MoonFest

Moon and Stargazing

Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, kick back, and enjoy stargazing at the Main Entrance Meadow all night long! 

Eyes on the Sky!
Time: 8-11pm 
Location: Main Entrance Meadow

Fulfill your curiosity and join the Amateur Astronomers Association for a night under a full moon at Green-Wood. Peer through powerful telescopes at distant stars, glowing planets, and the moon’s textured surface with expert astronomers by your side to see the cosmos like never before. No experience needed, just drop in and look up!

Walking Tours

First come, first served, regardless of registration. The queue begins 15 minutes before the start of each tour. All tour participants agree to the terms outlined at the bottom of this page.

Spirits of Science Walking Tours
Times: 7:45–9:45pm, and 8:30–10:30pm 
Location: Meets at the Arch near the Main Entrance

What do minty fresh breath, penicillin, and the first photograph of the moon have in common? They all have roots at Green-Wood! Meet the innovators whose curiosity changed the world, including photographer and chemist John Draper, pharmaceutical pioneer Charles Pfizer, and the man who made toothpaste a household staple, William Colgate, and more. You’ll discover that their stories are far stranger and more entertaining than any textbook lets on.

Bugging Out!
Time: 7–8pm
Location: Meets at the Arch near the Main Entrance

Herbivores, carnivores, pollinators, parasites—at least 950 beautiful (and sometimes frightening) species of insects and spiders have been identified at Green-Wood. Join us for a twilight exploration of these remarkable invertebrates as they emerge in the shifting light, and experience an eye-opening evening of insect watching. You’ll gain new perspectives on insect behaviors and adaptations, as well as the Cemetery itself, as dusk settles in.

Bugging Out! At Night
Time: 8:30–10pm
Location: Meets at the Arch near the Main Entrance

Discover your inner entomologist with an after-hours exploration of Green-Wood’s nocturnal insects. Use ultraviolet lights to attract and observe moths, often called the “jewels of the night.” As the lights glow, a fascinating array of other nighttime visitors may appear, offering a rare glimpse into the Cemetery’s biodiversity after sunset.

UV Fungi and Lichens
Time: 9–10:30pm
Location: Meets at the Arch near the Main Entrance

Join Blacki Migliozzi, a data journalist at The New York Times, for a presentation exploring the hidden world of UV fluorescence in fungi and lichens, offering a glimpse into what makes certain species glow. Following the talk, participants will head out on a guided evening walk with UV flashlights to spot luminous lichens.

Nocturnal Navigators
Times: 8:30–9:30pm and 9:45–10:45pm
Location: Meets at the Arch near the Main Entrance

After the sun sets over Green-Wood’s historic landscape, the nocturnal creatures begin to emerge! Join biologist Nic Comparato for an exciting adventure into the secret world of bats. Discover the species that call this Cemetery home, from the little brown bat to the eastern red bat and hoary bat. Experience a live sonar demonstration using a handheld bat detector, which translates bats’ ultrasonic calls into sounds we can hear, and see how scientists use this tool to identify bats in real time.

Art Activities

All activities are first come, first served regardless of registration. Supplies are limited. 

Press & Poem: A Cosmic Crafting Session
Time: 7–11pm
Location: The Green-House Classroom

Green-Wood’s artist in residence, Jia Sung, has spent years drawing the cosmos, including moons, constellations, and orbiting celestial bodies. Now, she brings that practice into your hands. Choose a stamp, press it to the page, and let it guide you toward a poem or small work of art. Like Chinese poets who composed in response to mountains, seasons, and skies, all you need is a starting point. Let tonight’s Flower Moon serve as your inspiration!

Greedy Peasant’s Lunar Photo Sanctum
Time: 7–11pm
Location: The Green-Wood Gallery at the Green-House

Calling all dreamers, stargazers, and night wanderers: Greedy Peasant returns to Green-Wood with a moon-themed photo pop-up inspired by medieval imagery. Design your own celestial halo, then step into the glow for a portrait worthy of the sacred and the strange.

Tastings

Tastings
Time: 7–11pm
Location: The Green-Wood Gallery at the Green-House

Enjoy tastings from Dassai and ITO EN (sake available to only those 21 years and older). 

Talks and Presentations

Due to capacity limits, all presentations are first come, first served, regardless of registration. Limited seating and standing room section.  Simultaneous Spanish translation will be available for all sessions. Please see a member of staff or a volunteer to assist you. 

See below for a description of each panel.

