At the northern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where rugged cliffs jut out toward Lake Superior, Keweenaw County is known for its rich biodiversity and opportunities for outdoor recreation. One of the region’s most remarkable qualities, though, is its darkness.

Far from large city centers, the county has embraced its lack of light pollution, or excessive artificial light that bleeds into outdoor spaces.

This weekend, a new event—the Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree (GLAD JAM)—welcomes visitors to the park to stargaze while learning more about the dark sky movement and its campaign to end light pollution for the health of humans and wildlife alike.

The region’s first “Dark Sky Park” was designated in 2022. The dark sky movement has been supported by a growing body of research suggesting light pollution can disrupt the migration patterns and circadian rhythms of animals, putting fragile ecosystems around the world at risk.