Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Montville Township, and Naturalist (“Astro-Nat”) Chris Mentrek is eager to show you around this International Dark Sky Park during special programs all season long.

Do you love outdoor movie nights? If so, mark your calendars for Observatory Park’s movie scheduled for these Saturdays:“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” on June 23, “Peter Rabbit” on July 14, and a fan’s choice film on August 11. (Learn how you can vote for the August film on their new website under Activities, then Special Events.) Preshow activities begin at 8 p.m., with each movie starting at dark and including free popcorn and lemonade.

Enjoy full moon programs from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 (The Frog Moon), Sunday, May 27 (The Corn-Planting Moon), and Thursday, June 28 (The Strawberry Moon).

If you’re a hiker, enjoy a 2.5-mile Hidden Gems Hike on Saturday, May 5, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. along a fairly new trail through woodland and wetland, or register to kick off your summer with a 2-mile Solstice Sunset Hike on Thursday, June 21, the longest day of the year, from 8 to 9 p.m.

Naturalist-led night sky viewing will be offered at Oberle Observatory using park telescopes these Saturdays, 7 to 11 p.m.: April 14 and 28, May 12 and 26, and June 9 and 23.

Hour-long hands-on astronomy education will be presented these Fridays, 7 to 8 p.m.: April 13 and 27 (Cloud Spotting), May 11 and 25 (The Seneca Anomaly), and June 8 and 22 (Exoplanets & How to Find Them), followed by night sky until 11 p.m. if weather permits.

Registration is required to come with your horse to one or both of the Horseback Trail Rides scheduled for Saturday, June 23 – one faster, one more slowly paced – or with your dog to the Hound Hike scheduled for Sunday, June 24.

And finally, “Astro-Nat” Chris will open the Robert McCullough Science Center and Oberle Observatory these Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., all featuring The Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows at 2 p.m.: April 15 and 29, May 13 and 27, and June 10 and 24.

Learn more about Observatory Park any time of day or night on our new website. Cloudy skies will cancel some programs; to check in before coming, please call the Observatory Park hotline the day of the program at 440-279-0820.

For more on Geauga Park District offerings, please call 440-286-9516 or visit Geauga Park District online via www.geaugaparkdistrict.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.