Full Moon Concerts

Weather updates: Concerts are weather dependent. If conditions look uncertain, check this space and our Facebook page for the official update before heading out.

Welcome to our Full Moon Autumn Concert Series! We invite you to experience the natural beauty of Buffalo Park in a whole new light. Each event in this special series pairs the magic of a Flagstaff sunset and moonrise with live music, cultural storytelling and guided stargazing.

Bring your friends and family as we celebrate our community’s deep connection to the cosmos.

Admission to each concert is free, but please grab a ticket to help our planning!

The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition is actively seeking sponsors and donors to cover the cost of future concerts. If you love live music to welcome the rising moon and can help make the next season happen, please reach out at info@flagstaffdarkskies.org.

Harvest Moon Event Poster

Saturday, September 265:30–9:00 pm

Harvest Moon GET TICKETS (FREE)

Sunset: 6:17 pm | Moonrise: 6:11 pm | End of twilight: 9:19 pm

Event Schedule

5:30 pm | Seating & Exhibits

Arrive early to find your seat and explore our interpretive cultural astronomy exhibits about the Moon, planets and stars visible tonight. Scan the QR codes at the welcome table to access the digital evening program.

6:15 pm | Piano Concert Begins

Dr. David Koerner will begin his piano performance just as the Moon rises and the Sun sets. Between musical pieces, he’ll share some remarks on the Moon’s phases, features and geology.

Harvest Moon Program (click to view)
Check back soon!
~7:30–9:00 pm | Guided Stargazing & Cultural Astronomy

Peer through telescopes set up near the ramada. Telescope hosts will guide you through views of the Moon, Venus, Saturn and the night’s brightest stars as Danielle shares more cultural astronomy insights.

Sunday, October 25Time TBD

Amber Moon Rising

Sunset: 5:39 pm | Moonrise: 5:10 pm | End of twilight: 7:04 pm

Event Schedule

Check back soon for event details!

Past Concerts

The 2026 Summer Full Moon Concert Series was funded by a Beautification in Action grant from the City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences Program. The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition is grateful to the City of Flagstaff for this support, as well as the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Events Division for welcoming this concert series to Buffalo Park.

Blue Moon Rising Event Poster

Saturday, May 307:00–10:00 pm

Blue Moon Rising

Sunset: 7:34 pm | Moonrise: 7:30 pm | End of twilight: 7:41 pm

Event Schedule

7:00 pm | Seating & Exhibits

Arrive early to find your seat and explore our interpretive cultural astronomy exhibits about the Moon, planets and stars visible tonight. Scan the QR codes at the welcome table to access the digital evening program.

7:30 pm | Piano Concert Begins

Dr. David Koerner will begin his piano performance just as the Moon rises and the Sun sets. Between musical pieces, he’ll share some remarks on the Moon’s phases, features and geology.

Blue Moon Rising Program (click to view)
Rêverie L. 68 by Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Welcome and Introduction—Dr. Danielle Adams (FDSC)
Welcome from the Beautification & Public Art Commission—Dr. Michael Rulon (NAU)
Remarks on Greeting the Moon (“Ooo’s and Aaah’s”)
Préludes, Book 1, L. 117, X. La cathédrale engloutie (Sunken Cathedral) by Claude Debussy
Remarks on Clair de lune
Suite bergamasque (L. 75) III. Clair de lune by Claude Debussy
Remarks on Lunar Phases and the Blue Moon
Berceuse D flat major op. 57 by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Cultural Astronomy Break: Lunar Stations

Dr. Danielle Adams will talk about the lunar zodiac, a concept used in Chinese, Indian, and Arabian astronomy. Tonight, the Moon is stationed at the Heart of the Scorpion.

Nocturne in B♭ minor, Op. 9, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin
Remarks on the Piano “Nocturne”
Nocturne in D♭ minor, L. 82 by Claude Debussy
Remarks on Lunar Features and Topography
Images, Bk. II L. 112, No 2 Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut (And the Moon Sets over the Temple That Was) by Claude Debussy
Remarks on Geologic History
Gaspard de la nuit, M.55, I. Ondine by Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
Segue to Stargazing—Dr. Danielle Adams
~8:30–10:00 pm | Guided Stargazing & Cultural Astronomy

Peer through telescopes set up near the ramada. Telescope hosts will guide you through views of the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and the night’s brightest stars as Danielle shares more cultural astronomy insights.

