Residents of Vermilion and surrounding communities are invited to a free Stargazing Together event today, Friday, September 11, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Vermilion Trout Pond Building in Vermilion Provincial Park. The family-friendly evening will offer safe solar viewing, a night sky presentation, and telescope viewing under a new moon, providing some of the darkest skies of the year.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with safe solar viewing, followed by a presentation on the night sky at 7:00 p.m. Starting at 8:00 p.m., attendees can view the night sky through telescopes and binoculars. Children can enjoy crafts, while door prizes, cookies, and a drink will be provided. Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and binoculars if they have them.
The event is organized by VIBE (Vermilion is Being Empowered), a mental health capacity building program funded by Recovery Alberta. The timing is ideal for stargazing: September 11 is a new moon, creating exceptionally dark skies, and it is one of the last months in 2026 when the Milky Way core is visible in the Northern Hemisphere.
Vermilion Provincial Park, operated by the Town of Vermilion under Alberta Parks’ third-party operations program, is a 750-hectare park along the Vermilion River Valley. The event venue, the Vermilion Trout Pond Building, is located within the park, near the Claude Brennan Memorial Trout Pond.
No registration is required, and the event is open to all ages. For more information, contact Pat Calyniuk of VIBE at 780-853-3719.
