Visitors to Petrified Forest National Park are invited to attend the special programs scheduled in the coming days.
The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and everyone is invited to join the party! On 16 days in ‘16, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone, including all of National Park Week (April 16-24).
Artist-in-Residence Sue King will be featured at meet and greets slated from 1 to 3 p.m. today (April 13) at the Painted Desert Inn while she works on compelling, contemporary textile work. She is happy to help visitors understand and appreciate her artistry; stop by anytime between 1 and 3 p.m.
A Cultural Art Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, at the Painted Desert Visitor Center. Enjoy performances, arts & crafts, demonstrations and food capturing the history and diversity of those who call this area home.
National Park Instameets will be held on Saturday, April 23. Meet at Kachina Point at 10 a.m. or the Blue Mesa Trailhead at 2 p.m. to take photos and short videos to post on Instagram and other social media with the same hashtag: #FindYourParkInstaMeet, #FindYourPark and #NPS100.
The Annie Alexander Day Hike to the Dying Grounds will be offered on Sunday, April 24. Meet at 10 a.m. on the east side of the road at the Tepees pullout. Alexander was a paleontology pioneer, and her expedition to Petrified Forest in the summer of 1921 inspired further and important research. Walk in her footsteps with a ranger-led hike to the Dying Grounds. The walk is two miles round trip; allow 1½ hours total. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and sturdy footwear.
Wildflower walks are planned at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Meet the ranger at the Jasper Forest Overlook, then walk into Jasper Forest to see what wildflowers are in bloom. Allow 60 minutes for this half-mile walk. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and sturdy footwear.
In addition, cultural demonstrators with ancestral ties to the area share engaging skills and traditions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Painted Desert Inn.