Strawberry Moon Poster

Monday, June 297:00–10:00 pm

Strawberry Moon

Sunset: 7:45 pm | Moonrise: 8:02 pm | End of twilight: 9:32 pm

7:00 pm | Seating & Exhibits

Arrive early to find your seat and explore our interpretive cultural astronomy exhibits about the Moon, planets and stars visible tonight. Scan the QR codes at the welcome table to access the digital evening program.

7:45 pm | Piano Concert Begins

Dr. David Koerner will begin his piano performance just as the Moon rises and the Sun sets. Between musical pieces, he’ll share some remarks on the Moon’s phases, features and geology.

Strawberry Moon Program (click to view)
Nocturne in E♭ major, Op. 9, No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Welcome and Introduction—Dr. Danielle Adams (FDSC)
Welcome from the Beautification & Public Art Commission—Audra Travelbee (Culture Connection AZ)
Remarks on Greeting the Moon and the planet Venus (“Ooo’s and Aaah’s”)
Venus, the Bringer of Peace by Gustav Holst (1874–1934), recomposed as a Nocturne by David Koerner (1955–present)
Remarks on Debussy and the Moon
Ballade, L. 70 by Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Remarks on Camille Saint-Saëns and the Moon
Le Cygne (The Swan) by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) and arranged for solo piano by Leopold Godowsky (1870–1938)
Cultural Astronomy Break: Lunar Stations

Dr. Danielle Adams will talk about the lunar zodiac, a concept used in Chinese, Indian, and Arabian astronomy. Tonight, the Moon is stationed at the Arabian Ostriches.

Notturno (Nocturne) Op. 54, No. 4 by Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
Remarks on the influence of light pollution on birds
Oiseaux Tristes (Sad Birds) from Miroirs (Mirrors) by Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
Remarks on the influence of moonlight on a community
Préludes, Book II, No. 7, L. 123, “La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune” (The terrace of audiences in the light of the moon) by Claude Debussy
Remarks on water on the Moon and in the cosmos
Jeux d’Eau (Playing Water) by Maurice Ravel
Segue to Stargazing—Dr. Danielle Adams
~8:45–10:00 pm | Guided Stargazing & Cultural Astronomy

Peer through telescopes set up near the ramada. Telescope hosts will guide you through views of the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and the night’s brightest stars as Danielle shares more cultural astronomy insights.

Thunder Moon Poster

Tuesday, July 287:00–10:00 pm

Rise of the Thunder Moon

Sunset: 7:33 pm | Moonrise: 7:20 pm | End of twilight: 9:11 pm

7:00 pm | Seating & Exhibits
7:30 pm | Piano Concert Begins
Rise of the Thunder Moon Program (click to view)
Nocturne in C# minor, Op. Posthumous by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Welcome and Introduction—Dr. Danielle Adams (FDSC)
Welcome from the Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences Program—Jana Weldon
Remarks on Greeting the Moon (“Ooo’s and Aaah’s”)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2 mvmt.1 (“Moonlight Sonata”) by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Nocturne in C# minor, Op. 27, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Images oubliées no.1 (Lent) by Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Cultural Astronomy Break: Lunar Stations

Dr. Danielle Adams will talk about the lunar zodiac, a concept used in Chinese, Indian, and Arabian astronomy.

Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 no.2, Lento assai in A minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Visions fugitives (“fleeting visions”), Op. 22, no. 7 (The Harp) by Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Miroirs (“Mirrors”) no.3, “Une barque sur l’océan” (“A Boat on the Ocean”) in F♯ minor by Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
L’Isle Joyeuse L. 106 (The Joyful Island) by Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Segue to Stargazing—Dr. Danielle Adams
~8:30–10:00 pm | Guided Stargazing & Cultural Astronomy

Envisioning a world where everyone can see the Milky Way where they live