How to celebrate National Park Week 2023
Throughout the nine-day celebration, the National Park Service encourages everyone to visit their national parks in person and enjoy a variety of events and activities.
How to celebrate National Park Week
From April 22 to April 30, 2023, celebrate the more than 400 national park locations across the country with a variety of fun National Park Week events, programs and experiences both in person and online.
From April 22nd to April 30th, the National Park Service will host its annual celebration of the country’s more than 400 national parks.
The celebration begins on Saturday – Earth Day – when entrance fees will be waived at all parks. According to the NPS, this is to encourage visitors to enjoy their national parks in person.
![A mountainous landscape is framed by trees at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee during the spring of 2023.]()
Image 1 of 4A mountainous landscape is framed by trees at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee during the spring of 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
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Image 2 of 4North America, USA, Colorado Plateau, Utah, Four Corners, UNESCO, World Heritage, Bryce Canyon, National Park, Thor's hammer,. (Photo by: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
![Mountains tower over a lake at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming during the spring of 2023.]()
Image 3 of 4Mountains tower over a lake at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming during the spring of 2023. (Robert Ray)
![Waves lap at the shore at Big Sur State Park in California during the spring of 2023.]()
Image 4 of 4Waves lap at the shore at Big Sur State Park in California during the spring of 2023. (Robert Ray)
Throughout the nine-day celebration, many national parks across the country have planned a number of events and activities for each day.
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One example is Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, which will host a free Geology Talk on April 23rd to teach park visitors about the geologic story of the canyon. With rocks up to 1.8 billion years old, this natural wonder of the world has a great story to tell.
Tourists stand on a canyon rim at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona during the spring of 2023.
(Robert Ray / FOX Weather)
Additionally, Biscayne National Park in Florida will host its Ranger Program from April 23rd to April 28th. The program allows visitors to hear park rangers talk about historical and natural topics regarding the park, which is home to manatees, sea turtles and many other types of wildlife.
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Diver at Biscayne National Park.
(Shaun Wolfe / NPS / FOX Weather)
On April 29th, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee will host its annual Spring Planting and Music Festival. The festival honors springtime traditions and forgotten arts of the Cumberland Plateau, such as blacksmithing and mountain music.
Waterfall at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
(Sarah Dunlap / NPS / FOX Weather)
Many more events and activities are planned throughout the more than 400 national parks across the country.
As part of the celebration, National Park Week will also include an initiative called "Your Park Story."
The NPS is asking its staff and visitors to share their special connections with places in the national parks, along with the communities where the NPS has programs and partners, online by tagging their posts with #MyParkStory.
Clouds move across a blue sky above Everglades National Park in Florida during the spring of 2023.
(Robert Ray / FOX Weather)
The NPS has even suggested story themes for each day of National Park Week to give storytellers some inspiration:
- April 22nd: Connection
- April 23rd: Discovery
- April 24th: Accomplishment
- April 25th: Tradition
- April 26th: Gratitude
- April 27th: Ingenuity
- April 28th: Inspiration
- April 29th: Fun
- April 30th: Love
More information on "Your Park Story" and all National Park Week events and activities can be found on the NPS National Park Week page.