Visiting a national park is a special trip, but timing your visit with a festival can really level up the experience. Many national parks host annual events to celebrate nature, art, wildflowers, and more.
Whether you’re a climber, birder, or budding astronomer, there’s almost certainly a park festival with your name on it. Many of these events are free and help visitors gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of these natural landscapes.
Consider this your ultimate guide to national park events throughout the year. Gear up and get out there.
December/January
Multiple Parks: Christmas Bird Count
This annual birding count takes place each year in December and January at parks in Colorado, South Dakota, Indiana, and Washington. It started back in the 1990s, and invites volunteers to help collect data on birds that scientists use to study trends in bird populations.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), “The count takes place in 15-mile diameter circles, where volunteers follow specified routes and count every bird they see or hear.”
The event is free, and visitors who pre-register can get into the parks for free. Parks that host the counts include Great Sand Dunes, Wind Cave, Indiana Dunes, and North Cascades.
Recommended gear: Parka or down jacket, binoculars, and winter gloves.
Joshua Tree National Park: Rock Rumble Royale
People have been climbing in Joshua Tree for decades, but a rather new event brings together climbers for one heck of a climbing weekend. The Rock Rumble Royale began in 2025, and has quickly become a marquee event.
Climbers of all levels compete in a bouldering comp to win some serious cash, while learning about stewardship and building community. Last year, speakers included Katie Lamb and Access Fund leaders.
Recommended gear: Climbing shoes, crash pad, and chalk.
February
Denali National Park: Denali Winterfest
The NPS, Denali Borough, Denali Borough School District, and more partners work together to put on this multiday event. Activities include guided snowshoe walks led by park rangers, snow block sculpture contests, youth ski races, and stargazing.
And don’t miss out on the chance to visit the Denali Sled Dog Kennels to meet the park’s cutest employees and learn about the history of this century-old institution.
Recommended gear: Heavy-duty boots, base layers, and hand warmers.
Death Valley National Park: Dark Sky Festival
Death Valley National Park is one of the best spots for stargazing in the U.S. The NPS says that the lack of light pollution means “many celestial objects which can be viewed from Death Valley are not visible elsewhere in the world.”
If you’re not an expert astronomer and want to make the most of your stargazing opportunities, visit the park during its annual Dark Sky Festival. Experts from NASA, Cal Tech, and the SETI Institute give talks on the park, black holes, Mars, the sun, and spacecraft.
There are also lessons in astrophotography, and rangers lead guided programs to help visitors explore the night sky. While there are a few ticketed events, most of the festival is free, and there are programs designed just for kids too.
Recommended gear: Camera, camera backpack, and headlamp.
March
National Mall and Memorials: Cherry Blossom Festival
While the National Mall isn’t technically a national park, this list wouldn’t be complete without one of America’s most iconic events: the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
The NPS monitors peak bloom each year, and it usually takes place sometime in late March or early April. Special events include kid-friendly picnics, a kite festival, and a 10-block parade.
Recommended gear: Comfortable walking shoes and a rain jacket.
April
Great Smokey Mountains National Park: Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
Great Smokey Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 kinds of flowering plants, more than any other park. And it’s got just the right event to celebrate this natural bounty.
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place every April and offers a variety of programming to help visitors appreciate the park’s flora and fauna. Attend ranger-led hikes, photography workshops, lessons on birding, guided nature journaling, and more.
The event brings in artists, scientists, and authors for keynote talks on topics like plant conservation, gardening, salamanders, and more.
Recommended gear: Hiking pants, hiking boots, and a journal/notebook.
May
Congaree National Park: Synchronous Fireflies
There are 2,000 species of fireflies, but only three kinds of fireflies in North America that are synchronous, meaning they flash in unison. Each year, between mid-May and mid-June, Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to these special fireflies.
“During this time visitors can experience an awe-inspiring display of synchronous flashing while the fireflies search for a mate,” the NPS notes. “This special and unique phenomenon is extremely popular.”
Indeed, the event has become so popular that visitors wishing to attend must enter a lottery. If they win, a $20 fee allows one household to attend.
Recommended gear: Lightweight fleece and a camp chair.
Shenandoah National Park: Wildflower Weekend
This year will mark the 40th year of Wildflower Weekend, a multiday event that makes the most of the beauty of spring in the Shenandoah. Rangers and expert naturalists take guests on guided hikes through meadows filled with wildflowers, and artists lead interactive workshops.
Other events cover topics ranging from butterflies to amphibians to birds. In past years, botany professors, professional photographers, and herpetologists have led programs, talks, and workshops.
Recommended gear: Rain jacket and trekking poles.
Acadia National Park: Birding Festival
“Because of the wide variety of habitats and its location along the eastern seaboard, Acadia is a favorite breeding ground and stop-over site for an incredible diversity of birds, from owls to shorebirds and from raptors to warblers,” according to the NPS.
Expert and novice birders alike visit every May for the Acadia Birding Festival. Activities include guided puffin cruises, peregrine falcon viewing, and guided walks from birding experts.
Participants pay $25 for a reservation fee, and then pay à la carte for each day’s activities they want to attend.
Recommended gear: Lightweight puffy, sun hat, and binoculars.
Mesa Verde National Park: Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival
Each year, the Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival helps raise money for the Cortez Cultural Center, a local community and arts hub. Experts lead birding tours all around Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Totten Reservoir, and Mesa Verde National Park.
