Free day: All national parks will be free on Aug. 25 to 28 in celebration of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. State parks will be free on Aug. 25; no Discover Pass will be required for parking. The National Parks Service has a variety of events planned for its centennial. For details: www.nps.gov/centennial. State and national parks will also be free on Sept. 24 for Public Lands Day and on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
Mountaineers: Learn about what The Mountaineers offer, including classes and trips, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Seattle Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle.
Feast: Pilchuck Audubon Society’s Feast on the Farm will be 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Craven Farm, 13817 Short School Road, Snohomish. $50. The event supports Audubon’s Smart Growth Campaign. RSVP by Aug. 26 at pilchuckaudubon.org.
Swifts: See Vaux’s swift roost in the chimney at Wagner Center, 369 West Main in Monroe from 4 p.m. until dusk Sept. 10. There will be activities for kids, education booths and a research station. Spaghetti dinner available for $6.50; For details: pilchuckaudubon.org.
WTA: The Washington Trails Association will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a party from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at Snoqualmie Point Park in Snoqualmie. There will be food trucks, geocaching, classes with the REI outdoor school, trail work demonstrations, a beer garden and more. For details: www.wta.org.
Bug blast: See live and preserved bugs and spiders up close from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Sept. 18 at the Burke Museum on the University of Washington Campus in Seattle. The Bug Chicks will do presentations at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Live bugs and arachnids will be available to hold, and a huge selection of insects will be available for viewing. Free with admission; $7.50-$10.
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