Stargazing/Laser Evenings

Stargazing

The Virginia Living Museum offers free stargazing beginning at sunset on the second Saturday of every month. Stargazing is weather dependent. Several telescopes are set up on the grounds and staff astronomers are available to help visitors identify objects in the night sky.

Due to the close proximity, guests are required to wear masks while operating the telescope.

NOTE: The evening also includes a planetarium program and several laser shows. Shows are $5 for VLM members, $8 for non-members.

Laser Nights

Looking for some Saturday night fun? Start with a planetarium program. Then experience a sensory extravaganza as laser shows provide music to both the eyes and ears every second Saturday of the month. The museum has an incredible laser system that splashes brilliant high-color LED laser light all across the entire surface of the dome. It’s the most amazing light show you’ve ever seen! Plus, there’s music to suit every taste. Different bands are featured every month.

Cost: Members $5, non-members $8 per show.

July 9: Stargazing Night

Virginia Skies

Time: 6pm

A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer.

Recommended for all ages.

Purchase Virginia Skies Tickets

Laseropolis

Time: 7pm

Experience an amazing journey through music paired with stunning laser animations.

Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Show Playlist

Karn Evil 9 by Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Head Over Feet by Alanis Morrisette

Rock Lobster by The B-52s

Firestarter by Prodigy

Under the Milky Way by The Church

Papua New Guinea by The Future Sounds of London

Spiderwebs by No Doubt

Foreplay by Boston

Champagne Supernova by Oasis

The End of the World by REM

Torn by Creed

Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

One of These Days by Pink Floyd

Purchase Laseropolis tickets

Rush 2112

Time: 8:30pm

Recommended: ages 15 and above

Over forty years ago the three prophets of Rush foretold an intergalactic war on their prog-rock album, 2112. They predicted that in the year 2062, the universe will finally find peace — and oppression — as the Solar Federation unifies warring planets and instates the music-hating Priests of the Temples of Syrinx as overlords. Everything will change, however, in 2112 when an optimistic free-thinker finds a “strange musical device” and martyrs himself while attempting to bring melody to the stars.

Show Playlist

‘“2112””
- I. Overture
- II. The Temples of Syrinx
- III. Discovery
- IV. Presentation
- V. Oracle: The Dream
- VI. Soliloquy
- VII. Grand Finale

A Passage to Bangkok
The Twilight Zone
Lessons
Tears
Something for Nothing

Purchase Laseropolis tickets

The Wall

Time: 10pm

The Wall is best considered as a continual story rather than a collection of individual songs. It tells the tale of a rock star named Pink and his downward spiral into madness. To the listener, and indeed many critics, The Wall is a gripping and spellbinding musical journey – beautiful, haunting, powerful and thought provoking. It is a timeless classic, and one of Pink Floyd’s best, becoming the group’s second best seller behind Dark Side of the Moon.

Now coupled with spectacular and mesmerizing laser art, Pink Floyd’s classic 1979 epic about personal struggle takes on a unique look, weaving its story in one of the most popular laser shows ever produced! Visitors will become lost and spellbound as their senses join this timeless journey.

Please note that we do not recommend this program for children under the age of 15.

Some of these songs contain lyrics some parents may find objectionable.

Please be aware that volume levels during our Pink Floyd program will be high and the imagery can be intense.

Playlist

In the Flesh
The Thin Ice
Another Brick in the Wall (Part I)
The Happiest Days of Our Lives
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
Mother
Goodbye Blue Sky

Empty Spaces
Young Lust
Another Brick in the Wall (Part III)
Hey You
Comfortably Numb
Stop
The Trial

Purchase The Wall tickets

August 13: Stargazing Night

Virginia Skies

Time: 6pm

A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer.

Recommended for all ages.

Purchase Virginia Skies Tickets

Laser Genesis

Time: 7pm

Rock on to the incredible sounds of one of the 80s hottest bands, and even a few songs by members who went solo!

Recommended for ages 6 and up

Show Playlist

Turn It On Again

Invisible Touch

Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel)

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

Land of Confusion

Mama

Sussudio

Follow You, Follow Me

In The Air Tonight

Abacab

Purchase Laser Genesis tickets

Laser Queen

Time: 8:30pm
Recommended: ages 15 and above

There can be only one… Laser Queen! Since its World Premiere at Pacific Science Center, Laser Queen has been an instantclassic for audiences of all ages. Queen perfected the art of creating the most epic, and immortal rock anthems of all time. Freddie Mercury may be gone, but the Queen saga lives on! The rock will be loud, emotions high, and LASER light bright when we play all the sing-along hits: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and of course “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Playlist

Stone Cold Crazy
Princes of the Universe
Killer Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are the Champions
Fat Bottomed Girls
Under Pressure
We Will Rock You

Bicycle Race
Another One Bites the Dust
Best Friend
Flash
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Somebody to Love
I Want it All

Purchase Killer Queen tickets

Dark Side of the Moon

Time: 10pm

Recommended: ages 15 and above

From the very beginning of lasers, this album has represented the ultimate in laser show experiences. And it’s still true today. Join us for the seminal laser show experience with one of the most incredible albums of all time. Considered by many critics to be the album that brought the commercial breakthrough to Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon offers a mixture of psychedelic, rock and jazz sounds. Its sonic backdrops and atmospheric soundscapes combined with a unique assortment of sound effects yield an emotional resonance. When accompanied by a diverse and unusual display of laser art, the overall feel is a dramatic and haunting atmosphere.

Some of these songs contain lyrics some parents may find objectionable. Please be aware that volume levels during our Pink Floyd program will be high and the imagery can be intense.

Show Playlist