GOLDTHWAITE – The Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. (TBG&NAIC) together with Friends of the Night Sky, Lampasas, invite the public to an enchanting evening under the stars as we pre-celebrate NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. This special event will highlight the beauty and wonder of Central Texas’ dark night skies.

• Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
• Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Location: Legacy Plaza, 1219 Fisher St., Goldthwaite, Texas 76844

The evening will open with engaging conversations led by Beth Griess (Friends of the Night Sky) and Keith Shank (TBG&NAIC), who will inspire attendees to experience the heavens from a fresh perspective.

As twilight deepens, guests will enjoy wine and cheese while mingling with fellow stargazers, making new friends, and sharing conversations that reach as far as the cosmos.

Later in the evening, participants will have the opportunity to look through highpowered telescopes for an up-close view of the Moon’s captivating craters and ridges. Guests are encouraged to stay and explore Saturn and Neptune, distant star clusters, and even the Milky Way itself—soaking in the awe and wonder of a truly dark Texas night.

“Looking through a telescope at the Moon or the many wonders in the Milky Way can be a life-changing experience,” notes Courtenay Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center. “It reminds us that science, wonder, and imagination are deeply connected—and that preserving our dark skies ensures future generations will share in that same awe.”

This event is free for TBG&NAIC and Friends of the Night Sky members, $5 for nonmembers. Bring your curiosity and sense of wonder for a night of discovery and connection beneath the stars! wwww.legacyplaza.org Post Office Box 513 (325) 451 – 1075 Goldthwaite, Texas 76844

Coming soon:

• Prairie Experience 2025, sixteenth annual signature fundraiser Saturday, October 4, 2025, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion
• Observe the Moon at Space Night Collaboration between Goldthwaite CISD and TBG&NAIC Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Goldthwaite Elementary School
• TBG&NAIC Booth at Nature Fest, Bosque River Nature Center, Stephenville Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Kirby Fry: Permaculture Design and the Natural Regions of Texas Saturday, October 18, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion
• Jessie Woodall, Bat World Sanctuary: Winged Night Voyagers – Bat Migration and Conservation in Central Texas Saturday, November 8, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Goldthwaite Paviion
• A Time Before Texas, exhibition created by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Hosted by the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. and the City of Goldthwaite. December 1 – 31, 2025 Mon. – Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Sat. – Sun., 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Goldthwaite Welcome Center

About the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center

Located in Goldthwaite, Texas, Legacy Plaza is home to the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation, and cultural heritage. The Gardens offer an immersive look at native plant life, while the Center integrates archaeology, Indigenous history, and ecological stewardship.