Smokey Bear Turns 75: Birthday Bash At Liberty State Park In NJ

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” This familiar catchphrase – uttered by none other than Smokey Bear – will draw generations of environmentalists to a 75th birthday celebration for the beloved mascot in Hudson County.

On Saturday, Aug. 10 – a day after the icon’s “official” birthday – the New Jersey Forest Fire Service will pay tribute to Smokey with a daylong celebration at the national park at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The family-friendly event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Children’s activities at the event will be free. There will be a parking fee of $7 per carload, officials said. Learn more about this local event.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP):

“Smokey Bear will arrive by helicopter to join his celebration, which will feature marching bands, a disc jockey, petting zoo and multiple bounce houses for children, and various fire apparatus such as fire trucks, plows and more. Some indoor activities will be offered at the Central Railroad Terminal Building at the park, including a display of vintage Smokey Bear posters. In addition, Smokey Bear public service announcements dating from the 1950s will play in a theater at the terminal building, as well as the Forest Fire Service’s video entry for the nationwide ‘Smokey Bear Challenge,’ in which states have challenged one another to come up with the best promotion of Smokey Bear’s milestone birthday.”

The NJDEP said that Smokey Bear and his catchphrase is the longest-running public service campaign in U.S. history. The campaign is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council.

According to state officials:

“Created in 1944, Smokey Bear has educated generations of Americans about their role in preventing fires... Smokey Bear’s public awareness campaign has evolved over 75 years to focus on the prevention of forest fires to prevention of wildfires, due in part to significant outbreaks of wildfires in natural areas other than forests. The current message also clarifies the difference between prevention of unwanted and unplanned outdoor fires versus prescribed burns, which are intentionally set by firefighters to burn away materials that could accelerate a wildfire.”

Learn more about Smokey Bear and the “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires” campaign.

“As our Forest Fire Service works year-round to keep our communities safe, it’s also important for the public to recognize their role in helping to prevent wildfires,” NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe said. “Celebrating Smokey Bear and his message is a great way for the public to work with us and be good stewards in protecting our environment.”

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