Celebrate Sequoias Festival in Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP (CA) - On Saturday, September 9th, about 300 people attended the second annual Celebrate Sequoias Festival in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon NP and in the Hume Lake District of the recently-proclaimed Giant Sequoia NM. The event is co-sponsored by the NPS and the Forest Service and encourages visitors to experience the "Big Trees" through the eyes of scientists, naturalists and artists. Activities included hikes to lesser-known groves of giant sequoias, talks on recent research findings related to the big trees, and living history stage presentations on those who were associated with sequoias at the turn of the century. Local artists and associations displayed and sold artwork, photographs and books on the giant trees. 

Carlsbad Caverns International Bat Festival - September, 2000 It happens only in Carlsbad, New Mexico at the world famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park and along the banks of the Pecos River in the lovely city of Carlsbad. Our bats are truly international as they come here during the summer months to raise their babies and then fly back to Mexico in October.

Late September is one of the best times to come and see Carlsbad's bat flights when with cooler temperatures the bats normally begin their nightly exodus before it gets dark. When this happens you can see their shiny brown coats in the sunlight, oftentimes against fluffy white clouds in the blue sky. If you have already adopted a bat you might get lucky and be able to pick out your bat from among the thousands of others flying by.

For all those who haven't adopted one of these cute little creatures you can adopt one at the home page of the Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association. Click here for more information.

13th Annual Arts For The Parks Tour
Each year since 1987 the Top 100 Arts For The Parks award winning images are organized by the National Park Academy of the Arts, and then taken on an hugely popular national touring exhibition.

The Arts for The Parks Tour has an international reputation as America's outstanding exhibition of representational paintings, and a well-respected showcase for established and "emerging" artists. Because of the tour's excellent artistic value and it's national park subject matter, it has broken attendance records in nearly every venue it has exhibited, appealing to audiences of all ages.

Each year the tour combines the best of American art and nature. It depicts scenes from the seaside topography of Cape Hatteras to the hazy vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains to the steadfast symbol of our first National Park, Yellowstone's Old Faithful and the glacial relief of Mount Rainier.

If you have the opportunity, these paintings are a wonderful treat to see in their original form. Take it from someone who saw them all at this year's awards dinner at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, these works of Art for the Parks will move and delight you.
View the Tour Schedule here.