar and roastery in Twisp to try the celestially delicious “Starry Night”. We’ll donate a portion of the profits from every Starry Night served to the Methow Dark Sky Coalition.
Orchard House Bakery
Orchard House Bakery is excited to present a Dark Sky Doughnut celebrating the wild beauty of our night sky. Come by the shop at Twisp Works 4/18-20 and discover for yourself what we dreamed up.
Mazama Store
DarkSky Croissant (chocolate w moon & star) and DarkSky Mocha
Little Dipper Cafe
A Starry Night Cookie, Dark Chocolate Skies Brownie
Casia Lodge & Ranch
Casia Lodge & Ranch is pleased to feature a Dark Sky signature cocktail in the Olde English Pub all week long, plus rotating menu specials in the Veranda dining room.
The Methow Store
Cosmic cold brew: “Add crème & take it to the Milky Way” ; To the Moon and Back Cookies (gf & vg options available)
Glover Street Market
Black Sesame Dark Chocolate Brownie with a Cream Cheese Swirl
Ryzo Wines
All bottles will be 10% off for your stargazing adventures
Lost River Winery
Enjoy 15% off Community Red wine pouches, the perfect take along wine package for all your stargazing activities, at the Lost River Winery tasting room during Dark Sky Week using Cosmic Red as the coupon code.
Old Schoolhouse Brewery
Enjoy 25% off 4-packs of dark beer at all three OSB locations.
Outdoor Gear, Shops, Merchandise
Goats Beard Mountain Supplies
10% off sales items
Cascades Outdoor Store
In-store discounts on dark-sky themed items
The Outdoorsman
Enjoy 10% off Vortex optics in the store during Dark Sky week. Our Optics are top of the line that we have sold for 14 years. Also, with the discount, a free hat (valued at $25.00)
Show Your Support and Sign the Proclamation
The Methow Dark Sky Week Proclamation below will be featured in a special Methow Valley News insert, giving towns, businesses, and community members the opportunity to publicly show their support for celebrating and protecting our incredible night skies. By signing this proclamation, you’re joining a community-wide commitment to preserving the beauty, heritage, and ecological importance of natural darkness in the Methow Valley.
Read the full proclamation below and add your name to show your support!
Methow Dark Sky Week Proclamation, April 21–28, 2025
WHEREAS, the Methow Valley is home to some of the darkest night skies in Washington State and the entire country, offering breathtaking views of the Milky Way, meteor showers, and the northern lights; and
WHEREAS, our dark skies are a defining part of our rural character, connecting us to the land, its history, and something much bigger than ourselves; and
WHEREAS, the experience of a natural night sky inspires wonder, creativity, and reflection, offering a sense of peace in an increasingly fast-paced world; and
WHEREAS, darkness plays a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, pollinators, and the natural rhythms of the Methow Valley’s landscape; and
WHEREAS, preserving dark skies is also beneficial to our community and local economy, attracting visitors who come to experience the beauty of the Methow Valley by day and the brilliance of its starry skies by night; and
WHEREAS, International Dark Sky Week is a global celebration that encourages individuals, businesses, and communities to recognize the value of natural darkness and take small steps to protect it; and
NOW, THEREFORE, we invite residents, businesses, and visitors to join us in celebrating Methow Dark Sky Week, April 21–28, 2025, by stepping outside to experience the night, participating in stargazing and community events, and making mindful choices to help preserve our shared view of the stars for generations to come.
Signed,
Milky Way over the Methow River. Photo: Paul Pigott