The National Park Service (NPS) will kick off National Park Week on April 19 with a free entrance day across more than 430 national parks, inviting visitors to explore the country’s public lands through the lens of music and history.
The annual celebration runs through April 27 and will spotlight a “National Park Playlist” theme, connecting parks with musical heritage and American culture.
National Park Week will include themed events such as National Junior Ranger Day, Earth Day observances, and commemorations of historic milestones.
The “National Park Playlist” theme aims to draw parallels between iconic musical genres and park destinations. Visitors are encouraged to explore sites such as Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, and Mammoth Cave as “classic rock” selections, and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Gateway Arch as “heavy metal” highlights.
Natural parks such as Blue Ridge Parkway, Glacier Bay, and Cape Lookout offer experiences aligned with rhythm and blues, where visitors can immerse themselves in the natural cadence of paddling, hiking, and scenic landscapes.
Live performances will be featured in several parks during the week. Visitors can experience jazz at New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, classical music at Colorado National Monument, and indigenous dance at Tonto National Monument. Historical reenactments with fife and drums will mark Revolutionary War events at Minute Man National Historical Park.
NPS is also encouraging the public to explore its community-based programs. These include national landmarks and heritage areas tied to America’s musical past, such as Carnegie Hall, Sun Studio, Muscle Shoals, and the Woodstock Music Festival Site.
“Kick off National Park Week with a free entrance day on April 19. Work in concert with NPS.gov or the NPS app to choose a park that fits your groove. There is step-by-step information about what to do and see in each park and how to recreate in harmony,” NPS said in a press release.