Kidsfest!

Come join the fun and learn a little about Astronomy!  At this year’s Kidfest, kids of all ages will be able to immerse in activities that relates to astronomy.  These include colouring, painting, word search, bookmark making, model making, learning about the constellations, the solar system, and other celestial objects, and solar viewing.

Kidsfest this year is lead by Siow-Wang Lee who has been a high school science teacher with the York Region District School Board for the last 14 years.  Prior to that she engaged in radio astronomy research and teaching at the University of Toronto and the Academia Sinica in Taiwan in the area of star formation in galaxies.  She received her Ph.D. in Physics from Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) in 1998.

Astrophotography Competition

The Starfest Astrophotography Competition is open to all registrants of Starfest.  Images are to be submitted well in advance of the Star party for judging.  All images will be judged and shown during Saturday night’s program, and prizes will be awarded to the top ranking images.  Please see the Imaging Contest tab for rules and deadlines.  To contact the Chairman click .

We encourage all registrants to apply, as this is a friendly competition to recognize talent in our midst.  As long as the theme is astronomy, you can use any kind of digital equipment - cell phone, point and shoot camera, DSLR, CCD, Malincam, Stellacam, webcam, spycam, GoPro etc ...

Remember to sit near the front during the show .... your name might be called!

Observing Sessions

Enjoy stargazing under amazing skies with your fellow astronomy enthusiasts.  Bring your telescope and binoculars and join us for our evening observing sessions.  Don’t have your own telescope?  Come along and look through some of ours.  We are always happy to share.

Door Prizes

On Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. the door prize draw will be held in the Main Tent.  Thousands of dollars of astronomical merchandise, provided by the astronomical retailers and manufactures participating in Starfest, will be given away.  You must claim your prize at the time your name is drawn.  If you are not present when your name is drawn, another name will be drawn until the prize is given away.  Your name is automatically entered into the draw if you paid a registration fee as follows: One draw ticket per individual registration, two draw tickets for each family registration, and one draw ticket for each youth registration.

Sky Tour

Join us for a tour of the night sky on Friday at 10pm. The Sky Tour will be conducted in the field just west of the main tent.  You don’t want to miss this event! (Saturday night if cloudy)

Solar Observing Session

Join us for a solar viewing session on Friday 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. next to the Baseball Field.  A variety of telescopes and filters will be used to observe the sun.

Swap Table

Participants will have the opportunity to buy, sell or trade astronomical articles on Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The swap tables will be located on the basketball court.  These tables are not for commercial sales. Individuals will be responsible for their own property at the tables.

Friday Night at the Movies

On Friday night at 7:00 p.m. a movie with an astronomical theme will be shown in the Rec Hall for the kids.  If it’s cloudy on Friday or Saturday night the movie will be shown in the Main Tent for everyone.

Saturday Night Banquet

A buffet style dinner will be served in the Main Tent on Saturday evening by the staff of Harleys Pub and Perk, from Mildmay On.  The following food items will be available:

• BBQ Pork Ribs
• Bruschetta Chicken
• Meatballs — Sweet and Sour
• Mini Potatoes
• Tossed Chopped Salad
• Rice Pilaf (for the vegetarians) will have Edamame, Black Beans & vegetables
• Hot Mixed Vegetables (no cheese or nuts)
• Desserts
• Coffee/ Tea / Pop / Water

All are welcome to purchase a ticket for the buffet.  To avoid disappointment, order your banquet tickets with your pre-registration.

Starfest Merchandise

A limited quantity of Starfest T-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, and pins will be available.  To avoid disappointment, order your promotional items with your pre-registration.

Get into the Club

Astronomy is a community activity.  The North York Astronomical Association is an organized group of amateur astronomers who enjoy observing, astrophotography and many other astronomy related activities.  To satisfy the needs and interests of our members the club maintains two observing sites, and holds monthly meetings and observing sessions.  Membership in the NYAA is open to all.  Membership: $50 individual, $65 family.  In addition, there is a $25 site access fee which allows unlimited access to our two observing sites, one near Schomberg (approx. 45 mins. North West of Toronto) and the other at Oak Heights (1 hour east of Toronto).

Starfest Co-ordinates

Longitude: 80° 50′ 27″ W, Latitude: 44° 40′ 280″ N, Elevation: 400 metres.

Starfest 2019

Starfest 2019 will be held Aug 22^nd to 25^th.