08/14/2026 to 08/16/2026
Big Bear's dark sky festival inviting you to explore the stars and protect our sky.
Look Up! The incredible night sky above is not only beautiful to behold but is an important feature to a healthy ecosystem. Welcome to SkyFest Big Bear!
Stargazing in Big Bear is a magical experience in any season, but this August, we're celebrating our celestial landscape like never before! SkyFest Big Bear puts our stars front and center along with astronomical exploration, and dark sky preservation.
Event Date, Time & Place
August 14 - 16, 2026
Taking place across multiple locations including the Big Bear Lake Convention Center, the Big Bear Discovery Center and Snow Summit Ski Resort.
This Year at SkyFest
AstroFestival & Expo
- Big Bear Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd
- Fri Aug 14, Sat Aug 15 and Sun Aug 16
- 12 PM - 4 PM daily
A daytime astronomy festival featuring speakers, equipment vendors and visiting astronomy groups inviting you to explore the night sky here in Big Bear and across the region.
Stargaze at the Summit
- Snow Summit, 880 Summit Blvd
- Fri Aug 14, Sat Aug 15 and Sun Aug 16
- 8 PM - 11 PM nightly
Ride the Sky Chair to the top of Snow Summit for guided hikes through the nighttime forest, prime stargazing and telescope astronomy from one of Big Bear's best vantage points.
Nighttime DiscoverFest
- Big Bear Discovery Center, 40971 N Shore Dr
- Fri Aug 14, Sat Aug 15 and Sun Aug 16
- 4 PM - 8 PM nightly
- FREE!
We invite our youngest SkyFest-ers and families to join us for an evening of guided treks on the Nature Trail, hand-on learning about Big Bear's nocturnal wildlife, a fun, family movie and more!
Astrophotography Workshops
- Fri Aug 14 - Beginner/Intro Workshop
- Sat Aug 15 - Intermediate/Advanced Workshop
Local photographer Brady Enger of Bending Energy Photography is a master behind the lens capturing the beautiful night sky. Now, he's leading workshops for aspiring photographers looking to capture the stars.
Forest Sound Bath
- Snow Summit, 880 Summit Blvd
- Fri Aug 14, Sat Aug 15, and Sun Aug 16
- 6:30 PM - 8 PM nightly
Above the valley atop Snow Summit, revitalize during a forest bathing experience accompanied by a soothing sound bath with the beautiful sounds of singing bowls. This is a meditative experience under the forest canopy lead by local healer Rosie of Mystic Rose Studios.