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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
In celebration of the National Park Service's one-hundredth birthday on August 25, parks across the country are waiving entrance fees from Thursday, August 25 through Sunday,August 28. Public programs and activities are also scheduled throughout the month. "We extend a warm welcome to everyone to come visit Olympic National Park this month," said DeputySuperintendent Lee Taylor. "A wide variety of programs and special events are planned and we invite everyone to come join the birthday party." In addition to the special events described below, park staff offers regularly scheduled talks, evening programs and guided walks throughout the summer. A full listing of these can be found online at https://go.nps.gov/ONPcalendar or in the park's summer newspaper, The Bugler,available free of charge at all park visitor centers and entrance stations. August 15, 16 and 17 Music in the American Wild concerts will be offered at Heart o'the Hills Campground on Monday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m. and on the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center terrace on Tuesday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. The group will also perform musical interludes along the Hoh Rain Forest's Hall of Mosses Trail on Wednesday, August 17 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The concerts are free, but normal park entrance fees apply. August 10 through September 4 Junior Plein Air Watercolor Contest This summer, artists of all ages have been invited to express themselves through watercolor on 'Watercolor Wednesdays' at Lake Crescent. Younger artists, aged 1 through 18 years, were invited to enter their paintings in a Junior Plein Air Watercolor Contest. Over 80 paintings were entered and are on display in the Storm King Ranger.Station. Visitors are invited to stop by Storm King between now and August 20 and vote for their favorites. The Ranger Station will be open Wednesday through Sunday, August 10 –14 and Wednesday through Saturday, August 17 –20. The artists are divided into three age categories—1-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-18 years. The first place painting in each category will be displayed at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center on August 24 during the free public Paint the Peninsula artists' reception. Following the reception, all Junior Plein Air Watercolors will be on display at the StormKing Ranger Station Wednesdays through Saturdays through September 4. August 20 Centennial Olympics Come compete in the Centennial Olympics! Drop by the Kalaloch Ranger Station between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for an afternoon of games and activities. August 20 through 28 Send a Birthday Card to the National Park Service Stop by the Kalaloch Ranger station to send a Centennial birthday card to the National Park Service. Cards and a special ranger cabin mailbox for posting birthday wishes will be available at the Kalaloch Ranger Station daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. August 23 Paint the Peninsula Artists at Work– various locations throughout the park; all day August 24 Paint the Peninsula Artist Demonstrations Watch and talk with plein air artists as they demonstrate their skills.
Paint the Peninsula Reception and Awards Presentation–6:00 p.m. –8:00 p.m. at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Boulevard, Port Angeles. This free reception is opent o all to view paintings created within Olympic National Park, including the Junior Plein Air Watercolors, and visit with artists and Olympic National Park staff. August 25 Paint the Peninsula Artist Demonstrations at Lake Crescent Watch and talk with plein air artists as they demonstrate their skills.
Drop-In Birthday Party at Storm King Ranger Station–10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Stop by the ranger station for some birthday fun, anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. All activities are free of charge.
Storytelling at NatureBridge Campus on Lake Crescent 7:00 p.m., Parking available at NatureBridge Campus or Storm King Ranger Station. Free of charge. Join professional storytellers Ingrid Nixon and Rebecca Horn for stories of parks, people and cake! Come with your own story to share, as the second half of the program will offer an opportunity for people to share their own stories about anational park experience. Birthday cake and refreshments will be served at intermission. Centennial Celebration and Program at Kalaloch Campground Amphitheater - 8:00 p.m. Take a journey through the last hundred years of Olympic National Park and the National Park Service. This free one-hour evening program will conclude with a birthday cake and celebration. August 27 Centennial Olympics at Kalaloch Come compete in the Centennial Olympics! Drop by the Kalaloch Ranger Station between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for an afternoon of games and activities. Free. For information about visiting Olympic National Park, people should visit nps.gov/olym or follow the park on Twitter @OlympicNP, on Facebook at OlympicNPS and Instagram@olympicnationalpark, and subscribe to the park's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/olympicnationalpark |
Last updated: August 11, 2016