NEWS17-061 | Media contacts: Toni Droscher, (360) 902-8604
Clara Dickinson-McQuary, (509) 337-6457 |
OLYMPIA – Sept. 18, 2017 – The Friends of Sacajawea State Park, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program and numerous co-sponsors invite the public to experience living history at Heritage Days in Sacajawea Historical State Park, near Pasco.
The Heritage Days celebration is open to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Sacajawea Historical State Park, 2503 Sacajawea Park Rd., Pasco. (Directions)
Through live, interactive presentations and demonstrations, Heritage Days attendees can experience the day-to-day life of fur traders, mountain men, pioneers, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and more. Representatives, storytellers and dancers from the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation also will be on hand to discuss Native American life and culture in the region, both past and present.
Attendees can explore more than 35 history-focused learning stations at the site where the Corps of Discovery camped more than 200 years ago and learn about the park through the ages, from the Ice Age Floods more than 13,000 years ago, to its emergence as a recreational spot, when the Daughters of the Pioneers were deeded the park in 1927.
Visitors also can enjoy a variety of foods and bid on a silent auction for the original drawing selected for the Heritage Days poster. This year’s poster is original art created by Lizeth Luna, a 2017 graduate of Chiawana High School in Pasco. The Friends of Sacajawea State Park awarded Luna a $300 scholarship for her artwork.
Admission to Heritage Days is free. On Sept. 29, visitors will need an annual $30 Discover Pass or a $10 daily pass for vehicle access. Sept. 30, is a ‘free day’ in all Washington State Parks. In recognition of National Public Lands Day—no Discover Pass or daily pass will be needed.
For more information about Heritage Days, contact Sharon Stewart at (509) 366-1272, or visit the Friends of Sacajawea State Park website.
About the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program
The Native American demonstrations at the Heritage Days celebration are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program, with funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation.
For more information about the Folks and Traditional Arts in the Parks program, including upcoming events, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts or contact Debbie Fant, Program Coordinator, at Deborah.Fant@parks.wa.gov or 360-902-8635.
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at http://adventureawaits.com/
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W.
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388