Autumn Park After Dark

Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium would like to invite families, friends, and fall-lovers alike to experience the magic of autumn at this year’s Autumn Park After Dark 2025.

Autumn Park After Dark is a one-of-a-kind celebration taking place October 25 where guests may enjoy twilight hikes, barge rides, trick-or-treating and the chance to gather on the mountain under the stars.

Whether hiking to the historic Fire Tower by moonlight, meeting animal ambassadors up-close, or sipping cider under the stars, Autumn Park After Dark 2025 offers something fun and enjoyable for everyone.

Food and drink will be available throughout the evening, with the La Abejita food truck serving from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A self-serve hot cocoa and cider bar will also be available on the Nature Center balcony.

Event Highlights

• Fire Tower Sunset & Moonlight Hike – One of Kingsport’s most recognizable landmarks is best experienced at night. Take in the breathtaking views of the Model City as the sun sets.
• Moth Pass – Trick-or-Treating with Animal Friends & Wolf Howl – Join us for trick-or-treating fun at the Nature Center. Meet our animal ambassadors, touch some neat biofacts, collect treats, and sip hot cider or hot chocolate. The evening concludes at the Wolf Habitat with a Ranger-led wolf program and a group howl.
• Bat Pass – Evening Barge Ride, Trick-or-Treating with Animal Friends & Wolf Howl – The Bat Pass gives you access to everything the Moth Pass does, plus an evening ride on the Bays Mountain Park barge.

Visitors can also enjoy an optional StarWatch program at 7:45 p.m. for free and/or an optional Paint-a-Pumpkin activity during the Nature Center portion of your program for an additional $7 per person.

Tickets are required for entry to all Autumn Park After Dark programs and guests must show proof of ticket purchase (digital or printed). Gate entry fee applies, and attendees may either pay at the gate or show their current membership card. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as many programs have limited capacity.

Special Note – Due to a planned water maintenance project, the water will be turned off at the park during Autumn Park After Dark. Several portable toilets and hand washing stations will be available around the parking areas.

For more information on the various Autumn Park After Dark programs, ticket prices and times, please visit www.baysmountain.com.

About Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Annually, more than 200,000 visitors pass through Bays Mountain Park making it one of the State of Tennessee’s Top 50 Most Visited Attractions, according to the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. One of the nation’s largest city-owned parks with 3,750 acres, Bays Mountain Park features roughly 44 miles of hiking trails, a state-of-the-art planetarium, wildlife habitats, fun exhibits, a 44-acre lake, trails for mountain biking and much, much more. For more information, please visit www.baysmountain.com.

About the City of Kingsport

Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 55,400) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern United States. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,750-acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.” For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.