(Washington, D.C.) --- What better way to celebrate the holiday season this year than by visiting a National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) has many units that commemorate and celebrate the holiday season with special holiday programs, events and decorations. Parks commemorate this special time of year as much for the visitors we serve as we do to reflect on American culture and the historical significance of the holidays from our colonial past to the present.

“I invite everyone to come celebrate the Holiday Season this year at one of the many diverse sites in the National Park System,” said Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service. “The events and programs offered in the parks during this special time of year are presented in the spirit of joy and giving. We hope our visitors will make it an annual holiday tradition to attend these programs. We wish everyone a happy holiday, our National Parks are open and our welcome mat is out.” The National Park Service has developed and made available in time for the Holiday Season, a web site to help visitors know which NPS sites are offering special holiday programs this year. By visiting the Celebrate the Holiday Season in America’s National Parks website at: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/hol/celebrate.htm, people can learn about the many special events and programs taking place at national park sites during November and December of this year.

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