BY KAREN BOSSICK

Wood River Valley residents and visitors are invited to celebrate Central Idaho’s dark skies by taking part in a Dark Sky Dinner at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden.

The Idaho Community Foundation has two Dark Sky dinners on tap in February: One on Feb. 26 and another on Feb. 28. Both are from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The dinners are popular—two coming up this week are sold out.

The evening will include stargazing, appetizers and drinks around warming fire pits and an outdoor snow bar and a farm-to greenhouse dinner featuring local cuisine. A n astronomer from the Environmental Resource Center and a representative of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve will lead discussions about the impact of light pollution on the environment and what local citizens can do to mitigate problems.

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is one of the last large pools of natural nighttime darkness left in the United States. It encompasses 1,416 square miles including Sun Valley, Ketchum, Stanley and Smiley Creek.

"We’re thrilled to partner with the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens to bring the community together under Idaho’s incredible night skies,” said Tim Hamilton, a board member of The Idaho Community foundation. “This event not only showcases the beauty of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve but also highlights how philanthropy can support community-drive initiatives that inspire and educate.”

Tickets are available at https://www.sbgarden.org/events.