Witness the Night Sky’s Rarer Occurrences from Campbell River
2024 was filled with some unforgettable night sky events: meteor showers, the alignment of a planetary parade, and the aurora borealis (or “Northern Lights”). Campbell River is a fantastic place to visit if you’re enthusiastic about witnessing these special moments or simply enjoy stargazing.
Camp out in Elk Falls Provincial Park at Quinsam Campground, Strathcona Provincial Park, or Mohun Lake Provincial Park to soak up the benefits of a dark sky for a spot of stargazing. In Campbell River, Dick Murphy Spit is a popular location for stargazing too. Local organizations like Greenways Land Trust have even been known to host astronomy workshops, along with wildlife watching workshops tied to dawn, dusk, and the night, so keep an eye on their events page year-round.
See the Bioluminescence by Sailboat in Campbell River
Level up your chances of seeing shooting stars, the Milky Way, the aurora borealis, and even bioluminescence by heading away from the city overnight with one of Campbell River’s ocean-going tour operators. Bioluminescence is usually best seen in July, August, and early September.
Join a multi-day sailing adventure into Desolation Sound or our neighbouring islands with Beyond Sailing, who frequently see bioluminescence and anchor in quiet, sheltered anchorages that provide incredible night sky and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Overnight or a five-day kayak tour with comfortable expedition-style camping provides another way to spend time on our wild edges away from any lights.
After Dark Cultural Activities in Campbell River
If you’re more of a night owl yourself, delight in some of Campbell River’s nighttime cultural activities. In the warm weather, Campbell River Live Streets provides weekly family-friendly entertainment and live music on Shopper’s Row.
Highway 19 Concerts curates a monthly calendar of all the exciting music, comedy, and other performance events happening around town in venues like the Tidemark Theatre, Rivercity Players, the Riptide Pub, Session Taproom and Kitchen, and Beach Fire Brewing.
