Glacier celebrates NPS centennial week

Visitors to Glacier National Park can get into the Park for free from Aug. 25-28 in celebration of the Park Service centennial. The actual birthday is Aug. 25.

Glacier also has several other events on tap to recognize the centennial, including:

• National Park Centennial Instameet. Glacier Park, partnering with the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the Department of the Interior, and Visit Montana as well as special guest photographers are hosting an Instameet on Aug. 25 from 6 p.m. to sunset in the Apgar Village Green near the Apgar Village Inn.

Visitors are encouraged to come together to connect, explore, and celebrate creativity with a camera, make new friends, exchange ideas, and celebrate the centennial.

All ages, levels of experience and types of cameras are welcome. Around 6:15 p.m. the host of the Instameet will say a few words in regards to the National Park Service centennial. The official Glacier National Park Service centennial visitor photograph will be taken around 7 p.m. Visitors will have a chance to sign the photo matte and be a part of Park Service history. The photograph will be posted on its social media sites, printed and hung in the park, as well as copy presented to the director of the National Park Service. It is anticipated that attendance will be high; visitors are encouraged to park at the Apgar Visitor Center and take the bike path to the event.

• Happy Birthday Park Service 100 Ranger Program.

Join a national park ranger for a special program at the St. Mary Visitor Center Auditorium Aug. 25, at 8 p.m.

Admission is by ticket only, with only 209 tickets available. Attendees can pick up a free ticket at the St. Mary Visitor Center beginning on the morning of Aug. 24.

The program will explore the history of the National Park Service, reflect on the last 100 years, and the role Glacier will play as it prepares for the next 100 years.

• Logan Pass Star Party. Explore the dark skies of Glacier National Park and attend the Logan Pass star party. Admission is by ticket only. Attendees can pick up their free ticket (one per vehicle) at the Apgar or St. Mary Visitor Centers beginning Thursday, Aug. 25.

The Logan Pass Star Party will be held at Logan Pass Parking Lot from 9:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Aug. 26.

Attendees will have opportunities to meet with rangers and members of the Big Sky Astronomy Club while taking in the unusually dark skies.

There will also be telescopes available to look into the depths of the universe.

• The Glacier National Park Conservancy is hosting a “Give Back To Glacier Week,” from Aug. 19 – 28. Conservancy volunteers will be at entrance locations throughout the park asking for involvement in the program and to donate back to the park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Conservancy is the official fundraising partner of Glacier National Park and looks for support as it has a matching $50,000 donation that week.