ALL TICKET SALES END WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024.

Our annual Stars & S'mores event has sold out for the past few years, so get tickets early!

Join us for s'mores around the campfire, stargazing, beer or hard cider, a gourmet hot chocolate bar by Ben & Jerry's, live music with Courtney Prater, live birds with Window to the Wild, and an open Canyon Floor Trail for self-guided exploration. Limited guided hikes (age 16+ only) are available for an additional fee and can be added on through the checkout process.

All guests must have a general admission ticket.

Ticket options:

--Adult: $35pp. Includes all general access, 2 beers/hard cider, make-your-own s'mores, and the Ben & Jerry's gourmet hot chocolate bar. (Ages 21+ only)

--Youth or Adult with No Beer: $30pp. Includes all general access, make-your-own s'mores, and the Ben & Jerry's gourmet hot chocolate bar. (No beer)

Please read the important parking and hike information below.

GUIDED HIKE DETAILS - ADDITIONAL COST

There is a guided solo element to this hike. Therefore, this hike is suitable for ages 16+ only.

Guided hikes leave our building at 6:30 and 8:00. Hikes last 45-60 minutes. Hikers must be present at the time of departure. No refunds for missed hikes.

Consider your personal abilities before booking a guided hike:

The hike will be up to one mile in length on a moderate-difficulty trail.
The trail gains about 100 feet in elevation over the first half mile.
The trail is considered technically advanced due to exposed tree roots and rocks that may be tripping hazards.
The guided hikes will take place in the dark with red beam flashlights.
There is a monitored solo element to the hike where each participant will walk an easy, flat portion of the trail alone in the dark.

Hikes are limited in capacity to optimize each participant's experience. Guided hike tickets usually sell out quickly. Due to capacity, it is not possible for all Stars & S'mores attendees to join a hike, so we recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible to guarantee your spot.

Please dress for the conditions and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Please do not bring flashlights on the hike as white light impacts night vision and the hike experience. Trekking poles are permitted, but not necessary or required.

Hikes are not suitable for those with extremely limited night vision or other challenges that would make it difficult to walk on uneven terrain and exposed tree roots in the dark. Please consider your personal limitations when deciding whether to join a night hike. While we take all precautions possible to provide a safe night hike experience, participation in a night hike does present some additional safety concerns. Participants must evaluate their own fitness level and abilities in deciding whether to participate.

All hikes must be purchased at the same time as your general admission tickets. Since guided hikes are an upgrade to general admission, we do not permit purchases of hiking-only tickets. All hikers must also have general admission tickets.

If you have families/groups purchasing tickets separately and want to hike together, please coordinate the hike time being purchased with all others in your party/group. Depending on ticket availability, it may not be possible to accommodate everyone on the same hike. To remain on schedule and to respect the time of all our guests, we will not transfer tickets. If you are unable to obtain tickets for all members of your party, we recommend splitting your group into separate hikes.

TIME YOUR ARRIVAL

If you have tickets for a guided hike departing at 8:00p, we recommend arriving at the parking lot no later than 6:00p so that you may enjoy other activities BEFORE your hike departs. When your hike returns to the building, other activities will be in the process of closing.

If you have tickets for a guided hike at another time, we recommend arriving at the parking area at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled hike departure time.

If you do not have tickets for guided hikes, we recommend arriving at the parking area no later than 7:00p to give you enough time to enjoy activities before we close at 9:00p.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All ticket sales and gift shop purchases directly support Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, an operation of National Audubon Society, Inc., a non-profit conservation organization. Our nature center must be financially self-sustainable and therefore, we rely on events like this, as well as donations, to support our mission. Ticket sales are not considered tax-deductible and help cover our costs of holding the event. In order to further support our center, please consider making a donation. Donations can be made in person or online at https://dogwood.audubon.org/donate.

REFUNDS, TICKET TRANSFERS, AND INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICIES

--Refunds: Due to the limited nature of the event, tickets are not refundable.

--Transfers: Tickets are non-transferable.

--Weather: Please note that this event is weather-dependent. In the event we are experiencing heavy local precipitation at the time of your scheduled hike, the hike will be canceled. Telescope viewing is dependent on weather and sky conditions. S'mores are dependent on our ability to safely manage contained fires within the forest. Other activities may have limited resources and, therefore, are subject to depletion and availability.

--Cancellation: If the event is canceled due to weather, please consider your ticket purchase to be a contribution to Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, a non-profit operation of National Audubon Society, Inc., federal tax ID number 13-1624102.

When placing your order, please use a valid e-mail address. We will communicate any cancellations or changes via e-mail.