Starry, Starry Night 2023

Welcome to Starry, Starry Night—Montalvo’s art & astronomy slumber party, celebrating the night sky during the stunning Perseid Meteor Shower! We hope you and your family have an amazing time at this year’s festival.

As you enjoy the evening, we encourage you to share your experience by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram @montalvoarts. Use #PerseidMeteorShower and #StarryNight when you post!

Parking will be on-site; please be prepared to show your ticket or give your name to our parking staff when you arrive and follow any instructions given. Please, only one car per family.

Gates open at 5pm for overnight campers only. If you reserved a campsite, you will be given your pre-assigned site location at the campsite check-in near the Villa. We will offer a gear drop-off zone; please unload quickly in order to keep traffic flowing, then proceed to the parking lot. Please do not set up your campsite before parking your car in a lot.

Gates open at 5:45pm for all ticketholders. Give your name at the gate when you arrive and you will be directed to a parking lot.

Timeline

6–8:30pm:

• Art Activities, Campfire, & S’mores (Oval Garden)

6–10pm:

• Unistellar eVscope “smart telescopes” (Villa Veranda)
• Game Zone (Spanish Courtyard)

6:30–7:30pm:

• Sunset Hike with Santa Clara County Rangers (Meet at 6:15pm in the Oval Garden)

7–7:45pm:

• Ice Cream Drive-By (Parking Lot 2)

8:30–9:30pm:

• Night Hike with Santa Clara County Rangers (Meet at 8:15 in the Oval Garden)

8:30–10pm:

• Community Telescopes (Lower Lawn)
  If you have your own telescope, you are encouraged to bring it! Please set up in the community area and be prepared to share.
• Movie Shorts — 40 minutes, repeated once (Charmaine’s Garden Terrace)
  – Where are the Stars? (Sriram Murali / National Geographic, 3min)
  – Science 101: The Solar System (National Geographic, 4min)
  – Raspberry Galaxies (Noah Sterling / Savannah College of Art & Design, 5min)
  – How to Observe a Meteor Shower (California Academy of Sciences, 4min)
  – Chasing Sprites in Electric Skies (NASA, 8min)
  – Le voyage dans le lune (A Trip to the Moon) (George Méliès, 15min)

10pm:

• Event over for non-overnight guests!

7–9am:

• Continental breakfast (Villa)

La Fenice Pizza available for purchase until 8:30pm with a special menu for the evening:

• Napoletana (vegan): Crushed Tomato | Oregano | Garlic | Cherry Tomatoes | Basil | Sea | Salt | EVOO
• Cheese (vegetarian): Crushed Tomato | Oregano | Aged Asiago | Fresh | Mozzarella | Parmesan
• Pepperoni: Crushed Tomato | Fresh Mozzarella | Oregano | Molinari Pepperoni | Parmesan
• Notorious P.I.G.: Crushed Tomato | Aged Cheddar | Fresh Mozzarella | Red Onion | Smoked Bacon | Honey
• S’mores (dessert pizza): Chocolate | Marshmallow | Graham Crackers | Caramel

Kona Ice will drive through for shaved ice treats from 7–7:45pm.

S’mores available at the campfire in the Oval Garden.

Beer, wine, soda, and water for purchase from our bar on the Villa veranda.

No in & out privileges after 9:30pm. We will close the gates after the evening’s activities, so if you’re camping overnight, you will not be allowed back inside once you leave the property after 9:30pm.

Camping and tent rules & info: No stakes allowed for tents. Camping chairs are allowed in your designated space. If you would like to sleep outside directly on the lawn (not in a tent), please ensure your sleeping bag is waterproof as dew and moisture accumulate on the lawn overnight. No dogs or other pets are allowed. You are welcome to bring picnic food and coolers, but no glass bottles or outside alcohol are allowed. Smoking, BBQs, and other heat/fire producing devices are also prohibited. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Wildlife: Montalvo is home to many forms of wildlife. Deer and turkeys are regular visitors to the park in the evening; feel free to take photos if you see them, but do not disturb them. Mountain lions and bobcats have been reported in the area in the past, but they tend to avoid human interaction; if you do encounter a large cat, stand your ground and make a lot of noise and it is likely to run away. Stay on trails and avoid bushes and shrubs, as snakes can hide there—and poison oak is common in the forest areas outside of trails.

Come prepared for the outdoors. It gets chilly at night at Montalvo, even after a warm day, so wear layers. We also recommend bringing flashlights and wearing bug repellent if needed. A first aid station will be available, but bringing your own kit is also recommended.

This program is funded by a generous gift from Clysta and John McLemore.

Additional support for Art on the Grounds provided by the Marcus Family Foundation, Jo and Barry Ariko Fund for Artistic Programs, and Santa Clara County, Office of Supervisor Joe Simitian.