In March of 2015 a group of Fountain Hills residents who appreciate the dark skies in the community came together to form the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association.

The ultimate goal was to obtain designation of Fountain Hills as a Dark Sky community.

The association was successful and on Jan. 8, 2018, Fountain Hills was designated the world’s 17th International Dark Sky Community. Since this designation the association annually holds the Dark Sky Festival in celebration of the dark sky of Fountain Hills. This year the festival will be held Saturday, March 30, from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Fountain Hills Community Center.

The festival will feature nationally known speakers including Julia Wang, who will present on the impact of artificial light on migrating birds; Jo Marchant will describe how the sun, moon and stars have inspired and guided humanity since Paleolithic times; and Marsha Diane Arnold, author of “Lights Out” and “Armando’s Island,” will talk to children about light pollution and its effect on animals. Ms. Arnold will also read from her books.

In addition to the these speakers, the festival will feature live nocturnal animals together with information on how the animals are dependent on the dark sky and affected by artificial light, exhibits related to the dark sky, meteorite displays, a silent auction of astronomy and dark sky related items, storytime, a Dark Sky Art contest, glare demonstrations, a Star Party where the public can view astronomical objects, live music by Dave Clark, food trucks with a variety of foods, beer and wine and more. The festival is free, open to the public and is family friendly.