Events Calendar for the Mt. Rainier National Park Area

If you participate in the Winter Volksmarch at Trek this weekend, you can visit the park for FREE and receive a half-price tram tour while taking advantage of Trek's 5 miles of nature trails courtesy of the private Volkssport association Four Plus Foolhardy Folks.

In its fifth year, the largest big mountain snowboarding tour in the country, TNF Masters stops at Crystal Mountain Resort. We are a proud host for the third year in a row.

Become a detective this Presidents weekend. Search for the clues that animals leave behind and leave some clues of your own. FREE admission for up to four children ages 3 to 12 with each adult or senior paying full admission. Special Kids 'n' Critters activities are free with admission all weekend and include nature-themed arts and crafts and trailside encounters with Northwest Trek's smaller animals.

Celebrating its 23rd year at Crystal Mountain, the 2012 Vertical Express for MS is an event for skiers, boarders and telemarkers of all abilities and ages. It benefits Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, formerly The Heuga Center for MS, a national non-profit that leads the way in empowering people with MS and their support partners to discover the power to be more than their MS. Visit the Vertical Express website for more information.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

From Nova Scotia on international tour, Spinney Brothers intertwine traditional, southern-flavored bluegrass with fresh sound and original material.

Time: 2pm; Tickets: $15

Join the fun at the 26th Annual White Pass Winter Carnival! Celebrate the last weeks of winter with a spectacular interactive snow castle, carnival games and races, world-class snow sculptures, fireworks, and live music. This event is routinely rated among the best winter events in the Pacific Northwest!

At the center of the event is a gigantic snow castle located in the base area. Admittance to the castle and the surrounding snow sculptures is free and open to the public. Live music, a torchlight parade and fireworks highlight festivities on Saturday night and various fund-rasing games and races support Children's Miracle Network and the hard working White Pass Volunteer Ski Patrol.

John Nilsen - musician and songwriter - performs his original instrumental jazz, classical, folk, and rock. He tours internationally and has recorded fourteen CD's, which have sold nearly one million copies.

Time: 7pm; Tickets: $10

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

Hit the slopes with Hope on the Slopes to raise valuable funds to support American Cancer Society-funded research & programming. Hope on the Slopes is a team or individual skiing & snowboarding event where participants compete with other participants in two categories: Dollars Raised for the American Cancer Society and Total Vertical Feet accumulated on the day of the event. There are great prizes for the winners!

Gracie Hansen got things done! From her launch of Morton's PTA Follies and her Paradise Pavilion at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, Gracie's razzle-dazzle carried her through a successful show-business career. Biographer Don Horn and others share photos and stories.

Time: 2pm; Tickets by donation to raise funds for theater operation.

Hope on the Slopes is a 24-hour SLIDE 4 THE CURE! Raise valuable funds to support American Cancer Society-funded research & programming. Cancer is on the decline for the first time in history - let's keep it that way! Get a team together or go it alone from 10 am Saturday - 10 am Sunday for the 9th Annual Hope on the Slopes.

Aesop's Fables' lively script intertwines five favorite fables, such as "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Entertaining storytelling, drama, dance, and comic twists ignite our imaginations.

Time: 7pm;
Tickets: $10 adults; $5 children

Get your party shoes on and be ready for a good time! This is the biggest bash of the year, complete with drinks, dance floor and royalty! Will you be this year's Dirtbag King or Queen?

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Skin to win! All ladies must wear either a bikini or one-piece bathing suit (skirts and shorts allowed but no more than a 4" inseam) and guys must wear speedos or board shorts. Dress like you're going to be beach!

2012 details TBD.

Weekend Intensive Improvisational Theatre Workshop and Sunday Improv Show

Rebecca Rogers, long-time professional improv performer and teacher, offers this weekend of intensive improvisational theatre training for all ages and skill levels. Participants will learn the fundamentals of improv and then advance to its subtleties, applying new skills through warm-ups, exercises, games, and a culminating performance on Sunday evening.

• Workshop: April 14 from 12-6:30pm and April 15 from 9am-3:30pm;
• Show: April 15, Sunday, at 5pm;
• Workshop: $100, includes catered lunches.
• Option with lodging available.
• $20 discount for registrations by March 15; Show: $7

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

Join Northwest Trek as we celebrate Endangered Species Day. Watch as Northwest Trek's own endangered exhibit animals enjoy special enrichments and learn ways you can protect these species in the wild through habitat conservation.

