Night Hike 5/27
2026-05-27 19:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Karachi) | WI
Come experience the (dark) sights and (sometimes creepy) sounds of The Hollow at night during this unique opportunity! We will be travelling some of our many trails, searching for nocturnal animals, and appreciating nature from a new perspective with guidance from our naturalist Ryan Retzke.

This program is for families and adults. It is a 60-minute outdoor guided hike, so please dress for the weather!

$12 per person (kids under 3 are free).

No refunds unless the event is canceled. Registration is required! Please register with an email address you check often to ensure you receive instructions or updates.
Night Hikes 2026

Wednesday Under the Stars
2026-05-27 20:30 - 22:30, 2026-05-27 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-03 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-10 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-24 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-24 21:30 - 23:30, 2026-07-01 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-07-01 21:30 - 23:30 and 4 more dates | Heide Observatory, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Enjoy a relaxing evening at Wednesday Under the Stars, hosted at the picturesque Heide Observatory. Settle into a zero-gravity chair with your favorite beverage and embark on an unforgettable journey through the night sky as our expert guides use laser pointers to highlight stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies above. Listen to the captivating stories behind these celestial wonders while you unwind beneath the vast, glittering cosmos. Events are weather-dependent and will be rescheduled by email 24 hours in advance if cloud cover exceeds 40%, and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for nighttime outdoor weather.

Through the Lens
2026-05-28 20:30 - 22:30, 2026-06-04 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-11 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-25 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-07-02 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-07-09 21:00 - 23:00 | Heide Observatory, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Experience the awe-inspiring Through the Lens event at The Heide Observatory, where celestial wonders come to life as you peer through our powerful 17-inch telescope to observe binary stars, distant planets, and shimmering galaxies. While awaiting your turn inside the dome, join our knowledgeable guides outdoors for a laser-assisted sky tour, connecting what you see through the lens with the vast panorama of the night sky. Events are weather-dependent and will be rescheduled by email 24 hours in advance if cloud cover exceeds 40%, and guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for nighttime outdoor weather.

Small Eyes Under the Skies
2026-05-29 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-06-05 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-06-12 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-06-26 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-03 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-10 20:00 - 21:30 | Heide Observatory, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Join us for Small Eyes Under the Skies at The Heide Observatory, a family-friendly astronomy adventure that begins with an interactive walk through a scale model of our solar system across the meadow and concludes with a telescope viewing of planets and other celestial wonders. Events are weather permitting and will be rescheduled if cloud cover exceeds 40%; look for a confirmation email at least 24 hours before the event. For group or family rate discounts, contact observatory@hawthornhollow.org, and please dress appropriately for an outdoor trek through the “solar system” field.

Frogs After Dark
2026-06-05 19:30 - 21:00 | Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Sorry, this program is sold out. Stay tuned for more froggy fun coming soon!

Frogs After Dark is back! Join us on Friday, June 5th at 7:30 for a ribbeting experience.

Ever wonder what’s making all that noise after sunset? Join us for a fun, hands-on evening exploring the world of local frogs and toads. You’ll learn how to identify different species by both sight and sound, catch frogs and practice real field ID skills at Pollywog Pond, and even get a little silly recreating frog calls with creative props.

Then we’ll grab flashlights and head out on a guided night hike to search for amphibians around Hawthorn Hollow.

This 90-minute program is perfect for curious kids, nature-loving adults, and anyone ready to experience the outdoors in a whole new way.

Important details:
• Dress for outdoor weather and muddy/wet conditions
• Registration is required (non-refundable unless the event is canceled)
• Please use an email you check regularly for updates

Get ready for a toad-ally unforgettable night in nature!

$18 per person

Pike River Benefit Concert Series feat TRiP, presented by Third Coast Retina
2026-06-12 18:00 - 21:00 | Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Our first Pike River Benefit Concert featuring TRiP is on Friday June 12 at 6 pm, and we’re pleased to announce Third Coast Retina as our Presenting Sponsor this year!
We’re also happy to announce that Crane Plumbing Services is a new sustaining sponsor, along with longtime sustaining sponsors Educators Credit Union and Festival Foods.
The Pike River Benefit Concert Series is also sponsored by Mindful Yoga, Equinox botanical boutique (10 years as a sponsor!), Alpaca Arts, Kessler’s Clock Co., EcoHaul Wisconsin LLC, Daniels Chiropractic Office, Impact Networking, Creative Designs Custom Signs, LLC, Design Partners, Inc., and T-Mac’s Saloon. Thank you for your support!
We’re beyond pleased to announce that our friends at Hydn Cheese will be serving their delicious gourmet grilled cheese, along with a couple other tasty offerings, at our concert series this year!
All shows start at 6pm in the Hawthorn Hollow Amphitheater, with gates open at 5. Admission is $15 per person at the gate. Food and beverages such as soda, hard seltzer, and craft beer will be available for purchase, as will Hawthorn Hollow merch like our new owl t-shirt!.

Space Camp: Explorers
2026-06-16 09:00 - 2026-06-19 12:00 | Heide Observatory, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Space Camp: Explorers is a multi-day, beginner-focused astronomy experience at the Heide Observatory designed to introduce young learners to space science through hands-on activities, guided exploration, and interactive observing experiences. Campers will investigate planets, motion, gravity, light, and scale while participating in age-appropriate STEM challenges that encourage curiosity, teamwork, and scientific thinking. Throughout the program, students will engage with real scientific tools, explore the night sky through telescopes when conditions allow, and learn how astronomers observe and study the universe. This camp emphasizes discovery over memorization and is ideal for first-time campers or students with a growing interest in science and space. A short application or survey process will be used to help ensure a positive experience for all participants, with additional details provided prior to the start of camp.

All About Bluebirds
2026-06-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Join us for this FREE talk and learn all about bluebirds life cycle, breeding, proper box placement and more with Hoy Audubon’s Rick Fare. Registration required. Presented by Wild Birds Unlimited and the Hoy Audubon Society.

Space Camp: Innovators
2026-07-14 19:00 - 2026-07-17 22:00 | Heide Observatory, 880 Green Bay Rd, Kenosha, WI, 53144, United States
Space Camp: Innovators is an advanced, multi-day evening camp at the Heide Observatory designed for students ready to move beyond introductory concepts and into hands-on engineering and experimental challenges inspired by real space missions. Campers will explore trajectory, motion, forces, stability, and design as they build, test, and refine projects using an iterative engineering process. Activities emphasize problem-solving, data collection, teamwork, and creative thinking while connecting physics concepts to real-world space exploration and technology. Participants will work with increasingly complex challenges, observe the night sky through telescopes when conditions allow, and reflect on how engineers and scientists design solutions for space travel and exploration. This camp is ideal for returning campers or students with a strong interest in STEM who are ready for a deeper, more technical experience.
