Cyprus will become the heart of lunar celebration on July 27, as it hosts the flagship event for International Moon Day across all of Europe.
“This year’s International Moon Day celebration in Cyprus marks a significant moment: Cyprus has been chosen to host the preeminent event across Europe. Witness the first-of-its-kind space film festival in Cyprus as we celebrate humanity’s ongoing lunar exploration,” a press release by the organisers says.
It is noted that the United Nations declared July 20th as International Moon Day (IMD), an annual celebration of lunar exploration and cooperation. Proposed by the Moon Village Association (MVA) and backed by the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the IMD was officially adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2021. The announcement itself held special significance: Hosted by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) in Nicosia, it highlighted the nation’s role as a founding member of the IMD initiative.
“And this year we proudly host in Cyprus the Pan-European celebration. The International Moon Day Cosplay Beach Party serves as a testament to the spirit of international collaboration and shared passion for space exploration” the press release adds.
July 20th, commemorates the historic moment humanity first set foot on the Moon in 1969 with Neil Armstrong’s lunar landing.
“With renewed lunar exploration underway, International Moon Day serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful international collaboration in exploring our celestial neighbor and establishing permanent scientific outposts on its surface”, it points out.
In addition, on Thursday 25 July, the CSEO International Space Film Festival will take place with a series of specially selected short films on the topic of Space at the Cyprus Space Research Centre in Nicosia.
The International Moon Day Cosplay Beach Party, the Pan-European celebration of lunar exploration, will take place on Saturday, July 27th, from 14:00 onwards at the Lebay Hotel in Oroklini, Larnaka.
The event will include fun activities for all sci-fi fans, beachside fun and cosplay prizes for the whole family.
The Cyprus News Agency is the media sponsor of the event.