As part of National Park Week, celebrate Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 21st. Programs this day will encourage children to get outside, and get to know more about their national parks. For more information, contact the park at 350-569-2211 x6131.

Entrance fees to Mt. Rainier National Park are waived on these days in 2012: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend (Jan 14-16), National Park Week (April 21-29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), Public Lands Day (Sept 29) and Veterans Day weekend (Nov 10-12). Mark your calendars and plan to visit.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Join us at the Roxy for large screen sing-alongs, special music, dancers & fashions-all about rain! Taste mud puddle cookies and win a prize for the best decorated umbrella. Let's celebrate rain!
Tickets: $7 adults; $5 seniors & children
Time: 2pm

The 3rd Annual Ashford "On the Road to Paradise" spring and fall wine tasting events are your chance to discover hard-to-find artisanal wines from small producers such as Small Lot Co-op, Flying Dreams Winery and Stina's Cellars. Sip, savor and enjoy a variety of hard-to-find, artisanal wines & micro-brews from small Washington producers.

Spring Festival Time and Place:
• Mt. Rainier Lions Hall in Ashford from 2pm - 8pm;
• Cost: $25 dollars, $20 if purchased in advance;
• Complimentary with Lodging!

OnStage Children's Theatre Education Program spring production

A delight for children to perform, SEUSSICAL Jr. is the fantastical, musical extravaganza by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, featuring favorite Dr. Seuss characters, such as Horton the Elephant and The Cat in the Hat.

Tickets: $8;
May 4: 7pm; May 5: 2pm and 7pm

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

DDid you know that some birds fly thousands of miles from feeding to breeding grounds... and back again! This weekend we celebrate these frequent flyers with flighty fun for the whole flock at Northwest Trek. Migratory Madness will offer migration-themed activities for the entire family. Kids can spread their creative wings as they participate in crafting and coloring projects that focus on the great diversity of migratory species, including butterflies, salmon, elk and caribou.

While visiting Northwest Trek's bears, learn more about them and find lots to celebrate. Watch Northwest Trek's bears tear into a demonstration of an "unsafe" campsite and learn how proper food storage and camping etiquette can discourage bears from targeting your campsite. Talk to the keeper who cares for the grizzly and black bears and learn what it's like to work closely with some of the most powerful mammals in North America!

This bi-annual event turns the town of Packwood into a huge flea market, one of the largest in the Western US. Hundreds of vendors sell antiques, novelties, clothing, and all kinds of household and decorative items. Tools, toys, and extraordinary finds abound! Come join the fun!

OnStage production featuring local young talent.

OnStage Theatre Education Program presents an evening of monologues, duo-scenes, and short one-act plays performed by local young talent.

May 26: 7pm; May 27: 2pm
Tickets: $8

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

On National Trails Day, Saturday June 2, 2012, runners, walkers, and ultras will take on the tenth annual Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay and Ultra. The course follows the Foothills Trail from the shoulders of Mt. Rainier to the shores of Puget Sound. The trail passes through pristine wilderness and historic communities, following the old Northern Pacific railroad grade that once brought settlers and supplies into the west.

Online Registration is available for the half marathon, marathon, 50K ultra and 50M ultra and relay.

The 6th Annual Rainier Independent Film Festival will be screening films in the Nisqually Valley near Ashford and Mineral on June 8, 9 and 10. In addition to screening animated, narrative, documentary and feature films, workshops, intimate gatherings, panels and an awards ceremony are scheduled for this compelling festival. Rebecca Winters Keegan, TIME magazine Hollywood Correspondent, writes "In the foothills of Mount Rainier is a rarity a film festival actually focused on film."

Entrance fees to Mt. Rainier National Park are waived on these days in 2012: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend (Jan 14-16), National Park Week (April 21-29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), Public Lands Day (Sept 29) and Veterans Day weekend (Nov 10-12). Mark your calendars and plan to visit.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Shine up your tentacles and slap on some slippery slime. There is enough wacky, wet & wild sluggy fun for everyone! Learn about the Pacific Northwest's most valuable and misunderstood mollusk- the yellow-greenish banana slug- through a fun filled day of sluggy activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Come celebrate the start of summer and join us in the meadow for live music and free family friendly activities. The Sundeck will be grilling your favorite BBQ items and serving beverages. So sit back, relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air and enjoy some entertainment.

