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National Park Week – week long events

April 19 @ 12:00 am - April 27 @ 12:00 pm

National Park Week – week long events

National Park Week (April 19-27) is a time to celebrate and enjoy our national parks, with many parks offering special events and activities. Feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited in national parks, as it disrupts their natural behavior and can be harmful.

National Park Week Events:
  • Free Entrance:
    Many national parks waive their entrance fees during National Park Week, making it a great time to visit.

  • Special Events:

    Parks often host ranger-led programs, guided hikes, and other activities to highlight the park’s natural and cultural features. 

    Volunteer Opportunities:

    Some parks offer opportunities to volunteer during National Park Week, contributing to park maintenance and conservation efforts. 

    SD PARKS
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    Wind Cave National Park will celebrate National Park Week from April 19 to April 27, 2025, with free entrance to the park on the first day, April 19, and various activities throughout the week. 

    Here’s a breakdown of National Park Week at Wind Cave National Park:
    • National Park Week Dates: April 19 to April 27, 2025. 
    • Free Entrance Day: April 19, 2025. 
    • Activities: Wind Cave National Park will host a variety of activities throughout the week, including cave tours, exhibits, school events, and social media posts. 
    • Cave Week: National Park caves are also celebrating Cave Week, which runs concurrently with National Park Week, with a focus on caves and karst. 
    • Theme: The 2025 theme for National Park Week is “National Park Playlist”. 
    • Other Free Entrance Days: Besides the first day of National Park Week, there are other free entrance days in 2025, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20), Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19), Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August 4), National Public Lands Day (September 27), and Veterans Day (November 11). 
    • Cave Tours: Note that there are no cave tours because the elevator is being repaired. 
    • Visitor Center: Open Daily, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm 

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    Badlands National Park will waive entrance fees on April 19, 2025, to kick off National Park Week, which runs from April 19 to April 27, 2025. 

    Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
    • National Park Week: This annual event celebrates the National Park Service and its parks, with the theme for 2025 being “National Park Playlist”. 
    • Fee-Free Day: Entrance fees will be waived at Badlands National Park, and all other national parks, on April 19, 2025, to mark the start of National Park Week. 
    • Other Fee-Free Days in 2025:
      • January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
      • June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day 
      • August 4: Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day 
      • September 27: National Public Lands Day 
      • November 11: Veterans Day 
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National Monuments, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in Wall, SD,   The Missouri National Recreational River are part of the Park System and will also celebrate National Park Week and we suspect all will offer free attendance on 4/19/25 – but please verify for each of them.

Details

Start:
April 19 @ 12:00 am
End:
April 27 @ 12:00 pm