A National Park Hosted a Silent Disco to Keep the Wildlife Happy

Have you ever wanted to dance in a national park without disturbing the wildlife? Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico just hosted a two-day outdoor silent disco during its annual Fall Fiesta.

Music in the Valle took place on September 26 and 27 in front of the park’s Volcano Discovery Center. Twelve New Mexico artists performed throughout the weekend, with music running from noon until 4:30 p.m. each day.

Instead of a traditional speaker setup, the park used a silent disco (each attendee wears designated headphones). The National Park Service says the idea helps cut sound pollution, protecting wildlife and the natural sounds people come to the park to enjoy.

The silent disco itself was free, although regular park entrance fees still applied.

The Wildlife Gets Some Peace And Quiet

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The preserve is home to the second-largest elk herd in New Mexico, with around 2,500 to 3,000 elk using the area during the year. September and October are also mating season for the animals.

During the Fall Fiesta, the park even reminded visitors staying after hours to keep noise down because of the elk rut.

The silent disco let visitors listen without filling the surrounding valleys with loudspeakers. NPS also says the setup gives people with hearing impairments another way to enjoy the performances.

This Isn’t Valles Caldera’s First Silent Disco

In April 2025, Valles Caldera hosted a silent disco during Art in the Park Day. At the time, NPS said the event would make National Park Service history.

That first event included Puebloan, Tribal, and Native Hawaiian artists along with other New Mexico DJs. Silent discos have returned several times since then, including during Winter Fest and other special events at the preserve.

Fall Fiesta Had Plenty More Going On

The 2026 Fall Fiesta also included cultural demonstrations, guest speakers, ranger programs, an artisan village and eruption simulations inside the Volcano Discovery Center.

The park also stayed open until 8 p.m. each night. Visitors could use the extra time for wildlife watching, sunset hikes and stargazing.

Valles Caldera has been an International Dark Sky Park since 2021, so the park also asks visitors to limit unnecessary lights and noise after dark.