Yuri's Night | The World Space Party – Connecting people with each other, their dreams and spaceship earth.

Exactly two weeks remain until Monday, April 12th, the traditional date of Yuri’s Night, which means it’s really time for us to start picking up the pace. (Most Yuri’s Night events are being held on Saturday the 10th, making our schedule even more packed.) Over the next 14 days, we’ll be posting some really exciting Yuri’s Night announcements, including some nifty partnerships we’re making, our biggest and best plans yet for bringing Yuri’s Night parties together–and, of course, Party Profiles for Yuri’s Night events around the world.

As of today, we have 132 parties officially registered in nearly 50 countries, from Argentina to Vietnam, on every continent except for Antarctica. As a reminder, it’s completely and totally free to register a Yuri’s Night event, so even if you’re just meeting with a group of friends for a backyard barbecue or night at the local bar, feel free to register and make yourself heard as you celebrate space exploration. (Of course, you can describe your event however you like once you register.)

As always, we’re looking for great new ways to keep you informed of what’s happening with YN, so if you missed them the first time, don’t forget to check out:

• The Yuri’s Night Twitter feed (@yurisnight), where we post news updates and cool announcements, such as the recent rebroadcast of Yuri’s Night’s appearance on Ace of Cakes
• The Yuri’s Night Podcast series, featuring toasts to Yuri’s Night from such luminaries as Korean astronaut Soyeon Yi, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson and the NGLLC X-PRIZE-winning Masten Space Systems
• The (free!) Yuri’s Night iPhone/iPod Touch application, which includes links to both the YN Twitter feed and podcast series, as well as a countdown clock and party map and list

And, of course, keep checking this blog for the latest news. Good luck with your events and Rock The Planet!

Yuri’s Night is rapidly approaching, but we have a lot of fantastic events to profile before it’s all said and done. Here’s our second Party Profile from Ohio, for Yuri’s Night Dayton. Instead of breaking it down into a few paragraphs of text, we’re just posting their flyer so you can see everything in one fell swoop:

In case you’re using translation software or you’re blocking images on your browser, here’s the text of the flyer:

AT THE BOONSHOFT MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY // DAYTON, OH // 6:30 PM
• Phillips Space Theater, Movie Night:
– Phantoms from Space @ 7pm
– October Sky @ 8:30pm
• Hall of the Universe – Exhibits
• Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks
• Apollo Observatory Sky Observations, weather permitting
• Ample onsite parking
(Children’s Museum will be closed)

Admission:
$10 – under 21 (no alcohol)
$15 – Young Professionals
$20 – Others

For many space enthusiasts, especially those who were lucky enough to go to Space Camp as a kid (or adult!), Huntsville, Alabama is a city whose name is synonymous with science and space exploration. Home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville is a natural fit for a big annual Yuri’s Night event, and they’ve had some impressive parties in years past.

Yuri’s Night Huntsville has two parts this year: the main “World Space Party”, and the VIP “Permission To Dream Big” reception immediately preceding it. The VIP reception, organized primarily for young professionals, will bring Huntsville’s future leaders together with current titans of space, science, technology and policy. Confirmed celebrity guests at the VIP reception include:

• Homer Hickham, former NASA engineer and best-selling author of Rocket Boys and other novels
• Owen Garriott, former NASA astronaut (Skylab 3, STS-9)
• Mike Griffin, UA-Huntsville professor and former NASA Administrator
• Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville, Alabama

as well as Marty Kress, Christopher “Gus” Loria, Ed Buckbee, Steve Cook and other space luminaries. Attendance is limited (though tickets are still available!), allowing for plenty of time for attendees to interact one-on-one over hors d’oeuvres and drinks on the Saturn Terrace of the Davison Center.

Immediately after the VIP reception, all are invited to Yuri’s Night Huntsville’s “World Space Party”, taking place in the Davison Center’s Saturn Hall. Attendees will dance under the original Saturn V test rocket until midnight to the performances of local band DiscOasis. A large projection screen at one end of the hall will broadcast Yuri’s Night events from around the world, and contests will be held for the best space-themed costumes in attendance. Cash bars, Yuri’s Night merchandise, and free snacks and telescope viewings will also be available.

Yuri’s Night Huntsville takes place on Thursday, April 10, from 5:30 – 7 PM (VIP reception) and 7 PM – midnight (World Space Party). Tickets for the World Space Party are $21 ($25 at the door), and some tickets are still available for the VIP reception at $105 (including free WSP admission). To purchase tickets for YN Huntsville, get directions to the Davison Center, or find out more about the event, visit their website at http://www.yurisnighthsv.org/.

YN Huntsville is a project of the Huntsville Alabama L5 Society and CAJA Friends, a program dedicated to helping abused and neglected children in Huntsville’s Madison County. All proceeds from Yuri’s Night Huntsville will go directly towards building the capacity for CAJA to serve more children.