Acadia National Park Invites Everyone to #FindYourPark during the Centennial Birthday Month

Date: August 3, 2016
Contact: Lynne Dominy, 207-288-8802

The National Park Service invites visitors of all ages to join in the celebration of its 100^th birthday throughout the month of August.With special events across the country, and free admission to all 412 national parks from August 25 through August 28, the NPS is encouraging everyone to #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParquefor the centennial.

Acadia National Park is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2016 with many community-created events. From the debut of new choral works, to a youth theatre bringing to life the traditional tales of the Wabanaki, to a plethora of art exhibits, to a re-creation of the original speeches given at the first community celebration of Acadia in 1916;events and programs throughout the Downeast area will provide countless ways for families, students, and park-lovers of all ages to discover special park experiences for the centennial. For more information on the Acadia Centennial events, please visit www.acadiacentennial2016.org. Please email inquiries about the Acadia Centennial to [e-mail].

"August –our birthday month –will be a nationwide celebration of national parks, and we're inviting everyone to the party," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis."We like to think that we look pretty good for 100, and with so many events and activities to commemorate this milestone, we hope all Americans will join us to celebrate the breathtaking landscapes and inspiring history in our nation's parks and public lands.Whether it is in a distant state or in your own community, there are hundreds of ways and places to find your park."

On August 27, 2016, join the Acadia Centennial Task Force, the National Park Service, and more than 400 partner organizations on the lawn of Jordan Pond House as we celebrate 100 years of conservation and community stewardship at Acadia National Park and launch the next century of community engagement in our national parks. Highlights will include The Centennial Singers—a chorus of one hundred voices—a ceremony acknowledging the achievements of one hundred Junior Rangers, and special presentations. Events begin promptly at 8:30 am. Free shuttle service will begin at 7 am from Mount Desert Island High School. Parking lots at Jordan Pond House will be closed during this event except for those with accessibility and event permits.

A sampling of park service-wide events is available on the National Park Service website, and many more can be found at FindYourPark.com and EncuentraTuParque.com.

Entrance fees waived for the NPS Birthday through the weekend

Park entrance fees will be waived nationwide from August 25 through August 28 to encourage everyone to celebrate the NPS 100^th birthday.Usually, 127 of the 412 national parks charge entrance fees that range from $3 to $30.The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

To continue the national park adventure beyond these entrance fee free days, the $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 sites, including all national parks, throughout the year. There is also a variety of free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current military members, fourth grade students, and disabled citizens. 

Find Your Park to celebrate the Centennial

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations."

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of that moment and to look ahead to the next 100 years, in early 2015 the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation launched the Find Your Park / Encuentra Tu Parque movement.Inspiring people from all backgrounds to celebrate and support America's national parks and community-based programs, #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation's natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.