7th Annual Dark Sky Festival Returns to Harmony’s Town Square, Saturday, April 17th

April 13, 2010 - PRLog -- HARMONY, FL – Attendees of the 7th Dark Sky Festival at Harmony will enjoy an evening of celebration and education with a primary focus on the benefits of a night sky free from the effects of excessive artificial lighting. Amateur astronomers from around the state will set up their telescopes and invite guests to view the skies. There will be lots of music and food, numerous specialty booths, presentations from scientists, and country music star Kenyon Lockry will take to Harmony’s outdoor amphitheater stage for a live concert. The main festival will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission and parking are free.

“This year we will be attempting to set the Guinness Book of World Records for the Largest Astronomy Lesson,” said Greg Golgowski, Harmony’s conservation director. “We need at least 250 participants. We hope to establish the current world record, so feel free to grab your friends and family and join us.”

The Largest Astronomy Lesson will be led by two entertaining and informative instructors: Terry Oswalt, professor of astronomy at the Florida Tech, and Russell Romanella, director of Space Station and Spacecraft Processing, Kennedy Space Center.

The event will kick off at 4 p.m. with Harmony Institute, Florida Tech, and the Osceola County School District presenting “Children on a Seesaw: Balancing Nature and Science in Young Lives,” a forum featuring Dr. Judy Wall, medical director of Nemours Children’s Hospital, as moderator. Panelists include top professionals from the CDC, Purdue, Florida Tech, FSU and the Cincinnati Zoo. The forum is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required, however, by going to the institute’s Web site at www.harmonyinstitute.org.

At 5 p.m., Brevard Community College will allow those attending to race submersible robots in the Harmony Swim Club pool and a submersible research vessel will be on display. Astronomers will feature solar telescopes that allow viewers to safely explore the sun.

A mobile planetarium will return, enabling 25 people at a time to climb into the unit and be rocketed into the fourth dimension. Seminole State College Planetarium director Derek Demeter will be bringing a mythological mystic to tell the stories of the overhead constellations, and the Orlando Science Center will be presenting two shows, Kaboom and Digital Planet.

A Cosmic Kids Zone will be set up and includes prizes and surprises from Radio Disney’s Road Crew, glow in the dark mini golf, Moonwalks, star performers from Gatorland, and more.  Those attending may even bump into one of their favorite characters from Star Wars, so make sure to bring a camera.

If you’re a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Cub Scout or just a kid who wants to learn more about astronomy, there will be merit badge counselors available who can help you get checked off on activities.

“We love how this event has really evolved over the years,” said Shad Tome, president of Harmony Development Company. “This year, we will have three stage areas set up and an itinerary packed with fun and educational activities.”

To find out more about the festival, visit www.DarkSkyFestival.com or call 407-891-8358.