The Cochrane Public Library is inviting the community to look up tomorrow night.
The third annual A Night with the Stars event takes place Friday from 7 to 10 p.m., with a full evening of stargazing, planetarium shows and hands-on activities.
“This year is extra special because we are celebrating our 75th anniversary,” says Carmen Erison, Program and Engagement Manager at the library. “We wanted to expand the event and give people more time under the night sky.”
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will once again set up telescopes outside the library for solar and night-time viewing. Inside, visitors can crawl into a giant inflatable planetarium for a guided journey through space.
“It’s massive,” says Erison. “It takes up half our rotary lounge and the presentation inside is mesmerizing. And yes, it’s fully accessible.”
There will also be presentations on the planets, crafts for kids, and a quiet sensory-friendly space.
One of the new features this year is Indigenous storytelling with Samantha Small Eyes.
“When I think about the stars, I think about storytelling,” says Erison. “Samantha will be inside a teepee in our library garden sharing the story of the Seven Sisters Stars. It’s a beautiful new aspect of the evening.”
The storytelling is part of the library’s Weaving Connections Initiative, supported by the Government of Alberta’s ethno-cultural grant program.
The event is free and open to all ages.
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“There’s really not a lot you can do for free as a family or as a date night,” says Erison. “This is our way of giving back and it grows every year.”
Erison says the library is ready for clear or cloudy skies.
“Even if the weather isn’t perfect, we have a full evening of activities planned indoors,” she says. “So definitely stop by and spend a night with us under the stars.”