Telescopes, wine, and a bat-education booth are coming together at Adobe Hill Winery on Saturday, Nov. 14, as the Fallbrook Land Conservancy hosts its second annual Stargazing Among the Vines from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission costs $40, includes one glass of wine, and is limited to people 21 and older, with registration required and tickets capped.
A Night Built Around Dark Skies
The Fallbrook Land Conservancy is inviting community members to the gathering, according to Village News, which reports the event will celebrate the connection between nature, conservation, and shared wonder. Attendees can expect celestial exploration alongside lessons on protecting dark skies, the outlet notes. Temecula Valley Astronomers will lead telescope viewing for the evening, while FLC staff member Donna Leon is set to present on dark sky issues.
Cindy Myers will lead an educational booth focused on bats, and event organizers will have local food available for purchase, per the same report. Adobe Hill Winery sits at 40740 Via Ranchitos in Fallbrook, the site of last year's inaugural version of the fundraiser.
Returning for a Second Year
The winery previously hosted a similar fundraiser in August 2025 in support of the conservancy and its Dark Sky Committee, offering telescope stargazing, science talks, and wine described as grown organically and regeneratively in the region, Village News reported at the time. This year's event follows that same format, built around the shared draw of astronomy and local wine.
Event proceeds will support the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and its Dark Sky Committee's work to protect and preserve local land, according to the outlet. The conservancy hopes the gathering will inspire the community to practice responsible outdoor lighting.
Why the Conservancy Is Watching the Night Sky
The Dark Sky Committee describes its mission as protecting and restoring Fallbrook's natural nightscapes by reducing light pollution and safeguarding nocturnal ecosystems, according to the Fallbrook Land Conservancy. The committee is also pursuing certification as an International Dark Sky Community, the conservancy says. DarkSky International notes that such certification carries no legal or regulatory authority from the organization itself, since participation in the program is voluntary.
Artificial light at night can disrupt the natural behaviors of nocturnal pollinators, migrating birds, and bats, per Village News's reporting on the event. Research from UC Marin Master Gardeners backs up part of that concern, finding that light pollution disturbs the natural navigation nocturnal insects rely on to find food and pollinate plants.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service account adds that studies have shown artificial lighting can affect the behavior of insects and pollinators, which in turn can hinder the ability of plants to produce fruit and reproduce. For Fallbrook's conservancy, that research underpins the push to dim unnecessary lighting even as the community gathers under starlight for a good cause.
