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Tag: california state parks

  • California defies Trump, makes admission free for over 200 parks on MLK Day

    California defies Trump, makes admission free for over 200 parks on MLK Day

    Updated: 7:03 AM PST Jan 18, 2026

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    After President Donald Trump slashed free admission to national parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, California state parks will offer free admission at more than 200 state parks over the upcoming holiday.In a news conference held in San Francisco on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state was able to raise private funds to offset the cost of granting free vehicle entry to the parks. The money came from the California State Parks Foundation, an independent, nonprofit advocacy group for the parks, Newsom’s office said in a news release. “While Trump works to erase Dr. King’s legacy, California will honor it,” Newsom’s office said in the release. On Monday, vehicles with no more than nine passengers will be admitted to the participating parks for free. A list of these parks can be found on the California State Parks’ website. Some parks are expected to still charge fees, though, including those with off-highway vehicle areas, per-person entry, operations run by partner organizations or guided tours, like Hearst Castle.MLK Day is not the first federal holiday that Trump has targeted with an omission of free entry days. The administration also canceled free admission to national parks on Juneteenth, a federal holiday on June 19 that commemorates the formal end of slavery in the U.S. Instead, Trump’s birthday, June 14, which also coincides with Flag Day, was added to the 2026 list of free entry days. “MLK Day now been shifted to Trump Day. Again, what more evidence do we need on what the hell is going on the United States of America?” Newsom said during Friday’s press conference. The NAACP also condemed the administration’s decision in December, saying that scrapping MLK Day and Juneteenth from the free entry days list minimizes Black resilience and erases Black history.The change comes amid ongoing controversies over the national parks under the Trump administration. Recently, new park passes were issued featuring Trump’s face, leading an environmental nonprofit to sue the Department of the Interior, alleging that the move is illegal. The department in turn cautioned that covering Trump’s image with stickers or other materials could invalidate the pass.In May, the Trump administration ordered park officials to remove — and also asked visitors to report — park signs that portray the country’s history in a negative light. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    After President Donald Trump slashed free admission to national parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, California state parks will offer free admission at more than 200 state parks over the upcoming holiday.

    In a news conference held in San Francisco on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state was able to raise private funds to offset the cost of granting free vehicle entry to the parks. The money came from the California State Parks Foundation, an independent, nonprofit advocacy group for the parks, Newsom’s office said in a news release.

    “While Trump works to erase Dr. King’s legacy, California will honor it,” Newsom’s office said in the release.

    On Monday, vehicles with no more than nine passengers will be admitted to the participating parks for free. A list of these parks can be found on the California State Parks’ website.

    Some parks are expected to still charge fees, though, including those with off-highway vehicle areas, per-person entry, operations run by partner organizations or guided tours, like Hearst Castle.

    MLK Day is not the first federal holiday that Trump has targeted with an omission of free entry days.

    The administration also canceled free admission to national parks on Juneteenth, a federal holiday on June 19 that commemorates the formal end of slavery in the U.S. Instead, Trump’s birthday, June 14, which also coincides with Flag Day, was added to the 2026 list of free entry days.

    “MLK Day [has] now been shifted to Trump Day. Again, what more evidence do we need on what the hell is going on the United States of America?” Newsom said during Friday’s press conference.

    The NAACP also condemed the administration’s decision in December, saying that scrapping MLK Day and Juneteenth from the free entry days list minimizes Black resilience and erases Black history.

    The change comes amid ongoing controversies over the national parks under the Trump administration. Recently, new park passes were issued featuring Trump’s face, leading an environmental nonprofit to sue the Department of the Interior, alleging that the move is illegal. The department in turn cautioned that covering Trump’s image with stickers or other materials could invalidate the pass.

    In May, the Trump administration ordered park officials to remove — and also asked visitors to report — park signs that portray the country’s history in a negative light.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Celebrating 175 years of statehood: California birthday block party lights up the Capitol

    On Tuesday, California celebrated 175 years of statehood.In honor of the anniversary, California State Parks hosted a big block party at the Capitol.Thousands attended California’s big birthday bash, featuring food trucks, California-grown treats, activities, and a laser light display.See updates from the block party around 6 p.m. in the video below:Organizers said the highlight was the laser show featuring 31 laser space cannons in honor of California becoming America’s 31st state in 1850.To start the block party Tuesday evening, the state’s first partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, joined the community.There were archive tours, entertainment, and some State Parks workers and volunteers were dressed in period attire as they discussed California’s history.The State Parks director said it’s all about celebrating California’s Indigenous roots in the Golden State.”This is about more than just a block party, the 175th anniversary of California becoming a state is really about belonging. This is where you live, this is your home, the whole state is where you belong,” Armando Quintero said. Watch a livestream of the laser show in the video player below:See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    On Tuesday, California celebrated 175 years of statehood.

    In honor of the anniversary, California State Parks hosted a big block party at the Capitol.

    Thousands attended California’s big birthday bash, featuring food trucks, California-grown treats, activities, and a laser light display.

    See updates from the block party around 6 p.m. in the video below:

    Organizers said the highlight was the laser show featuring 31 laser space cannons in honor of California becoming America’s 31st state in 1850.

    To start the block party Tuesday evening, the state’s first partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, joined the community.

    There were archive tours, entertainment, and some State Parks workers and volunteers were dressed in period attire as they discussed California’s history.

    The State Parks director said it’s all about celebrating California’s Indigenous roots in the Golden State.

    “This is about more than just a block party, the 175th anniversary of California becoming a state is really about belonging. This is where you live, this is your home, the whole state is where you belong,” Armando Quintero said.

    Watch a livestream of the laser show in the video player below:

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    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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