Stargazers and astronomers are preparing to enjoy the annual Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The event, running from 16 October to 1 November, takes place in villages and towns surrounding Exmoor National Park.
The festival highlights Exmoor National Park's status as a Dark Sky Reserve, granted by the International Astronomical Union in 2011 to help limit light pollution and safeguard the night sky. Festival organiser Julie Colman stated that the event brings together numerous activities across the two-week period, celebrating the skies, wildlife, and wellbeing aspects.
Approximately 80 events are scheduled across the park, ranging from moonlit swimming and astronomy sessions to bioluminescence walks and planetarium shows. Antony Brunt, manager of the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster, noted that the festival has become much more widely known in recent years, attracting visitors from across the UK and helping local businesses towards the end of the traditional tourism season.