National Park Week kicks off as National Park Service prepares to celebrate 110 years

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FILE: Celebrating America 250: America's Amazing Southwest National Parks

As FOX Weather celebrates America's 250th birthday, FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray showcases the amazing national parks he's covered in the American Southwest, including Utah's "Mighty 5." See some of the world's greatest natural wonders:

THE TAKEAWAY

• You can get into a national park for free on Tuesday.
• National Park Week lasts from Aug. 22 to 30.
• Thousands of people will visit national parks this fall for pretty colors.

The chance to celebrate the wide variety of America's great outdoors is here as National Park Week is officially underway.

Now through this weekend, national parks across the country will host themed events to celebrate America’s story in honor of the 250th anniversary this year.

One great event during the week is Watch Wildlife Wednesday, where attendees can play wildlife bingo and observe local wildlife.

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A great place to enjoy the week-long festivities is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans North Carolina and Tennessee and was the most visited park in 2025.

With more than 19,000 species documented in the park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most biodiverse in the national park system.

FILE - St Mary Lake and peaks, Glacier National Park, Montana. (Photo by: Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Olympic National Park would also be a prime example to indulge in the week-long event, as the park ranks among the top 10 most popular and is known for its vast geology, where you can enjoy many outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and more.

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These parks in the US have great fall foliage

As fall approaches, national parks transform as thousands of people travel to visit:

• Blue Ridge Parkway — While the vividly-colored fall leaves of the Blue Ridge Parkway may grab your attention, don’t forget to pull over and take a peek at the Parkway’s fall wildflowers in bloom all along roads and trails.
• Cedar Breaks National Monument — In addition to the beautiful red rocks of the Cedar Breaks cliffs, autumn brings even more vivid color to the monument's breathtaking landscape.
• Glacier National Park — Not for the faint of heart, Glacier National Park boasts beautiful colors in autumn. Leaves begin to change in mid-September in the colder parts of the park, so if you plan to visit, bundle up and prepare to be amazed.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Autumn is a beautiful time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Try some of the park’s suggested autumn drives and hikes to enjoy fall in parts of the park that are a little less crowded.
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park — A little bit of a late "bloomer," the leaves in Guadalupe Mountains usually change starting in mid-October through mid-November, making it a great place to see some of the last fall colors before winter hits.

The main attraction for the week-long event is free admission to any national park on Tuesday, celebrating the National Park Service's 110th birthday.

Acadia National Park boasts nearly 50,000 acres of breathtaking terrain along Maine's magnificent Atlantic Coastline.

(Acadia National Park / FOX Weather)

National Park Week theme days

There are a plethora of events to attend this week for families to enjoy:

• Saturday, August 22: Kickoff Saturday and Freedom 250 Grand Pix
• Sunday, August 23: Safety Sunday
• Monday, August 24: America in Motion Monday
• Tuesday, August 25: National Park Service 110th Birthday & Fee-Free Day
• Wednesday, August 26: Watch Wildlife Wednesday
• Thursday, August 27: Thankful Thursday
• Friday, August 28: Freedom Friday
• Saturday, August 29: Staff Saturday
• Sunday, August 30: Junior Ranger Day

Click here for more information on this year's National Park Week events.