What to expect

Just 80 km from downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, this unforgettable evening invites you to slow down, look up, and rediscover the wonder of the night sky. Guided by astronomy expert François Simard, you’ll journey through the cosmos with telescope observations, captivating stories about the stars, and a chance to witness constellations, planets, galaxies, and deep-sky objects in stunning clarity.

Whether you’re a curious beginner, a photographer, or simply looking for a unique night under the stars, this experience offers a rare opportunity to connect with nature and the universe, away from the glow of the city. A perfect evening for couples, friends, families, and anyone seeking awe, wonder, and a truly dark sky experience.

Transportation is not included. Approx. 1–1.5 hour drive from Ottawa/Gatineau.

Stay in the Loop

This is an outdoor, weather-dependent experience. We post all updates (weather decisions, rescheduling notices, and night-of details) to our Discord channel, and we strongly recommend joining before your event date so you never miss anything important.

Join our Discord

Activities & Highlights

• Guided Night-Sky Tour: A friendly walk-through of the night sky, with the expert showing you what’s visible that evening.

• Access to Telescopes: Use professional-grade telescopes on-site or bring your own gear.

• Pristine Dark Skies: Enjoy one of the darkest and clearest sky-viewing locations within driving distance of Ottawa.

Itinerary

9:30 PM: Event starts

9:45 PM to 10:45: Guided stargazing session

11:00 PM: Wrap up

You’re welcome to stay longer after the guided session to continue enjoying the beauty of the night sky at your own pace.

Transportation

Transportation is not included. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to the preserve.

What to Bring

We recommend coming prepared so you can relax and fully enjoy the night sky:

• Bring a camping chair or blanket so you can sit comfortably and take in the stars

• Dress warmly and in layers, as temperatures can drop significantly after sunset

• Feel free to bring light snacks and beverages if needed (Please ensure you take all trash and belongings back with you to help keep the site clean and protected).

Parking & Access

Rain Dates 

We aim to reschedule rather than cancel to ensure you still get the full stargazing experience. In the event of poor weather, the following rain date will apply. Please make sure you are available for the rain date to accommodate any changes due to bad weather:

• Rain date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Cancellation Policy

We want every guest to enjoy a magical night under the stars. As this is a weather-dependent experience, please review the policy below before booking. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to these terms.

Weather-Related Cancellations

Stargazing depends on clear skies, so we use the Clear Sky Chart for the Astronomy Park, a trusted forecast tool used by astronomers, to help guide our decision-making. We check the Clear Sky Chart approximately 6 to 8 hours before the event.

If the chart forecasts more than 35% cloud cover during the event time, or if conditions are not favourable for any other reason (e.g. smoke, safety concerns), the event will automatically be rescheduled to the next applicable rain date and your booking will transfer to that date at no additional cost. Weather updates and any rescheduling notifications will be posted to our Discord channel, we recommend joining before your event date to receive timely updates.

If the rain date also cannot proceed due to weather or unsafe conditions, you will have the option to either:

• Transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience at no additional cost, or

• Request a full refund of 100% of the ticket price

Refunds will be processed within 15 days of your request.

Participant Cancellations

We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel your booking:

• More than 72 hours before the event: You may request a full refund, or transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience at no cost.

• Within 72 hours of the event: Tickets are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can accommodate you.

To cancel or request a transfer, please contact us at info@lightbahn.ca.

No-Show Policy

If a guest does not attend the event and has not contacted us at least 1 hour before departure, the booking will be considered a no-show. No-show bookings are non-refundable and are not eligible for transfer.

Cancellation by Lightbahn (Non-Weather Related)

In the rare case that Lightbahn cancels an event for reasons unrelated to weather, all guests will receive a full 100% refund, processed within 15 days.

Research Note: To help us improve future experiences, we may collect anonymised observational notes during the event and send an optional post-event survey. No personally identifiable information is ever shared or published.

FAQs