In the evenings, attend bird-themed art shows and keynote talks from expert speakers. The 2026 festival will include Sneed B. Collard III, a biologist and author.
Recommended gear: Athletic shorts and trekking poles.
June
Bryce Canyon National Park: Astronomy Festival
If you dreamed of being an astronaut when you were a kid, Bryce Canyon’s annual astronomy festival is a can’t-miss event. The multiday festival invites guests to use special solar telescopes on loan from NASA, and go on guided nighttime stargazing trips.
Enjoy keynote talks from physics professors, naturalists, and planetarium educators on topics ranging from constellations to Mars. Attendance is free with the purchase of park admission.
Recommended gear: Midlayer and camera.
Glacier National Park: Native America Speaks
Native America Speaks, which began in 1982, is the longest-running Indigenous peoples’ speaker series in the national park system. Each summer, “members of the Blackfeet Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes share personal knowledge of their history and culture.”
Various campgrounds and lodges in the park, as well as multiple locations in the Blackfeet Nation, host programming, which includes storytelling, singing, hands-on demonstrations, and dancing. Learn more about the presenters here.
Must-have gear: Comfortable walking/running shoes and midlayer.
July
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park: Hawaiian Cultural Festival
After being paused in 2025 due to eruptions, visitors will no doubt be excited for the return of the Cultural Festival in 2026.
At this event, visitors watch hula and musical performances, attend demonstrations on traditional Hawaiian artwork, and more. They’ll also learn about conservation and this area’s unique environment.
Recommended gear: Sun hoodie, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Bryce Canyon National Park: Geology Festival
If there’s one thing Bryce Canyon isn’t short on, it’s cool rocks, and its annual Geology Festival is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this area’s unique terrain. Enjoy talks from experts on topics like fossils, flash floods, and eruptions. For the kids, there are scavenger hunts and fossil digs.
Recommended gear: Hiking boots and a windbreaker.
August
Yellowstone National Park: Voices of Yellowstone: First Peoples Celebration
A product of the partnership between Yellowstone National Park and the nonprofit Yellowstone Forever, this multiday event celebrates the diverse Indigenous histories and cultures of this area.
Representatives of several tribes, including the Northern Cheyenne, Little Shell Chippewa, Blackfeet, and Apsáalooke, lead a variety of events, including musical performances and guided tours. Learn about topics ranging from bison to oral tradition to language.
Recommended gear: Camp chair and journal/notebook.
September
Capitol Reef National Park: Heritage Star Fest
Utah’s remote Capitol Reef National Park is home to yet another star-centered festival. The park invites guests to “learn more about astronomy, our connection to the night sky, and how darkness is important to the health of all living things.”
Past festivals have included astrophotography workshops, constellation tours, talks on bats, and presentations on volcanoes in space. Activities and events are free.
Recommended gear: Headlamp and down jacket.
Grand Canyon National Park: Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
The nonprofit Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) puts on this annual event, which is a fundraiser for an arts venue near the South Rim. Every year, a group of artists spend a week at the South Rim, working en plein air to create unique works of art inspired by this stunning natural landscape.
Visitors get to talk with artists and learn about a variety of different mediums, including photography, metalwork, and basketry. According to the GCC, “The goal is to use art to inspire deeper engagement and appreciation for Grand Canyon among visitors of all ages.”
Recommended gear: Sun hoodie and sun hat.
Yosemite National Park: Yosemite Facelift
No place in climbing culture looms quite as large as Yosemite, and the annual Yosemite Facelift event is an opportunity for climbers to give back to this iconic place. During the event, volunteers pick up trash and complete trailwork. In 2025, during 5 days of work, crews removed over 15,000 pounds of trash.
The Yosemite Climbing Association says it’s the “largest annual volunteer clean-up event in any national park.” And it’s not just a charity event: It’s also a time to connect with fellow climbers and build community.
Recommended gear: Sturdy boots and work pants.
October
North Cascades National Park: Harvest Fest
North Cascades National Park is home to the Buckner Homestead Historic District, where the Buckner family began growing apples in 1912 in an orchard that’s still active today.
Each year, the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation puts on a Harvest Festival and invites visitors to pick apples and press them into cider. Other activities include square dances, potlucks, and poetry nights.
Recommended gear: Fleece jacket and hiking pants.
Hot Springs National Park: Water Festival
This Arkansas park is most well-known for its eponymous hot springs, but it’s also the site of cold-water springs, rivers, and streams, and the park’s Water Festival celebrates it all. Experts include “scientists, rangers, and volunteers, who help to protect and educate about the area’s incredible hydrological story.” Kids can enjoy field games, watercolor art, and science demos.
Recommended gear: Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel.
New River Gorge National Park: Bridge Day
Each year, on the third Saturday in October, thrill-seekers and wannabe daredevils gather at the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia for Bridge Day. BASE jumpers from around the world fling themselves off the nearly 900-foot–high bridge into the stunning gorge below.
Beyond the main action, there’s also a 5K race, chili cookoff, and car show. Festival entry is free.
Recommended gear: Midlayer and camera.
November
Zion National Park: Art Invitational
Zion Forever Project is a nonprofit that supports the park, and one of its main fundraisers is the annual Art Invitational event. Artists paint and create en plein air for a week, and host demonstrations throughout. The event culminates in a large gathering outside the park’s lodge, with a silent auction, children’s art tables, and more.
Recommended gear: Gloves, a winter hat, and an insulated jacket.
