Skip the crowded restaurants—Valentine’s goes cosmic
The University of Texas at Arlington Planetarium is setting the Valentine’s Day mood with its annual “Romancing The Stars” event, offering an out-of-this-world alternative to crowded restaurants.
UTA’s Planetarium provides guests with a 60-foot dome viewing experience with surround sound and state-of-the-art Digistar 7 software that provides unparalleled views of the night sky, the solar system, stars and distant galaxies.
Three Valentine’s Day-specific shows are scheduled: 3 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Friday; and 6 p.m. Saturday. General admission is $15 for the Friday afternoon show and $40 for the evening shows, which include a reception beginning an hour before showtime with appetizers and a cash bar. The evening shows will feature live music, and after Saturday’s event, guests can stay for a planetarium presentation set to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
“Our ‘Romancing the Stars’ events have become a huge hit with guests,” said McKenna Dowd, UTA Planetarium coordinator. “People have been looking up at the night sky for thousands of years, connecting the stars to make pictures and tell stories from the beauty of a starry night. So, in a way, we’ve been telling love stories in our night sky for as long as people have been looking up at the stars, which I think is where the romance comes from it all.”
For those unable to attend this weekend, UTA’s Planetarium is open most Saturdays with a variety of shows offered throughout the day for guests of all ages.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.