Let nature's lullaby of chirps, croaks, whistles, hoots and snores, lull you to sleep. Nocturnal animal viewing, a narrated tram tour and exciting evening activities make this a unique adventure. Camp includes snacks and a hearty hot breakfast. Northwest Trek Family Camp is an opporunity for families and friends to bond and experience nature in a safe, friendly environment. The naturalist-led activities and special Free-roaming Area Tour allow campers to learn, have fun and gain a deeper appreciation of the plants and animals of the Pacific Northwest.

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

OnStage summer camp show

Wonderland! is an unabashedly silly adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. Audiences of all ages will adore the hip-hopping music, familiar characters, dozens of new ones (such as plastic light-saber wielding knights!), and the upbeat, coming-of-age story.

• Show: July 13: 7pm; July 14: 2pm;
• Tickets: $8

The presentation of Wonderland! is the culmination of the Children's Theatre Education Program Summer Day Camp, which runs from June 25-July 14 and costs $100. Some scholarships are available.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Mark Philips & IIIrd Generation Bluegrass Band, a talented group of award-winning musicians, is on national tour from Oklahoma. The band performs hard-driving, traditional bluegrass and bluegrass-gospel music.

Location: Tiller Arts Center;
Tickets: $15;
Time: 6pm

RAMROD, Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day, is the Pacific Northwest's premiere one-day ultra-marathon cycling event, now in it's 29th year. It combines the incomparable scenery of Mount Rainier National Park with a challenging course featuring 10,000 feet of climbing over 150 miles.

START/FINISH: Enumclaw High School, 226 Semanski St. S, Enumclaw, WA. This is one block west of the intersection of Highway 410 where the RAMROD course route turns towards Buckley. Free parking is available on-site.

Set in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, this race offers spectacular views. Like "The Mountain" itself, though, the race stands as an ultimate test of mental character and physical endurance. Over the 50-mile distance the race course rises and falls a staggering 8,700 feet (total elevation change: 17,400 feet). The race features rolling terrain, ridge tops, northwest forest, several sections of technical trails, and of course several demanding climbs and challenging descents. Race numbers are limited to 400 of the toughest endurance athletes this country has to offer. Most competitors will be pleased just to complete the race distance. However, as an extra testament to supreme performance, at least $2,500 in prize money is offered, going three deep in each category.

Centralia College East and the Fire Mountain Arts Council present the summer musical production of the Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. "There is no place like home!" in this adaptation true to the MGM classic.

Aug 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 at 7pm;
Aug 5, 12 at 2pm;
Advanced: $10 adults, $5 children;
At the door: $11 adults, $6 children

Let nature's lullaby of chirps, croaks, whistles, hoots and snores, lull you to sleep. Nocturnal animal viewing, a narrated tram tour and exciting evening activities make this a unique adventure. Camp includes snacks and a hearty hot breakfast. Northwest Trek Family Camp is an opporunity for families and friends to bond and experience nature in a safe, friendly environment. The naturalist-led activities and special Free-roaming Area Tour allow campers to learn, have fun and gain a deeper appreciation of the plants and animals of the Pacific Northwest.

Visit Northwest Trek from August 6-10 for Creature Feature Week! Experience hands-on activities for the whole family and special animal enrichments as we celebrate our favorite Northwest creatures!

69th Annual Loggers'Jubilee - This has become "the Granddaddy of all Logging Shows" and a celebration for people of all ages. From the Main Street Parades to the Lawnmower races, the world famous Logging shows to the Jubilee Queen Coronation, Morton's Loggers' Jubilee promises a good time for all.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Enjoy all Crystal Mountain has to offer in the summer and finish the day with a nice cold beer (or two or three or four samples) at the base area. Cold beer, fresh air, live music, jugglers and an outdoor BBQ from 12 p.m.- 4 p.m.

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

This bi-annual event turns the town of Packwood into a huge flea market, one of the largest in the Western US. Hundreds of vendors sell antiques, novelties, clothing, and all kinds of household and decorative items. Tools, toys, and extraordinary finds abound! Come join the fun!