The Green-House Atrium

Chasing the Infinite: From Medieval Manuscripts to the Modern Night Sky
Time: 7–8pm
Location: The Green-House Atrium

When curator Joshua O’Driscoll opens the Morgan Library & Museum’s celestially inspired manuscripts and astrophotographer Ian Lauer turns his lens skyward, more than a millennium of wonder comes into view. Together, they will explore how humans have always reached for the heavens, whether through pigment and parchment or pixels and light. Moderated by Matthew Stanley, professor at New York University. 

Human Endeavors in Exploration
Time: 8:30–9:30pm
Location: The Green-House Atrium

Blast off into the Space Race, when ambition, rivalry, and curiosity propelled humans to the moon. What made that giant leap possible, and how does it still shape life on Earth today? Look ahead to the Artemis missions and what it means to return to the moon in a new era of exploration. Join Astronomy on Tap as we move through the past, present, and future, and ask the million-dollar question: What continues to draw us skyward?

Human Endeavors in Finding Meaning in the Moon
Time: 10–11pm
Location: The Green-House Atrium

Long before rockets, the moon was a story we couldn’t stop telling. Across cultures and centuries, it has guided calendars, inspired myths, and sparked wonder in anyone who’s looked up at night. Why does this glowing neighbor still hold such power over our imagination? Join Astronomy on Tap for a lively journey through lunar lore, cultural connections, and the timeless pull of the moon.

What is Astronomy on Tap? 
Astronomy on Tap is an event series connecting scientists, educators, and communicators directly with the public in fun, engaging ways. Staged across pubs, museums, and cultural institutions across NYC, each show showcases creative, exciting, and honest talks from people telling their professional and personal stories of science. 

Modern Chapel A

Floramancy, Space, and Self: The World of Black Metal
Time: 7–7:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel A

Three years in the making, Black Metal is an experimental collaboration led by Afrotectopia, in partnership with MIT’s Media Lab and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. The project supported research artists Ari Melenciano, Jordan Caldwell, Jeremy Kamal, and Kordae Jatafa Henry as they imagined new futures for space travel. 

In this presentation, Ari Melenciano explores how the cosmos becomes a mirror, reflecting how Black culture has always carried the universe within it. This vision unfolds through ancestral floramancy, reimagined spacesuits, cinematic inner voyages, and the uncharted terrain of self-realization.

Marking the Night Sky: Art and the Universe
Time: 8–8:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel A

The night sky can act as a canvas and catalyst, where science, culture, and imagination are inseparable. Artist Tariku Shiferaw, whose ongoing series Mata Semay (“night skies” in Amharic) reimagines the cosmos through mythology and diasporic histories, will be joined by theoretical physicist, author, and jazz saxophonist Dr. Stephon Alexander. 

A professor at Brown University, Alexander has spent his career drawing connections between music and the structure of the universe. Together, they will discuss how, in many non-Western histories, the night sky has always been a site of exploration and projection.

After Dark: Humanity’s Dreams and the Cosmos
Time: 9–9:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel A

For many, night isn’t the absence of light but a time when illumination takes alternative forms through dreams, myths, and cinema. In this conversation, two artists and a film curator explore how luminosity and cosmic forces shape their creative practices. 

Anthony Cudahy creates figurative paintings exploring autobiographical narratives and crafted mythologies, drawing on historical and personal photographs. Gretta Johnson builds surreal, disjointed environments inspired by creation stories and dream imagery. Lukas Brašiškis, Curator of Film and Video at e-flux and co-curator of The 14th Shanghai Biennale: Cosmos Cinema, examines how artists address humanity’s relationship to the cosmos through political, ethical, and aesthetic lenses.

Shooting the Stars: Astrophotography 101
Time: 10–10:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel A

Join astrophotographer Ian Lauer for an introduction to capturing the beauty of the night sky. From camera settings to composition, he’ll walk you through the essential tools and techniques that turn darkness into stunning celestial imagery. Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply curious about what’s possible, this is your invitation to start looking up!

Modern Chapel B

Beyond Earth: Making Space Accessible
Time: 7–7:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel B

As humanity looks toward a more expansive future in space, who gets to be part of it is just as important as how we get there. Kim Macharia will explore what it takes to open pathways into the space industry and how greater access can reshape the future of exploration. 

Gitika Gorthi, the Founder/CEO of interdisciplinary space education nonprofit IgnitedThinkers, will discuss space-to-earth verticals, the global aerospace industry landscape, and next steps to empower the next generation to enter the exponentially growing space economy. Together, they will consider how expanding participation today will shape who we become as a spacefaring society. Moderated by Charlotte Martin, Director of Access Initiatives at the Intrepid Museum. 

