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Home » AICO Open Air Astro Fair 2025

AICO Open Air Astro Fair 2025

This event is finished! A video and photo gallery for our event is seen below.

Astro Fair Slideshow (no audio)

Did you miss the astro fair this year? Never fear! We have a slideshow and a recap video covering all of the astronomy excitement for 2025!

Our regular Wednesday tours are all free, but if you would like to make a donation to the observatory you can see our online donation link here.

Astro Fair Recap Video (with interviews!)

🗓️ Event Date
This event was on the first clear night between June 24 – July 4, 2025. The event finished on June 29th, 2025!
(Weather-dependent: Check your email and this website on the day of the event for final confirmation — we need clear skies!)

🕔 Time
From 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

📍 Location
Activities will take place both indoors and outdoors
at the Atrium and Observatory areas (York University Keele Campus). The main entrances are via the Arboretum Parking Garage North York, ON M3N 3A7. For more, see the Event map in Quick links.


🎟️ Ticket Info

  • Includes unlimited access to all activities, booths, and planetarium shows
  • Valid for both Atrium and Observatory locations
  • Non-refundable — proceeds support summer observatory operations

🚗 Getting There

  • Parking available on campus (paid). The Arboretum Parking Garage entrance (see our map in Quick links) will only be open through the 4th level during the event.
    Parking Options can be seen here
  • Arrive easily by TTC subway:
    • York University Station (closest to the Observatory)
    • Pioneer Village Station (also within walking distance)
    • The event map with walking paths is shown in Quick links.

Explore the Fair

Have you ever wanted to watch sunspots go across the sun in real time? Or build your own astronomically accurate fortune teller? Join in as we celebrate astronomy at the AICO and beyond! This special observatory fundraiser event will be fun for the whole family and features science, astronomy viewing, and activities!


Open Air Planetarium

Planetarium shows from Astronomy in Action are included in the ticket price. Run by Ryan Marciniak, Astronomy in Action can also be booked for private events. During the fair your ticket will allow you into the planetarium for one of their famous shows. The Planetarium is located atop the Arboretum Parking Garage at the main Open Air area.


Telescopes and Activities

Telescopes and viewing will abound at the fair, we will have several telescopes from Allan I Carswell Observatory, as well as stations allowing for solar viewing while the sun is up, and night sky views (including crater spotting on the moon) after the sun sets. Your ticket will allow you to visit all booths and telescopes.


Our Areas/Partners

With so many wonderful areas and activities to explore we've created a grid showing all of our partners and areas here:


Featured partners


Frequently Asked Questions

If the weather is bad/cloudy/rainy we will issue a NO-GO call on the website and every person with a ticket will get a notice that we will try again on the next calendar day. For example, if June 24th is cloudy, the tickets will switch to June 25th and the event will occur on June 25th instead. Since we are outdoors with a good deal of equipment this will ensure the best experience for our all!

You are NOT required to bring any telescopes or equipment to the fair as we will have several stations open with telescopes for public viewing. If you would like to assist/volunteer for the fair and bring a telescope for viewing please email the observatory director Dr. Hyde at eahyde@yorku.ca

Since the event is a fundraiser event the tickets are not refundable. However, any unused tickets can be redeemed for a free astrophotography poster at our weekly Allan I Carswell Observatory free public viewing nights (every Wednesday).

The Open Air Astro Fair is designed to help support the Allan I Carswell Observatory repairs for summer of 2025. As such, we have set our ticket price so that $10 will go to pay for the Astronomy in Action Planetarium, $10 will go to pay for costs and fees associated with the event, and $10 will go back to the observatory to help us reach some of our fundraising goals. To see the full list of goals (and observatory swag for sale) you can see the observatory fundraising area here.

Tickets will be available for purchase online through the day of the event! If you would like to wait until the 'go' is issued and buy your tickets on the same day as the event happens they will be available at the same link for purchase.