# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Earth Day and Dark Skies Celebration 
- **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 18 Apr, 2026 at 01:00 pm (-05:00)
- **Event Description**: Keep Alpine Beautiful and Visit Alpine welcome everyone to celebrate Earth Day and Dark Skies!

We are hosting full day and NIGHT of events Saturday April 18th! The new location this year will be the Alpine Civic Center as part of the Alpine Gem & Mineral Show. There will also be talks and children's programs across the street at the Alpine Public Library! 

Dark Skies/Earth Day – Saturday April 18 
During the Alpine Gem & Mineral Show 

11am Big Bend Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas
at the Alpine Public Library All Purpose Room
“Cultivating Conservation: Behind the Scenes at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center”. Followed by guided tours of the Patty Manning Pollinator Garden lead by Karen Little from Noon to 12:30pm.

Description: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, highlighting its research, gardens, education, collections, events, and native plant propagation, including how this work supports conservation across Texas and beyond.

1-4pm Earth Day Education & Outreach
Keep Alpine Beautiful will have education and outreach partners setup along 12th street at the Alpine Civic Center. You can expect conservation and wildlife partners from around the Big Bend Region with information, activities and giveaways.

McDonald Observatory
Alpine Dark Sky Team
ABC Birds
Tierra Grande Texas Master Naturalists
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
SRSU Greenhouse/Agave Seed Propagation Project. 
Texas A&M Forest Service
Borderlands Research Institute
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department – Davis Mountains State Park and Balmorhea State Park
SRSU Art Club – Face painting
Alpine Public Library
SRSU Archeology Club 
SRSU Range and wildlife club 
Native Plant Society of Texas Big Bend Chapter

1-4pm Talks and Presentations
In addition to the partner booths we will be hosting presentations in the Alpine Public Library all purpose room.

1pm – Lights Out – How light pollution disrupts bird migration
2pm – Gem & Minerals of the Big Bend – Aaron Thomas
3pm –  “Preserving Darkness in an Age of Light -Stephen Hummel, McDonald Observatory”

1-4pm Children Programs – Library Children’s Wing
1pm Telescope 101 Mary Beth with Alpine Dark Skies will demonstrate how to use the library telescopes that are available for checkout.
2pm Eliana with BRI leads pollinator program and Patty Manning Garden scavenger hunt.
3pm Story time w/ Casey ALP Children’s Library and themed activities or crafts.

City of Alpine Dark Sky Dedication

2pm Dark Sky Coloring Book Winners Announced – In partnership with Alpine High School Art Program, Visit Alpine is sponsoring a Dark Sky Coloring Book art contest. Students will be submitting the coloring pages they draw featuring dark skies. Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The drawings will be used to create a Dark Sky Coloring Book that will be distributed to Alpine Elementary Students.

NEW THIS YEAR 9pm Owl Walk led by BRI Dr Maureen Frank location Kokernot Lodge. Check back for registration details.

STAR PARTY! 9:30PM
Kokernot Park at Dusk

The night ends with an incredible Star Party at the Kokernot Park Soccer Field in Alpine led by McDonald Observatory Dark Sky Expert Stephen Hummel. After the walk through the stars look through high powered telescopes with expert operators to guide you and explain the wonders of the night sky. The Star Party is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! You will want to arrive at dusk and bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Dress warm for the temperature drop when the sun goes down.

McDonald Observatory is hosting a whole week of Dark Sky events! https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/dark-skies-festival
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/alpine/earth-day-and-dark-skies-celebration/200029877008928
- **Event Categories**: Art, fine-arts, Festivals, Contests
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029877008928?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=alpine-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Alpine
- **state**: TX
- **country**: United States
- **location**: The Alpine Civic Center
- **lat**: 30.35554185525
- **long**: -103.66908807825
- **full address**: The Alpine Civic Center, 100 N 13th St, Alpine, TX 79830-4401, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Visit Alpine, Texas (https://allevents.in/org/visit-alpine-texas/11127901)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/5e5b9882c0eb68647cee6c2b70dc4f2c3283a076fe814669f24daea45c551478-rimg-w711-h350-dcfffffe-gmir?v=1774851927
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/64b9fec453fe8edacd8f5a946a4f7b289d03c11e1323333ccd5866e0d2e70d84-rimg-w300-h300-dcfffffe-gmir?v=1774851928

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Sat, 18 Apr, 2026 at 01:00 pm (-05:00)
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** The Alpine Civic Center, 100 N 13th St, Alpine, TX 79830-4401, United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Visit Alpine, Texas
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** Art, fine-arts, Festivals, Contests
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Earth Day and Dark Skies Celebration  ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

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        "startDate": "2026-04-18T13:00:00-05:00",
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        "description": "Keep Alpine Beautiful and Visit Alpine welcome everyone to celebrate Earth Day and Dark Skies!\n\nWe are hosting full day and NIGHT of events Saturday April 18th! The new location this year will be the Alpine Civic Center as part of the Alpine Gem & Mineral Show. There will also be talks and child",
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