Pure Michigan’s “Dark Sky” campaign unveils celestial skyscapes to Michigan travelers

• Newest Pure Michigan spot appearing in theaters across the Midwest and on national cable channels • Partnerships with The Weather Channel, Outside Online and Spotify highlighting the beauty of Michigan’s night skies

As the sun goes down and the day ends, a luminous view is presented to the traveler who ventures out after dark. Michigan skies are home to one of the greatest star shows in the United States, and the new Pure Michigan commercial  “Dark Sky” offers viewers a glimpse into these stunning celestial displays. The spot debuted April 5 and will continue to appear in cinemas and on national cable channels across the Midwest through mid-May.

Dark Sky is reinforcing the state of Michigan as a premier travel destination, even after dark. Aimed at elevating awareness of Michigan as a destination for stargazing and viewing of celestial events such as the Northern Lights, the new commercial reaches both young adventurer travelers and families, inspiring them to seek yet another dimension of Michigan’s natural beauty – the night sky.  

“Our state offers Michiganders and travelers from across the country a stargazing experience that is unmatched,” said Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the state’s official agency for promotion of tourism. “Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula in particular, offers optimal night sky viewing conditions and the best opportunity for sky tourists to view the Milky Way, the aurora borealis and more in their purest form.”

Dark Sky will air before the start of PG and PG-13 movies playing in 261 cinemas across 2,021 screens in Michigan as well as Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is also showing on 12 cable channels nationally.

As part of the Dark Sky campaign, Pure Michigan is partnering with The Weather Channel to promote coverage of live meteorological events including the Aquarids Meteor Shower and the Full Strawberry Moon. In addition, Pure Michigan is continuing its successful partnership with Outside Online  to highlight Michigan’s night skies. Custom content promoting the campaign will also be delivered to users via Spotify overlay advertisements. Residents and visitors travelling Michigan highways can soon expect to see digital billboards showcasing the Dark Sky messaging, offering brilliant views of Michigan’s skyscapes. 

As home to state-designated Dark Sky Preserves  located within six state parks, Michigan offers ample opportunity for stargazing. Dark Sky Preserves are protected against outdoor lighting fixtures and limit the use of lights by park-goers, ensuring little to no interference for the viewing of celestial happenings for years to come. In addition, Headlands International Dark Sky Park  in Mackinaw City is the only internationally designated preserve in the state and provides an exceptional environment for viewing night sky wonders.

For more information on the Dark Sky campaign, to find dark sky locations and to learn inside secrets for optimal stargazing, visit the Dark Sky landing page .

This was written as a press release for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. View the digital version here.