BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium will celebrate Halloween throughout October with a series of holiday-themed star shows and laser concerts.
The Halloween lineup includes:
- Monster Mash Laser Concert: Saturdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 4 p.m. The family-friendly concert features songs including “The Addams Family Theme Song,” “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters.” The program is recommended for ages 6 and older.
- Fright Light laser concert: Saturdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 8 p.m. The concert features songs including “Alive” by Meat Loaf, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band. The program is recommended for ages 10 and older and is not intended for very young viewers or those who are easily scared.
- Skies Over Hogwarts: Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. The Harry Potter-themed tour of the night sky will explore how astronomy inspired some characters’ names. The program is recommended for ages 8 and older.
- Halloween: Celestial Origins: Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31 at 7 p.m. The program explores the history of Halloween, its connection to the seasons as a “cross-quarter day” and the planets, constellations and stars that will be visible on Halloween evening. It is recommended for ages 8 and older.
Other October programs include “Earth, Moon, and Sun (and Coyote)” on Saturdays at 3 p.m.; the sensory-friendly “The Sky Above” on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.; “Astronomy Tonight” on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.; and “Sunset Meditation” on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
Weather permitting, the 3M Observatory will be open following the Oct. 3 “Astronomy Tonight” program.
Planetarium tickets are $11 for one show or $20 for two back-to-back shows on the same day. Reservations are recommended, but tickets are sold at the door on the day of the show. Late admission is not permitted.
Reservations and additional information are available by calling 908-231-8805 or emailing planet@raritanval.edu. A complete schedule of public star shows and laser concerts is available on the RVCC Planetarium website.
The planetarium notes that laser shows include loud music, flashing lights and rapidly moving graphics in a dark environment and may not be appropriate for people who are sensitive to those conditions or have a medical condition that could be exacerbated by them.
