Lowell Observatory Announces Schedule for I Heart Pluto Festival
Flagstaff, Arizona – The Seventh Annual I Heart Pluto Festival runs from February 12-16, 2026. This year’s theme, “Mother Road to the Stars,” celebrates Pluto’s deep ties to historic Route 66 and Flagstaff’s unique role in the history of planetary discovery. The festival’s signature Night of Discovery event on February 14 will feature an exceptional lineup that includes Dr. Alan Stern, Andy Chaikin, Dr. Chad Trujillo, and Alice Bowman.
The I Heart Pluto Festival begins the evening of February 12 at Mother Road Brewing Company with the dedication of the brewery’s newest Pluto-themed beer—its sixth—and a special Astronomy on Tap program. This kickoff event is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.
On February 13, the popular Pluto Pub Crawl returns. Participants will explore Flagstaff’s finest pubs, bars, and brewhouses, which are serendipitously arranged in the shape of Pluto’s astronomical symbol. Each stop will feature Pluto-inspired drinks and specials, along with science talks, trivia, and activities led by Lowell Observatory astronomers and educators. This event is also free and requires no reservations.
The festival’s marquee event, the Night of Discovery, will take place on Saturday, February 14 at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff. Speakers include:
- Dr. Alan Stern, astronaut and Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto
- Andy Chaikin, acclaimed space historian and author of A Man on the Moon
- Dr. Chad Trujillo, planetary scientist and co-discoverer of the dwarf planet Eris
- Alice Bowman, Mission Operations Manager for New Horizons
Tickets for the Night of Discovery, including an optional VIP reception with the presenters, are available at: https://wl.eventim.us/event/i-heart-pluto/669647?afflky=OrpheumTheater
On Sunday, February 15, Lowell Observatory’s award-winning Astronomy Discovery Center will host an afternoon of science talks led by astronomers and educators. Regular Lowell admission applies.
The festival concludes on Monday, February 16 with the Pluto Birthday Bash, also at the Astronomy Discovery Center. Families can enjoy hands-on science activities, tours, demonstrations, and more. Regular admission applies.
A full festival schedule will be released in January and be posted at iheartpluto.org.
Background of the I Heart Pluto Festival
Flagstaff is often called the “Home of Pluto” because nearly every major research effort surrounding this icy world has ties to northern Arizona—Percival Lowell’s early searches for a ninth planet; Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto on February 18, 1930; Jim Christy’s detection of Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, in 1978; the first observation of Pluto’s atmosphere in 1988; early maps of Pluto’s surface a decade later; the New Horizons flyby of the Pluto system in 2015, and more.
To celebrate this heritage, Lowell Observatory created the I Heart Pluto Festival in 2020. This is a community event that will fall on or near February 18 every year.
###
About Lowell Observatory
Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a renowned nonprofit research institution. It is the site of historic and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expanding universe and the discovery of Pluto. Today, Lowell’s astronomers utilize global ground-based and space telescopes, along with NASA spacecraft, for diverse astronomical and planetary science research. The observatory hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually for educational tours, presentations, and telescope viewing through a suite of world-class public telescopes.
###
Media Contact
Kevin Schindler, Public Information Officer
(928) 233-3210