An Evening at the McCormick Observatory

Join us for a one-night-only evening of stargazing and sparkling wine atop Observatory Hill — and a first taste of something new.

We've reserved the historic Leander McCormick Observatory all to ourselves. Home to a 26-inch refracting telescope dedicated in 1885 — once the second-largest in the world — it's a place where you can still peer through the original lens that astronomers have used for well over a century. From 9 to 11pm, the observatory's own astronomers will guide us through the night sky and let us look through their telescopes at whatever the cosmos has on offer.

To kick things off, you'll arrive to a complimentary pour of something special: an early release of our Rosé Pét Nat — first tastes, before it's available anywhere else — along with light snacks to settle in with. Additional glasses will be available for purchase throughout the night, and we'll have our full lineup of wines on hand to buy by the bottle, too.

No astronomy experience required. Just bring your curiosity and a love of good company and big skies.

$30 per person · 21+ · Saturday, August 22 · 9–11pm
Leander McCormick Observatory, Charlottesville

A note on weather: clear skies make for the best stargazing. If Saturday looks cloudy or rainy and Sunday, August 23 looks clear, we'll move the evening to Sunday. But if neither night promises perfect skies, we'll stick with Saturday and make a great night of it regardless — there's the history of this remarkable place to dig into, the antique equipment to see up close, the dome to explore, and plenty of good wine to go around. All tickets are final — no refunds — so please be sure you can make it before you grab your spot.

Space is limited and this one won't last. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!