PLAYA Experience: Outback Dark Sky Celebration (April 16-20, 2026)

Join us during International Dark Sky Week for this 4-night Experience! This weekend includes a private presentation about Dark Skies and a guided Star Party led by Joe Minato of Dark Sky Oregon and other experts, the optional Community Dark Sky Party + Open Mic Night, and a dinner prepared by PLAYA’s house chef. 

Attendees of this experience will learn the value of the dark sky, how to protect it, and how to appreciate it. They will also get a crash course in observational astronomy. We will learn to appreciate the dark sky through naked-eye sky tours, binocular observing, and telescopic observing. Optional activities integrating art include: night sky photography, simple astroimaging, and a creative writing activity inspired by the dark sky led by Amy Minato.

This weekend, PLAYA also hosts the Community Dark Sky Star Party + Open Mic Night, a family event for our Lake County neighbors! Neighbors and friends visit PLAYA for Dark Sky viewings led by seasoned educators and astronomers, activities, cozy treats, and an open mic night. Feel free to join for this event (taking place in and around the Commons), or have the evening to yourself. The rest of the time during this long weekend at PLAYA is yours to enjoy as you would like. 

This Experience is for adults only. Out of town families wishing to participate in the free Community Dark Sky Star Party + Open Mic Night on April 18 can find lodging accommodations at the Summer Lake Hot Springs, Paisley Sage Rooms, The Lodge at Summer Lake, or in the National Forest or BLM lands.

PLAYA Experiences offer you time and space on the PLAYA campus for your own creative, restful, or exploratory pursuits as well as time spent learning from an expert! Experiences are like Self-Directed Residencies, but elevated with a dinner and a field trip, evening presentation, and/or special event.

🦅 Extend your stay at PLAYA by pairing this Experience with the April 23-27 Self-Directed Residency and stay at PLAYA for free the nights in between (a stay from April 16 to 27).

Click each cabin below for the full workshop agenda/details and cabin descriptions.

Cancellation policy: $50 cancellation fee. Six or less days before arrival NO refund; seven-14 days before arrival 50% refund; 15-28 days before 75% refund.