Free stargazing tonight

Philadelphia has a free stargazing party tonight at Independence National Historical Park, with telescopes and family activities set up near the Liberty Bell Center. (visitphilly.com) Visit Philadelphia lists the event for Monday, April 13, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as part of its weekly roundup of city events. The listing says admission is free and describes it as a family-friendly option during the Easter-week calendar. (visitphilly.com) The gathering is centered at one of Philadelphia’s busiest historic sites. The Liberty Bell Center is at 526 Market Street, and the National Park Service says admission to the building is free and first-come, first-served during regular hours. (nps.gov) Independence National Historical Park is the block where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and signed, and where the Liberty Bell is displayed today. The National Park Service calls the site a preserve of national symbols of freedom and democracy. (nps.gov) That setting gives the event an unusual backdrop: a skywatch on the lawn beside a landmark most visitors see in daylight. The Liberty Bell Center normally closes at 5 p.m., so the evening program shifts attention outdoors, near the bell rather than inside it. (nps.gov) The weather forecast could help turnout. The National Weather Service forecast for Philadelphia on Monday calls for a high near 79 degrees and mostly cloudy conditions Monday night. (weather.gov) The event also lands at the start of a spring week when Philadelphia tourism promoters are steering families toward low-cost outings, food festivals and museum programming across the city. Visit Philadelphia updated its weekly guide on April 12 with events running from April 13 through April 19. (visitphilly.com) For anyone deciding at the last minute, the pitch is simple: show up Monday night, look up, and do it a few steps from the Liberty Bell. (visitphilly.com)