Visitors to Wyoming's Fort Laramie this Saturday can participate in special "Fort Laramie After Dark" events, starting in the middle of the afternoon, according to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS).
This year's family-friendly festivities include a concert, a picnic, a bats adventure and stargazing, according to the NPS's July 18 announcement.
"It is always a special occasion when we welcome the public to visit us under the stars," park superintendent Mark Davison said in the announcement. "These evening programs are also an excellent way to beat the summer heat with family and friends."
A concert by folk singer Hank Cramer at 2:30 kicks off FLAD; he will play a second show at 6:30, according to the announcement. Cramer, known for his "booming bass voice, smooth-picking on a vintage flat-top guitar, and wry sense of humor," will perform 19th-century folk songs and share historical stories. A picnic dinner will take place after the second show, the announcement states.
After dinner, visitors are encouraged to go "batty" at "A Bat Attitude," starting at 8 p.m. Participants can watch the fort's bats leave their homes and use "echometers" to translate their chirps and calls as they begin their nightly hunt.
"Thousands of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) make their home in the fort's historic buildings and large 'bat houses,' NPS states in the announcement. "While seemingly small and insignificant, these bats make a huge impact on the natural world."
After the bats clear out, the stars come out and FLAD's "Starry Starry Night" stargazing begins. Astronomers with the Central Wyoming Astronomical Society will lead "tours" of the visible stars, constellations and planets, and share facts and lore, myths and legends, and a history of astronomy, according to the announcement.
"Observation will last until the last stargazer falls asleep or the sun rises - whichever comes first," the announcement states.
Admission to both the park and FLAD programs are free. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, light jackets, bug repellent and flashlights.