Lunar Rhythms: How the Moon Shapes Our Lives
Time: 8–8:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel B

Throughout history, the moon has shaped how humans experience time, nature, and the world around them. Professor K. E. Saavik Ford of Borough of Manhattan Community College will guide us through the lunar calendars and rhythms that have inspired these traditions, and how lunar and solar calendars interact. 

This year, the full moon coincides with the solar holiday of Beltane, the Irish festival of fertility, fire, and renewal celebrated each year on May 1st. Moderated by Noah Guiberson, a neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medicine and a co-host of the podcast Facts Machine. 

Through the Telescope: Centuries of Cosmic Discovery
Time: 9–9:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel B

From Galileo’s first lens to today’s cutting-edge observatories, the telescope has been humanity’s greatest tool for observing the cosmos. Columbia PhD student Meghna Sitaram describes the variety of telescopes used, and ongoing work to advance technology for observing galaxies on the ground and in space. Flatiron Research Fellow Joseph Long shares his work using the MagAO-X adaptive optics system on the Magellan Telescope to capture images of elusive exoplanets. Moderated by Paula Croxson, a neuroscientist, science communicator, and Senior Producer for The Story Collider. 

Cosmic Web: Mapping the Structure of the Universe
Time: 10–10:45pm
Location: Modern Chapel B

Peering into the universe takes more than a telescope. Charlotte Welker, assistant professor at  New York City College of Technology, uses powerful simulations to reveal how galaxies form and evolve within the vast cosmic web. Her work brings to life the hidden forces that shape the universe, from black holes to galactic collisions. Moderated by Charlotte Olsen, an astrophysicist and adjunct professor at New York City College of Technology. 

Where should I go when I arrive?
We recommend browsing through the full program schedule on our website to plan where to begin, but the Green-House is a great place to start your journey! Staff and volunteers will be on-site to help guide you.

If you arrive by subway or ride share, you can use the Green-House’s address, 750 25th Street (enter on 25th Street). 

Will there be on-site parking?
No on-site parking will be available. 

Should I print my tickets?
There’s no need to print your tickets.

Do I need to register in advance?
Registration helps us gauge attendance. Due to limited capacity, all activities are first come, first served. Entry is not guaranteed. 

Is the Green-House ADA-compliant?
Yes, the Green-House is ADA-compliant. However, some areas of the Cemetery may be difficult to navigate for those with mobility issues. To discuss accessibility options or accommodations, please email contactus@green-wood.com.

Will there be a line to enter?
Entry to activities may require a short wait due to capacity limits. We recommend allowing extra time. There will be no entry after 10pm. 

How do I join a walking tour?
Tours are free and available on a first come, first served basis, with limited capacity. We encourage you to sign up as early as you can. 

Same-day registration will take place at the Main Entrance Meadow. Tours will depart from the Arch and take place in the dark, covering hilly, uneven terrain. So, come in appropriate footwear.

Will anything be available for purchase?
Green-Wood and MoonFest merch and light snack mixes from Sahadi’s will be sold in the Green-House Lobby, and Dilly Dilly Donuts will be sold near the Arch. Free water will be available, as well as Dassai sake and ITO EN tea tastings! 

Can I bring food or drinks?
No outside food or drinks (except for water) will be allowed. However, Baked in Brooklyn (located next to the Green-House, on Fifth Avenue) will be open until 8:30pm.

Is there anything else I should know?
MoonFest is an evening of educational talks and guided experiences across the Cemetery and the Green-House. We recommend wearing comfortable attire for walking and being outdoors.

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Admission is free and everyone is welcome! Presentations and tours are first come, first served, so we recommend arriving early and building in some extra time. Indoor spaces have limited capacity, but there’s plenty of room for moon and stargazing out in the meadow!

This program is funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. 

Know Before You Go:

• Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.
• Where To Go: Check-in takes place at the Green-House (750 Fifth Avenue), near the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.
• Accessibility & Safety: While most of the program takes place in the ADA-accessible Green-House, it includes a walking tour over hilly, grassy, and uneven terrain. This portion is not wheelchair accessible and may be challenging for those with balance or mobility issues. There are no seating areas during the tour. For disability-related accommodations, contact us at 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or events@green-wood.com. This tour is not recommended for children under 10. Please wear appropriate footwear.
• Refunds: All ticket sales are final. Refunds are only permissible if the tour is canceled by Green-Wood. Tickets cannot be exchanged for a different tour date.
• Inclement Weather Policy: We monitor weather conditions throughout the day for the best chance of proceeding with the tour, and will not make a final decision until approximately 3 hours before the start of the tour. Cancellations will be announced via Eventbrite email blasts, so check your email and spam folders.