This November, Zion National Park will celebrate 100 since becoming a national park. The centennial will be celebrated with a campaign called “We the Keepers.” It highlights the efforts of park officials and citizens alike working to preserve the park for future generations.

If you’ve been thinking about planning a visit to Zion soon, this fall is an excellent time to do so. Keep reading to learn about the activities, programs, and events that will be held to celebrate this special anniversary.

“Keepers of Sanctuary” Exhibit Already Open

Zion has already started celebrating its anniversary with a special exhibit at the Zion Human History Museum. The exhibit is titled “Keepers of the Sanctuary: Zion’s First 100 Years.”

It features artifacts and historic photographs that detail the entire first century of the park’s existence.

You can already check out the exhibit. It is open daily during museum hours and will continue until December 1, 2019.

The Utah Symphony Hosts Special Guest Sting

Next week, the rest of the centennial celebrations will kick off with a special concert featuring the Utah Symphony and special guest Sting. All proceeds will benefit the Zion Forever Project, one of the organizations hosting the centennial celebration campaign. 

Emmy-award winner Sting will perform some of his greatest hits, accompanied by the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Performances will include “Roxanne,” “Next to You,” and “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”

The concert will be held on August 31 at Usana Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City. Tickets are still available, and the gates will open at 6:30 p.m.

Celebration of Art in Zion

The “Keepers of Sanctuary” exhibit isn’t the only celebration of artwork that will take place to mark the centennial. On November 6, the park will host a celebration of the artists and art that have been inspired by Zion’s beautiful red rock cliffs and stunning scenery for decades.

The 2019 Zion Centennial Celebration of Art will welcome a group of professional artists to the park, all of whom have already created works inspired by the park, including many local artists. The celebration will feature a charity art auction, a paint-off, and demonstrations by each of the artists. The events are free, and everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.

Visitor Center to Get a New Introductory Film

For the last two decades, visitors to Zion National Park have gotten their first look at what’s to come with a viewing of the introductory video at the visitors center. The video was a chance for guests to see the views that they could expect. It gave them a taste of what the park had to offer. While it served tourists well for the last 20 years, park officials worried that it was no longer a good introduction. When it first debuted, guests arrived at the park with very little knowledge of what to expect. But today, the internet makes it easy to check out trails, download maps, and even watch videos of what they can see in the park.

Park officials, in conjunction with the Zion Forever Project, decided that it was time to produce a film that better reflects the needs of today’s visitors to the park. The new film, which is currently in production, will now celebrate the many ways that people interact with Zion. Through interviews with park rangers, tourists, Native Americans, and more, it will take a look at how Zion impacts different individuals. It will also look at what different groups are doing to preserve the park for future generations.

The new video will debut at Dixie State University’s Cox Auditorium on November 19, 2019. After that, the film will replace the old one and be available to view in the visitors center, free of charge. You’ll also be able to purchase an extended version of the video on DVD in the visitor center gift shop in the future.

Planning Your Next Visit to Zion National Park

If you’re thinking about visiting Zion during the centennial celebration, you can expect some crowds. Avoid the hassle of long lines at the entrance or a lack of parking by staying in Springdale. Better yet, close enough to hop on the shuttle. When you stay at Watchman Villas, you’ll wake up just steps away from one of the Springdale Shuttle stops. This makes it easy to get into the park early. And easy to get back to your vacation rental after a long day of hiking and exploring.