Event features historic re-enactments, demonstrations, storytelling and more
OLYMPIA – Sept. 12, 2018 – The Friends of Sacajawea State Park, Washington State’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program and numerous co-sponsors invite the public to experience living history during Heritage Days at Sacajawea Historical State Park, near Pasco.
The event is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Sacajawea Historical State Park, 2503 Sacajawea Park Rd., Pasco. (Driving directions) Admission is free. On Friday, Sept. 28, Heritage Days welcomes area school group field trips, but the public may attend the event from 4 to 5 p.m. on this day.
Through live, interactive presentations and learning stations, Heritage Days will give attendees a glimpse of the cultural and natural history of the area including:
- Ice Age floods from more than 13,000 years ago.
- Native American storytelling and dancing from members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
- The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition of more than 200 years ago.
- Day-to-day life of fur traders, mountain people and pioneers.
- Daughters of the Pioneers, who deeded the park in 1927.
About the poster art work
Each year, the Friends of Sacajawea State Park offers a $300 award to an area high school art student and use the winning artwork for the event’s poster. Esme Nelson, a senior last year at Richland High School, had this year’s winning entry. Her original artwork will be available for bid at the Heritage Days silent auction.
For more information about Heritage Days and a list of event co-sponsors, visit the Friends of Sacajawea State Park website.
About the Folk and Traditional Arts 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 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: parks.state.wa.us/folkarts or contact Makaela Kroin, Program Coordinator, at makaela,kroin@parks.wa.gov or 360-902-8635.
Media contacts:
Toni Droscher, State Parks Communications Office, (360) 902-8604
Clara Dickinson-McQuary, Program Specialist, (509) 337-6457
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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.
News release number: 18-056