In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., entry into Lassen Volcanic National Park is free on January 19 and visitors are invited to a weekend of outdoor fun and film at the Lassen Film Festival on Saturday, January 17 through Monday, January 19. Saturday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. also offers a rare opportunity to see a recently discovered comet. Bundle up and join park rangers and astronomers to hunt down views of Comet Lovejoy. This beautiful comet becomes brighter and brighter as it gets closer to Earth. Comet Lovejoy and other celestial wonders seen through big telescopes will be a fantastic reason to brave the cold and spend time under Lassen’s magnificent dark sky. “I invite you to our winter wonderland at Lassen to enjoy three days of film, an evening of comet hunting and outdoor winter fun,” stated Acting Park Superintendent Steve Gibbons.
This year’s selections include films that feature wilderness, climate change, NASA, and water resources. View the complete festival schedule at www.nps.gov.lavo.planyourvisit/film-festival.htm. This free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Visitors are encouraged to bring snow clothing and equipment to enjoy snow play before or after the festival. Ranger-led snowshoe walks are offered on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and provide a wonderful opportunity to explore Lassen Volcanic’s spectacular winter scenery.
For lunch, meals are available for purchase from the Lassen Café or bring your own food to enjoy in the dining area. On breaks between films, enjoy a hot beverage and warm up by the natural stone fireplace. The Lassen Association bookstore and shop will also be open during the film festival.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is the first of several free-entrance days offered throughout the National Park System during 2015. Please mark your calendar for additional upcoming entrance free days: President’s Day Weekend (February 14-16), National Park Week Opening Weekend (April 18-19), Founder’s Day (August 25), National Public Lands Day (September 26) and Veterans Day (November 11).
Visitors to the park should be prepared for a range of weather conditions. Check the most recent weather forecast, dress in layers, carry food and water. Stow a shovel, extra blankets and tire chains in your vehicle in case unexpected winter road conditions delay your travel.
The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information on the film festival, snowshoe walks, current weather conditions, or general information, please contact the park at 530-595-4480 or lavo_information@nps.gov.
Visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo, on Facebook www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube www.youtube.com/LassenNPS
-from press release