“We Love Our National Park” returns in April
IT’S time to show some love to The Great Sand Dunes National Park.
The “We Love Our National Park” community-wide celebration returns with restaurants, retail shops and attractions throughout Alamosa County offering themed specials, drinks, meals, desserts, displays, and special events during April. The community is invited to show its love for the Great Sand Dunes and help Visit Alamosa “paint the town orange” for this campaign.
Visit Alamosa’s “We Love Our National Park” campaign was the recipient of the 2022 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Tourism Initiative, presented by the Colorado Tourism Office.
First Fridays with Visit Alamosa will kick off the program with a block party on San Juan Avenue on Friday, April 7, starting at 4 p.m. This special edition of First Fridays will feature live entertainment by Adams State University students, followed by the Celtic (K)nots, and a special appearance by the Salida Circus.
Great Sand Dunes Park Rangers will host information tables and activities for all ages.
Visit Alamosa will host a libation station, free mini golf, and ways to win “We Love Our National Park” swag and gift vouchers.
Through a partnership with lodging properties, travelers visiting Alamosa during April will once again be offered a gift voucher to be spent at participating locations, which increases visitor spending at Alamosa’s local businesses. In total, $10,000 in gift vouchers will be distributed to both travelers and community members throughout the month.
“We are excited to bring back the ‘We Love Our National Park’ program for the third year. What started as an idea to boost traveler spending coming off of the pandemic has turned into a community-wide annual celebration of our beloved Great Sand Dunes National Park,” said Kale Mortensen, executive director of Visit Alamosa.
“We greatly appreciate our partnerships with lodging, camping, retail and restaurant businesses. Without these community partners this program would not exist. We continue to grow this celebration and invite everyone to join the fun in sharing their love for the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.”
The Great Sand Dunes is a vital tourist attraction and major economic driver for the San Luis Valley, bringing thousands of travelers from around the world to the area annually. The national park is dedicated to conserving the ecosystem, wildlife, and scenic beauty of this natural resource. National Park Week is celebrated every year.
This year, National Park week is April 22-30. Learn more about the special events, programs and fee-free days at the Great Sand Dunes National Park at nps.gov/grsa. Find more information about Alamosa’s celebration at alamosa.org/love.
