Starfest 2025 Recap

Another Starfest in the books — and what a memorable one it was! From clear morning skies and solar observing to late-night stargazing, gear talk, and prize celebrations, Starfest 2025 truly brought together the very best of the Canadian astronomy community. It was Canada’s largest annual star party which brought together amateur astronomers, enthusiasts, vendors, and educators from across the country, and Telescopes Canada was proud to be part of the action!

Telescopes Canada was proud to host a booth from Thursday Aug. 21 through Saturday Aug. 23, and we were overwhelmed by the warm response, the familiar faces, and the opportunity to connect with passionate astronomers of all levels. This year’s Starfest was nothing short of a success.

🌞 Thursday Aug. 21: Solar Viewing & Observing Kickoff

We couldn’t have asked for a better opening day. Thursday morning delivered perfect blue skies, giving us the chance to set up Sky-Watcher’s new HelioStar 76 , a dedicated solar telescope that became the star of our daytime outreach.

Photo credits: Noor Oada

We were blown away by how beautifully the HelioStar performed as sunspots and prominences were clearly visible through the eyepiece, and viewers were amazed by what they could see live, with no processing. A big thank-you to Andrea Girones  for helping run this session — and a huge congrats to her for receiving an APOD from NASA on Aug. 26 for her stunning solar prominence time-lapse!

At the booth, the conversations never stopped as people were curious about beginner scopes, binoculars, and the new SeeStar S30 Pro update. ZWO had a booth right beside us displaying their latest imaging gear, including ASI AIR cameras, and SeeStars, which funneled more visitors to us for hands-on questions and purchases of AM5 mounts and SeeStars.

Photo credits: Derek Raine

Thursday evening brought the first clear night of the weekend, and the energy on the observing field was electric. Red lights danced between tripods and tents as people worked to polar align, fine-tune their setups, and dive into deep-sky sessions. I personally stayed up until after 2 a.m. — the SeeStar ran beautifully, and the vibe was just too good to walk away from.

Photo credits: Gary Crawford

🔭 Friday Aug. 22: Engagement, Education & a 3 A.M. Comeback

Friday kicked off with more solar sessions under sunny skies. As the booth got busy again, we connected with many newcomers, return customers, and long-time online followers which was heartwarming to finally meet so many of you in person!

Photo credits: Greg Meyer

Friday also featured a lineup of stellar talks, including a highlight from Marc Fitkin  of The Bronte Astronomers , who focused on how to get started in astronomy and imaging work with the SeeStar which has the audience completely inspired. I also had the chance to demo the SeeStar app to a group of experienced astronomers who were curious about how intuitive the smart scope setup really is and it definitely left an impression.

Clouds crept in by Friday evening, but at 3 a.m., I sprang out of my tent when the skies cleared briefly. I managed to sneak in another session with the SeeStar before the clouds rolled back in just after 5 a.m.

🛠️ Saturday Aug. 23: Talks, Trades, and Telescopes for All

Saturday was packed with nonstop events from start to finish. From morning to night, the big tent hosted a great set of talks, the swap table early afternoon was buzzing with activity, and the field was filled with people chatting, learning, and sharing their passion.

The swap table was one of the most heartwarming parts of the weekend as some attendees were browsing with curiosity, while others were laser-focused on specific gear. It was a great way to interact with the wider community beyond vendor booths.

Photo credits: Greg Meyer

One of my favorite moments? A group of students scored a great deal on an Optolong L-eXtreme filter, and screamed to each other: “Do you understand how POWERFUL we are now?!” That’s the kind of joy and excitement that makes Starfest so special.

Saturday evening brought the banquet dinner, followed by the highly anticipated imaging contest and door prize draw. Congratulations to:
🌟 Dylan Webster – Imager of the Year
🔭 Jane Cownley-Tumbin – Grand Prize Winner of the SeeStar S30 donated by ZWO and Telescopes Canada

Also, a big thank-you to Dave Dev for designing and creating this year’s beautiful imaging trophies! This was also the first Canadian star party attended by the ZWO team, and it was such a pleasure to connect and share the experience with them.

Photo details: A team photo of ZWO and Telescopes Canada

As rain began rolling in, many packed up early, but a few die-hard observers pushed through and were rewarded with another brief stretch of clear skies late into the night.

🧹 Sunday Aug. 24: Tear-Down, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

Sunday morning was all about tear-down and farewells. A big thank-you to the Starfest event coordinators and volunteers for organizing another spectacular weekend. Your hard work and dedication never go unnoticed, making the event educational, and enjoyable experience every year.

This year was especially meaningful as we got to meet so many returning customers, online followers, and new friends face-to-face. It reminded us how strong and passionate the Canadian astronomy community is and how much we love being part of it.

📸 Photo Highlights & Captures

Over the weekend, many attendees and myself were able to capture several beautiful moments, including a long-exposure shot of the Milky Way, and some SeeStar captures of the Eagle Nebula. I’ve shared these images below, as well as a few from Marc Fitkin’s SeeStar session.

Photo credits: Shraddha Pai

Photo credits: Marc Fitkin

Photo credits: Kunnel V Jacob

Photo credits: Chris Klinowski

🗓️ What’s Next?

Telescopes Canada is already looking forward to Starfest 2026, happening August 13–16, 2026. We also plan to attend NEAF 2026, and we’ll continue showing up at RASC events, local outreach programs, and supporting the community however we can.

 “Whether you’re brand new to astronomy or a seasoned observer, Starfest is where we come together under the sky — to learn, share, connect, and be inspired. If you’ve never been, mark your calendar for next year. You won’t regret it.”

Until then — clear skies and thanks for being part of an unforgettable Starfest 2025.