On Wednesday, November 9, Grand Canyon National Park will host a Native American Indian Heritage Celebration with special presentations and demonstrations. Grand Canyon visitors and residents are invited to participate in this special day to recognize and celebrate the many accomplishments, contributions, and sacrifices made by First Americans.

North Rim operations will begin seasonal shut-down of most visitor services on Saturday, October 15. The North Rim will remain open to day-use visitors and overnight campers, until Thursday, December 1 unless heavy snowfall closes State Highway 67 earlier.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day with free entrance to Grand Canyon National Park Saturday, September 24. National Public Lands Day promotes enjoyment and stewardship of our nation's public lands. As part of the festivities, visitors can participate in an inaugural ride on the Greenway Trail or attend a lively story-filled evening program.

Grand Canyon National Park invites bird enthusiasts of all levels to participate in a weekend of birding fun and excitement including a LIVE radio broadcast with Talkin' Birds Radio.

This mosaic of the entire Grand Canyon from Lake Powell to Lake Mead was assembled from photos taken by Jeff Williams, current commander of the International Space Station, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. To see his photos of other national parks from space, go to http://www.space.com/33851-us-national-parks-from-space-photos.html.

Grand Canyon Music Festival begins this Thursday, August 25. http://grandcanyonmusicfest.org/

Events at Centennial Central (the Historic Train Depot)

Thursday, August 25th

9:00 am - Amtrak Exhibit Train Opens, Historic Train Depot
9:00 am - Centennial Central Opens, Historic Train Depot
9:00-11:00 am - Naturalization Ceremony, Mather Point Amphitheater
10:30-11:00 am - Ed Kabotie, Hopi Artist and Musician Cultural Demonstration, Centennial Central
11:45 am - Grand Canyon Railway Steam Train Arrives, Historic Train Depot
Noon-12:30 pm - Ed Kabotie, Hopi Artist and Musician Cultural Demonstration, Centennial Central
12:45 pm - Grand Canyon Railway Diesel Train Arrives, Historic Train Depot
1:00 pm - Opening Ceremony of Amtrak Exhibit Train, Centennial Central
1:30 pm - Birthday Cake Cutting, Centennial Central
2:30-3:00 pm - Ed Kabotie, Hopi Artist and Musician Cultural Demonstration, Centennial Central
4:00-4:30 pm - Ed Kabotie, Hopi Artist and Musician Cultural Demonstration, Centennial Central
5:00 pm - Centennial Central Closes
6:00 pm - Amtrak Exhibit Train Closes

The National Park Service (NPS) is turning 100 years old on August 25, 2016 and to celebrate the anniversary, Grand Canyon National Park will waive entrance fees August 25-28.

To join in on the centennial celebration, visitors can explore Centennial Central, visit the Amtrak Trails and Rails Exhibit, and attend free ranger programs.Grand Canyon will also host a naturalization ceremony for new United States citizens on August 25. All centennial events are free and open to the public.

Celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service with Puhutawi and Grand Canyon Music Festival.

A new genre of Hopi music, taking the power and sophistication of Hopi traditional music and expanding its sonic possibilities via fusion with contemporary chamber music. Puhutawi composers Clark Tenakhongva, NAMMY-nominated creator of traditional Hopi ceremonial music, Hopi composer Trevor Reed collaborate in this new concert-length work which pays homage to the Grand Canyon – their ancestral homeland and now one of America’s most visited National Parks.

As wild fire danger increases in the park, please observe the following year-round fire restrictions:

• Within the park, fires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and may only be ignited in grills or designated fire rings
• If you are hiking and camping below the rim, cook stoves may be used, but campfires and other open fires are never allowed
• If you are on a river trip, campfires are only allowed in elevated metal pans, and use of a fire proof blanket under the pan is required

For information about fire restrictions on other public lands in Arizona and New Mexico call the Southwest Area Fire Restriction Information Line at 877-864-6985.