Entry No. 61 — the Boulder file — filed under: after-dark
Fiske Planetarium Late Laser & Liquid Sky Shows
Fiske sits under a 65-foot dome, billed as the largest planetarium between Chicago and Los Angeles, with reclining seats for 200. Beyond the science full-dome films, the lineup includes Liquid Sky and laser shows set to music that wash the whole dome in color overhead. The late music shows land on weekend evenings, so you can pair a cosmos trek with a trippier set under the stars. Check the calendar for showtimes.
The story
Tucked onto the CU Boulder campus at 2414 Regent Drive sits a 65-foot dome—the largest planetarium spanning the vast stretch between Chicago and Los Angeles. By day, Fiske runs the standard planetarium playbook with fulldome science films and star talks. But on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, the academic tone drops, the house lights go down, and the dome transforms into an overhead visual canvas for late-night laser and Liquid Sky music shows.
Instead of standard star maps, the projector washes liquid painted skies and laser arrays over 200 reclining seats. Show lineups rotate through themed sets like Laser Floyd, Laser Gaga, Liquid Sky Prince, and Twenty One Pilots, melting music across the full curve of the ceiling while you lie flat on your back in the dark.
What it's like
Show up between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on a weekend night, but secure your tickets online beforehand via colorado.edu/fiske. Once inside, pick a middle recliner to get the full field-of-view effect, tilt your chair back, and let your eyes adjust before the 65-foot dome lights up overhead.
The move: Grab seats for a late 9 p.m. laser show and lie back as the entire dome melts into music and color above the two of you.
📍 Before you go Show schedule rotates; buy tickets ahead via colorado.edu/fiske. Doors and evening hours run roughly 6:30-10 p.m. Thu-Sat.
- 📍 CU Boulder campus, Boulder
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2414 Regent Dr, Boulder, CO 80309
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Sommers-Bausch Observatory Friday Open House — Walk right over to the observing deck behind Fiske on Friday nights to swap the artificial laser dome for views through 20-inch real-world telescopes.
- The Sink — Head 0.8 miles over to University Hill for a post-show drink in a sunken basement tavern that's been open since 1923.
- Columbia Cemetery — Match your night under the laser dome with an afternoon stroll through Boulder's 1870 pioneer burial ground just over a mile away.
Good to know
When do the late music shows take place?
Evening hours run roughly 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the late music and laser sets landing on weekend nights.
What music themes are featured?
The lineup rotates regularly, featuring acts ranging from classic laser staples like Laser Floyd to Liquid Sky Prince, Laser Gaga, and Twenty One Pilots.
Do I need to buy tickets ahead of time?
Yes. Show schedules rotate and popular late-night weekend sets fill up, so booking in advance online is strongly advised.
How large is the planetarium?
Fiske features a 65-foot dome and seating for 200 people, making it the largest planetarium facility between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: colorado.edu · Wikipedia · calendar.colorado.edu · bouldercoloradousa.com
last checked: 2026-06-23