Smokey Bear, the face of forest fire prevention, celebrates his 65th birthday on August 8, and the Big Bear Discovery Center has planned a special celebration for the American icon—who, in fact, was a real cub rescued from a forest fire in the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico, prompting Smokey’s first poster in 1944. Saturday’s festivities at the Discovery Center on the North Shore will include storytelling and book signings by Sue Houser, author of “Hot Foot Teddy: The True Story of Smokey Bear,” at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Smokey Bear will also be present, for birthday cake and photo op’s at noon. The birthday party will be followed by a concert at the outdoor amphitheater; Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries perform rock ’n’ roll oldies at 7pm, following a ceremony to honor Smokey at 6:45pm. For more information on the concert, which is free for children 12 and under, you can visit SBNFA.org. (Gates open at 5:30pm for concert; attendees can bring their own beach chairs.)
