NARIT announces seven highlights for Halloween stargazing festival
NARIT opens its Chiang Mai winter stargazing festival on October 31 with seven Halloween-themed attractions, telescope viewing and family activities.
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) will launch Stellar Winter Festival 2026–2027 at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai, on Saturday (October 31), featuring seven attractions combining astronomy with Halloween-themed activities.
The opening event, themed “Starry Halloween x Alien Night”, will run from 6pm to 10pm, offering visitors opportunities to observe celestial objects through telescopes, enjoy music, explore themed photo zones and participate in family activities.
NARIT said the festival would also introduce visitors to astronomy through interactive experiences, while participants could collect NARIT Points to redeem limited-edition souvenirs.
Stargazing through a 0.7-metre telescope
One of the main attractions will be an outdoor stargazing session accompanied by music, with telescopes ranging from 10 inches to 0.7 metres in diameter.
Visitors will have opportunities to observe Saturn, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Double Cluster and the Pleiades star cluster, while learning basic techniques for identifying celestial objects.
The activity is intended to introduce beginners and families to astronomy in a relaxed setting as Chiang Mai enters the cooler season.
Halloween costumes and alien-themed attractions
Visitors are encouraged to dress as ghosts or aliens for the Starry Halloween x Alien Night celebrations.
Those attending in costume will receive 10 NARIT Points and have an opportunity to win special souvenirs.
The festival will also feature a Halloween Zone, where visitors can take photographs with ghost-themed decorations and characters.
An Alien Zone will recreate the atmosphere of an extraterrestrial encounter at the observatory, providing another themed setting for photographs.
Solar System parade explores the life of stars
The Our Solar System attraction will take visitors on a journey through the Solar System, introducing the planets and their characteristics.
The exhibition will also explore the life cycles of stars, including what happens when they exhaust their fuel and reach the final stages of their existence.
The activity aims to make astronomical concepts accessible through engaging displays and explanations.
Creative activities for children and families
The Kids & Family Zone will offer hands-on activities combining astronomy with arts and crafts.
Visitors can create Stellar Light Boxes, constellation-themed resin keyrings and glow-in-the-dark bracelets.
The activities are designed to encourage children to explore astronomy through creative projects they can complete themselves.
NARIT Points offer limited-edition souvenirs
The seventh highlight is the NARIT Point programme, which allows participants to collect points online by joining NARIT Public Night stargazing sessions held on Saturdays and other special astronomy activities.
Accumulated points can be exchanged for limited-edition souvenirs under the programme.
The October 31 opening event will mark the beginning of NARIT's winter stargazing activities, bringing together astronomy, music, Halloween celebrations and interactive learning experiences at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark.
