Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta returns in DIY

The Gunungkidul Regency Tourism Office has once gain held the Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta. The festival was held at the Embung Nglanggeran Amphitheater in Kapanewon Patuk, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) in July 18–20, 2025.

This year's edition of the series of events, namely Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta Vol. 7.0, was held with "The Geopark Symphony" as its theme.

The Mount Sewu United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geopark area spans three regencies, namely Gunungkidul in DIY, Wonogiri in Central Java Province, and Pacitan in East Java Province, with a total of 33 geosites.

Of those geosites, 13 are located in Gunungkidul Regency, including the Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano which has become a world-renowned geopark icon.

The UN agency classified UNESCO Global Geoparks as areas with impressive geological, archeological, ecological, and cultural phenomena.

Gunungkidul Regency Tourism Office Head Oneng Windu Wardana stated that Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta aims to increase the recognition of the Mount Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark at both the national and international levels.

"Not only will it be [more] recognized, but it will also have a positive impact on the welfare of the Gunungkidul community," he said when contacted by phone on July 20, 2025.

Windu added that this event was a collaboration between the Gunungkidul Regency Government, Yogyakarta's Special Fund through the Mount Sewu strategic spatial unit, and the DIY Agriculture and Food Security Office.

This year, Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta Vol. 7.0 is again included in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar of cultural festivals.

Windu stated that the festival was expected to help with preservation of the Mount Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark's geodiversity and biodiversity.

Furthermore, it also aimed to raise public and tourist awareness about the importance of preserving the UNESCO Global Geopark area, provide promotional opportunities for local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and geo-products, as well as inspire the youth through education and Mount Sewu Geopark-themed creative competitions.

"Thus, we also provide education to students about the geopark, so it's not just about visiting [the UNESCO Global Geopark area]. The hope is so the geopark will continue to be sustained," Windu said.

Gunungkidul Geopark Night Specta 7.0 was also expected to encourage the local community to participate in preserving the Mount Sewu Geopark as their heritage. The festival also introduced the UNESCO Global Geopark's cultural wealth.

"Today there's a local chocolate processing competition, so we can continue to explore our local potential," said Windu on July 20, 2025.

The event began with a Geopark poster competition for middle and high schools, followed by tree planting, local arts, a talk show, and a gamelan orchestra concert.

In addition, there were musical performances featuring DIY musicians, including Letto and Hasan, as well as local musicians from Gunungkidul.

The government also distributed 50,000 cocoa seedlings to farmer groups in the kapanewons of Patuk, Ponjong, Karangmojo, Playen, and Panggang to support a 50-hectares land rejuvenation program.

On September 19, 2015, Gunung Sewu was named the second member of the Global Geopark Networks from Indonesia, at “The 4th Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN), San'in Kaigan Symposium”, Tottori-Japan.