Date: December 28, 2015
Contact: Ben Helwig, 301-491-6259
Hagerstown, Md. - The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) is wasting no time and kicking the party off locally starting on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2016, with two events along the Canal:
At Great Falls in Potomac, Md., we invite you to start the New Year off right with a hike in the park! Stop by the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center anytime on January 1st for instructions on how to participate in #FirstDayHikes. Hike a trail, find the #FirstDayHikes question, and submit your answer back at the visitor center. Every participant in this New Year’s Day event will earn a special park prize that they can collect at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center after January 1st. Post a photo of your FirstDayHikes adventure on social media and see what others are posting using the hashtags #FirstDayHikes and #FirstDayCOcanal.
Meanwhile, in the Canal Town of WIlliamsport, Md., C&O Canal NHP is a sponsor of the Williamsport Polar Bear Plunge into the Potomac River on January 1, 2016. The event begins at 10 AM and the actual plunge is at noon. The Canal will also be featuring their "Lost Rose Bowl Float", for those of us that cannot make it to Pasadena. For more information, including how to participate, contact the Town of Williamsport, Md. at 301-223-7711.
Throughout 2016, please stay tuned to the Park’s website, www.nps.gov/choh and the Centennial webiste, findyourpark.com, for more events celebrating the Centennial of the National Park Service. Follow us on Facebook at chesapeakeandohiocanal and on Twitter @COcanalNPS
