Great Sand Dunes has free programs, events during ‘We Love Our National Park’ celebration

MOSCA — To honor the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and to celebrate being the Gateway Community, Visit Alamosa will launch the second annual, month-long “We Love Our National Park Celebration” on April 1.

Each year in April since 1991, National Parks across the country celebrate National Park Week with special programs, events, and free days. This year, National Park Week is April 16-24, which makes April a time to celebrate and honor the national park’s dedication to conserving world-class resources while also showing appreciation to the community that promotes and supports their national park.

Great Sand Dunes has planned events and programs to align with Visit Alamosa’s campaign, “We Love Our National Park.”

Visit Alamosa will feature posters and flags displayed downtown and offer digital promotions and stickers for visitors to Alamosa during the month of April.

The month’s long celebration will kick-off on April 1 with live music, a local food vendor, solar scope viewings, and information tables staffed by the Sangre de Cristo Heritage Area, and Great Sand Dunes rangers, all at the Alamosa Welcome Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Later that evening during Alamosa’s First Friday event, stop by the park’s information table along main street from 5 to 7 p.m. along main street or attend presentations by Friends of the Dunes President Lucy Adams and Great Sand Dunes Public Information Officer Kathy Faz at the San Luis Valley Museum at 5:30 and 7 p.m.

“Great Sand Dunes is honored to be a part of a community that appreciates their national park to a degree that they would designate an entire month towards celebrating it,” said Park Superintendent Pamela Rice. “The City of Alamosa has shown support since before the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument and continues to promote and value the positive benefits it can bring to a community. We look forward to celebrating during April and look forward to welcoming visitors to their national park this year.”

Throughout the month, free ranger programs will be offered at the park visitor center at 10:30 a.m. on most weekends. Rangers will lead a guided BARK Ranger hike at the Blanca Vista Park in Alamosa on Saturday, April 23 from 1-2 p.m. Daily programs at the park visitor center are planned during National Park Week, April 16-24. To kick off National Park Week, entrance fees will be waived on Saturday, April 16.

April is an opportunity to picnic at the Mosca Creek picnic area, splash in Medano Creek, spend the night in Pinon Flats Campground, or rent a sand sled or sand board.

For a full schedule of events during the month of April and more information on visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, including camping, hiking, Medano Creek conditions, Medano Pass Primitive Road conditions, visitor center hours, and other park news, visit www.nps.gov/grsa.