This bi-annual event turns the town of Packwood into a huge flea market, one of the largest in the Western US. Hundreds of vendors sell antiques, novelties, clothing, and all kinds of household and decorative items. Tools, toys, and extraordinary finds abound! Come join the fun!

End your summer with a wild weekend during the Get Out of the Rut celebration at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Labor Day weekend. Learn all about the exciting rut, or breeding, habits of hooved animals like deer, sheep, elk and moose. Watch and listen as they grunt, snort, bugle and spar. From wild romance to turbulent action, you won't want to miss this three-day kickoff to the most dramatic time of year at Northwest Trek.

Activities are free with park admission.

This is a truly WILD experience! Experience the thrill of the turbulent Elk "rut" or breeding season. Spend two action-packed hours riding the naturalist-guided tram through the Free-Roaming Area, following the elk herd and observing the unique behavior of the rut. Test your bugling skill and see if YOU can call in the herd. Breakfast will be served in the Hellyer Natural History Center located inside the free-roaming areaat the close of the tour. Menu* includes danish pastries, donuts, fresh fruit, bagels with cream cheeseand beverages.

Shop the post monsoon sale, meet world class climbers, watch mountain technique demonstrations, compete in the alpine games, eat BBQ and listen to music, and much, much more...

There are games for kids, book signings by famous authors and slideshows by mountaineering legends.

This two-day festival of events, now in it's seventh year, takes place at Nolte State Park (5 miles north of Enumclaw) and includes a Half Iron Triathlon and Endurance Duathlon on Saturday, as well as a Half Marathon, Olympic and Sprint Distance Triathlon on Sunday.

Entrance fees to Mt. Rainier National Park are waived on these days in 2012: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend (Jan 14-16), National Park Week (April 21-29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), Public Lands Day (Sept 29) and Veterans Day weekend (Nov 10-12). Mark your calendars and plan to visit.

Choose from a 5k or 8k run or a 5k walk and explore Northwest Trek's unique race setting, Saturday, October 6. Your registration fee helps support Northwest Trek programming and conservation efforts. Registration includes park admission and a race shirt.

This is a truly WILD experience! Experience the thrill of the turbulent Elk "rut" or breeding season. Spend two action-packed hours riding the naturalist-guided tram through the Free-Roaming Area, following the elk herd and observing the unique behavior of the rut. Test your bugling skill and see if YOU can call in the herd. Breakfast will be served in the Hellyer Natural History Center located inside the free-roaming areaat the close of the tour. Menu* includes danish pastries, donuts, fresh fruit, bagels with cream cheeseand beverages.

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

Explore the park and observe the animals at night on a special tram tour. Games, crafts, prizes and treats add to the party atmosphere. To ensure a happy Halloween, we ask adults not to wear masks or scary face-paint.

Stare into the eyes or a moose or get within a few feet of a bison and much more during a morning ride on the wild side. Hop into the back of the keeper truck and experience the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his rounds feeding the animals. Ends with a continental breakfast that includes Danish pastries, cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit and beverages. Reservations are required.

The 3rd Annual Ashford "On the Road to Paradise" spring and fall wine tasting events are your chance to discover hard-to-find artisanal wines from small producers such as Small Lot Co-op, Flying Dreams Winery and Stina's Cellars. Sip, savor and enjoy a variety of hard-to-find, artisanal wines & micro-brews from small Washington producers.

Spring Festival Time and Place:
• Mt. Rainier Lions Hall in Ashford from 2pm - 8pm;
• Cost: $25 dollars, $20 if purchased in advance;
• Complimentary with Lodging!

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.

Entrance fees to Mt. Rainier National Park are waived on these days in 2012: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend (Jan 14-16), National Park Week (April 21-29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), Public Lands Day (Sept 29) and Veterans Day weekend (Nov 10-12). Mark your calendars and plan to visit.

Load your cameras, grab your equipment, bring extra film, and climb on board a Northwest Trek tram for a free-roaming area photo tour. From the tram you will see moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and more in Trek's 435-acre free-roaming area. Varying habitats provide natural backdrops for amateur to professional photographers. For AGES: 18 and up. Reservations are required.