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.

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.

2024

May 11: Stargazing Night Cost: Members $5, non-members $8 per show. Virginia Skies Time: 6:00pm A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer. Recommended for all ages. Virginia Skies tickets Laser Taylor Swift Time: 7:00pm Calling all Swifties! Come see your favorite artist in a new laser light! We’ve coupled some of Taylor’s greatest hits to awesome laser animations – don’t miss it! Recommended ages 6 and up Show Playlist Our Song You Belong with Me Enchanted I Knew You Were Trouble Blank Space Style Wildest Dreams Look What You Made Me Do Cruel Summer August Willow Anti-Hero Shake It Off Laser Taylor Swift Tickets Laseropolis Time: 8:30pm Recommended: ages 6 and up A mind-blowing mix of music and equally dazzling laser effects come together to make a truly awesome laser experience. Jam to bands like Oasis, Future Sounds of London, Emerson Lake & Palmer and so much more. Ancient towers hide the symbols that will transport you to new experiences of sight and sounds. Should you survive the journey through the four space-time pillars, a portal will be opened into a previously unseen and unheard dimension! Laseropolis is an eclectic mix of musical themes surveying pop, rock, alternative and oldies. Show Playlist Karn Evil 9 by Emerson, Lake and Palmer Head Over Feet by Alanis Morrisette Rock Lobster by The B52s Firestarter by Prodigy Under the Milky Way by The Church Papua New Guinea by Future Sounds of London Spiderwebs by No Doubt Foreplay by Boston Champagne Supernova by Oasis End of the World (As We Know It) by REM Torn by Creed Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana One of These Days by Pink Floyd Laseropolis Tickets Pink Floyd's The Wall Time: 10pm Recommended: ages 15 and above 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. 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 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 The Wall Tickets Warning: Please be advised that laser shows contain bright, sometimes flashing lights and loud music. This experience is not recommended for guests who are highly sensitive to light and noise.
June 8: Stargazing Night Cost: Members $5, non-members $8 per show. Virginia Skies Time: 6:00pm A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer. Recommended for all ages. Virginia Skies Tickets Laser Spirit Time: 7:00 pm Recommended: ages 6 and above Celebrate our great nation and her heroes with this dazzling mix of music of and inspired by America. Enjoy hits from Lee Greenwood, Kansas, The Beatles, Gloria Estefan and many others! Enjoy laser fireworks in the cool of the Abbitt Planetarium! Show Playlist Summon the Heroes by John Williams Beautiful Day by U2 Music by Madonna Beatles Medley by The Beatles Reach by Gloria Estefan Santorini by Yanni Rock Lobster by The B52s Birds Fly by Icicle Works Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas Patriotic Medley including Aaron Copeland & Lee Greenwood Laser Spirit Tickets Laser Aerosmith Time: 8:30pm Laser Aerosmith features hits by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers including “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way,” “Dream On,” “Back in the Saddle,” and “Train Kept A-Rollin’.” The songs may be retro, but the light displays and multimedia experience are state of the art. Show Playlist Sweet Emotion Livin’ on the Edge Jaded Janie’s Got a Gun Walk this Way Dude (Looks Like a Lady) Dream On Angel’s Eye Train Kept a-Rollin’ Love in an Elevator Back in the Saddle What Kind of Love are You On Laser Aerosmith 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 Speak to Me Breathe On the Run Time The Great Gig in the Sky Money Us and Them Any Colour You Like Brain Damage Eclipse Dark Side of the Moon Tickets Warning: Please be advised that laser shows contain bright, sometimes flashing lights and loud music. This experience is not recommended for guests who are highly sensitive to light and noise.
July 13: Stargazing Night Cost: Members $5, non-members $8 per show. Virginia Skies Time: 6pm A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer. Recommended for all ages. Virginia Skies tickets Laser Tribute Time: 7pm Recommended: ages 6 and above Pay tribute to the great artists we’ve lost (some much too soon!) in this wonderful program. Featuring music by Queen, David Bowie, Michael Jackson and more, this show has something for everyone to enjoy. Show Playlist Beat It – Michael Jackson Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix Neon Knights – Black Sabbath Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen Imagine – John Lennon Space Oddity – David Bowie I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston Break on Through – Jim Morrison Let’s Go Crazy – Prince Laser Tribute tickets Killer Queen Time: 8:30pm Recommended: ages 15 and above Start with a layer of heavy metal, add a dash of glam, a pinch of astrophysics, and sprinkle liberally with theatrics. Only then will you get a sense of what makes us the legendary Queen, the band who are often touted as being the most educated rock band to ever live. Freddie Mercury put it best when he said “The whole point of Queen was to be original. We’re a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules. It’s unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear.” Show Playlist We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions Bicycle Race Don’t Stop Me Now Another One Bites the Dust I Want to Break Free Under Pressure Killer Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Radio Gaga Princes of the Universe The Show Must Go On Killer Queen tickets Pink Floyd's The Wall Time: 10pm Recommended: ages 15 and above 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. Show 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 The Wall tickets Warning: Please be advised that laser shows contain bright, sometimes flashing lights and loud music. This experience is not recommended for guests who are highly sensitive to light and noise.
August 10: Stargazing Night Cost: Members $5, non-members $8 per show. Virginia Skies Time: 6pm A live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer. Recommended for all ages. Virginia Skies tickets ElectroPop Time: 7pm Recommended: ages 6 and above Hear some of today’s hottest pop artists combined with awesome laser effects! This combination of electronic pop music and visual thrills will have you shaking in your seat. A great show for the entire family. This program is family-friendly: Inappropriate song lyrics have been eliminated or blanked. Show Playlist Applause by Lady Gaga Turn Down for What by Lil Jon & DJ Snake Pompeii by Bastille Red Lights by Tiesto Royals by Lorde #SELFIE by The Chainsmokers This is How We Do by Katy Perry Happy by Pharrell Williams Tongue Tied by Grouplove Get Lucky by Daft Punk Neon Lights by Demi Lovato Ten Feet Tall by Afrojack & Wrabel ElectroPop tickets Laser Zeppelin Time: 8:30 pm Recommended: ages 15 and above Almost a full hour of amazing rock with Led Zeppelin. See incredible laser images custom-created for awesome songs like Kashmir, No Quarter, Over the Hills and Far Away and many more. Led Zeppelin is proclaimed by many critics to be the progenitors of heavy metal and hard rock, and their individualistic style reset the standards for many musical genres in the 1960s and ‘70s. Indeed, they have been hailed as one of the most successful, innovative and influential bands, alongside Pink Floyd, U2 and the Beatles. Now you can relive the magical sounds of Led Zeppelin while enjoying a visual treat of custom laser imagery. Many of these songs contain lyrics some parents may find objectionable. Please be aware that volume levels during our Laser Zeppelin program will be high and the imagery can be intense. Show Playlist Song Remains the Same Over the Hills and Far Away Good Times, Bad Times Immigrant Song No Quarter Black Dog Livin’ Lovin’ Maid Kashmir Stairway to Heaven Whole Lotta Love Rock ‘n’ Roll Laser Zeppelin 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 Speak to Me Breathe On the Run Time The Great Gig in the Sky Money Us and Them Any Colour You Like Brain Damage Eclipse Dark Side of the Moon tickets Warning: Please be advised that laser shows contain bright, sometimes flashing lights and loud music. This experience is not recommended for guests who are highly sensitive to light and noise.