Celebrate Smokey Bear Days May 1-2 in Capitan, NM

Capitan, NM – The life and times of the living symbol of wildfire prevention will be honored

May 1-2, 2015, from morning to early evening in Capitan, New Mexico during Smokey Bear Days.

The celebration, sponsored by the New Mexico State Forestry’s Smokey Bear Historical Park and the Smokey Bear Hometown Association, is an annual event that honors and recognizes the baby bear cub who was saved by firefighters during a wildfire that devastated the mountains near Capitan in 1950. The little bear would become known the world over as the living symbol Smokey Bear.

“Smokey Bear Days is a fun celebration that promotes fire prevention and educates visitors to the Capitan area about the dangers of unwanted, human-caused wildfires,” said Smokey Bear Historical Park Manager Bennie Long. “Experts will be on hand to talk about fire prevention, entomology, soils, forest and watershed health and wildlife science.”

New Mexico’s very own Smokey Bear is the grand marshal of the parade and will be there all weekend, so plan to give hugs and take pictures!  The annual event wraps up on Saturday night with a free street dance from 7-11 p.m., where all are invited to share a slice of Smokey’s birthday cake.

Music will be provided by local musicians throughout and Saturday’s events include an auction of Smokey Bear memorabilia.

See https://www.smokeybeardays.com for a complete schedule of events or contact Smokey Bear Historical Park at 575-354-2748.

Smokey Bear Historical Park will be open both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located in the middle of Capitan, NM on Hwy. at 380 Smokey Bear Blvd. which is 20 miles east of Carrizozo, NM, 27 miles north east of Ruidoso, and 12 miles west of Lincoln, NM.

###

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provides resource protection

and renewable energy resource development services to the public and other state agencies.