Events

Stars & S'mores 2026

Our popular annual Stars & S'mores event is back. Tickets sell out quickly!

Join us for s'mores around the campfire, stargazing through powerful telescopes, live birds, live music, lawn games, beer and hard cider, a Ben & Jerry's gourmet hot chocolate bar, an open Canyon Floor Trail for self-guided exploration, and our new mini escape room activity.

WHEN: SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026 | 6p-9p

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

TICKET SALES END: Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

PLEASE NOTE PARKING INFORMATION BELOW!!

PAID ticket levels include:

Telescope viewing (provided by volunteer astronomers)
Live birds (presented by Window to the Wild and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament - Dallas)
Live music (with Courtney Prater Music)
Hot chocolate bar (by Ben & Jerry's)
2 beers or hard ciders of your choice (when purchasing a ticket that includes alcohol)
Make-Your-Own S'mores
Lawn games
Gift shop discounts
Access to the Canyon Floor Trail
Access to our new mini escape room activity

We are not offering guided hikes as part of this event in 2026.

Southern Roots Brewing Co will be offering additional pours that may be purchased onsite.

The following tickets are free and for limited use. They grant entry only and do not include S'mores, hot chocolate, or beverages.

Young Child - only for ages 2 and under
Caregiver for Disabled Person - only for a caregiver who is providing assistance to a person with a disability.

IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION:

The entry to the Dogwood Canyon parking lot will be managed to direct traffic accordingly. The parking lot at Dogwood Canyon is available only to volunteers, vendors, and those who meet the handicap parking requirements below.
PARKING IS AT HILLCREST BAPTIST CHURCH, which is about 1.25 miles away. Set your navigation to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 265 W Pleasant Run, Cedar Hill, Texas 75104. Use the parking lot areas along FM1382 and Strauss Rd. Do not park in the secondary lot behind the church. Shuttle vans and buses will transport attendees between the church parking lot and Dogwood Canyon.
If you have a valid handicap placard or license plate and intend to park at the center rather than use the shuttles:
- You must have a handicap parking ticket (free); and
- Be prepared to show your ticket and handicap placard when arriving at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center at 1206 W FM 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104..
The circle parking lot will be closed for the safety of guests and our volunteers with telescopes.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All ticket sales and gift shop purchases directly support Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, an operation of National Audubon Society, Inc., a non-profit organization. Ticket sales are not considered tax-deductible and help cover our costs of holding the event. To further support our center, please consider adding a contribution to your ticket purchase.

REFUNDS, TICKET TRANSFERS, AND INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICIES

--Refunds: Due to the limited nature of the event, tickets are not refundable.

--Transfers: Tickets are non-transferable.

--Weather: Please note that this event is weather-dependent. Telescope viewing is dependent on weather and sky conditions. S'mores are dependent on our ability to safely manage contained fires within the forest. Other activities may have limited resources and, therefore, are subject to depletion and availability.

--Cancellation: If the event is canceled due to weather, please consider your ticket purchase to be a contribution to Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, a non-profit operation of National Audubon Society, Inc., federal tax ID number 13-1624102.

When placing your order, please use a valid e-mail address. We will communicate any cancellations or changes via e-mail.

VENDOR INFORMATION

We appreciate our vendors and partners:

Links above are not managed by Audubon. Inclusion of a link does not imply any endorsement, agreement, or relationship between Audubon and the linked content.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please read above to see if your question has been answered. Other common questions are:

What else is nearby? Can I make a weekend out of a visit to Cedar Hill?
- Cedar Hill is an excellent staycation destination with hotels, shopping, dining, outdoor recreation, an historic downtown, entertainment and more.
- Our preserve is part of The Great Greenway.
- We recommend using the Visit Cedar Hill TX website to plan your weekend and find lodging.
- For those interested in camping (tent and RV), we are located next door to Cedar Hill State Park.
Are restrooms available?
- Public restrooms are available at the building. Go up the ramp and make a right turn on the verandah. The doors to the restrooms are on the outside of the building, next to the water fountain.
Is this event handicap accessible?
- Our facility is ADA-compliant. Vehicles with handicap placards or license plates will be permitted to park in Dogwood Canyon's parking lot. The parking lot is comprised of gravel and crushed granite. Our sidewalks in front of the building have been upgraded to concrete. The telescopes will be located around the concrete circle driveway. However, use of the telescopes will depend on the individual's capabilities. S'mores and lawn games will be in the Nature Play area, which is a natural/dirt surface area, but is primarily flat. There is some outdoor seating available in this area, mostly picnic tables, some with wheelchair access. Some activities may be held in classrooms in the building, which can be reached by ascending the concrete ramp. Inside the gift shop, the floors are concrete. We have a wheelchair lift for those interested in going up to our indoor Canyon View platform. For those with night vision impairment, please consider your capabilities of walking in a dark forest on uneven terrain and over exposed tree roots. For specific questions regarding handicap accessibility, please contact us at dcac@audubon.org.
Are dogs or other pets welcome?
- Pets are not welcome at this event. Working service animals are permitted. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the animal's function must be directly related to its owner's disability. The task the animal performs must be an observable action. At all times, the animal must be leashed and under the control of its handler. The animal must also be housebroken. The ADA permits us to ask what task or service the animal has been trained to perform and whether the service animal is required because of a disability. We do not require specific information regarding the disability. We may require that the animal be removed from the premises in any of the following circumstances: (i) If the service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it; (ii) the animal is not kept on a leash; or (iii) if the animal is not housebroken.

SUPPORT - VOLUNTEER - DONATE

We have several opportunities for those interested in supporting the event or our center.

Volunteer - If you are interested in volunteering during the event, please contact dcac@audubon.org.
Donate - Individuals interested in contributing to the center may do so online.
Sponsor - Organizations and individuals interested in being recognized for their sponsorship should contact Julie Collins.
Partner - We are interested in working with musicians, artists, food truck vendors, etc for many of our events. If you have a service you are interested in offering, contact dcac@audubon.org.