Wave to Smokey Bear as He Flies Over Island Beach State Park for His 82nd Birthday

Wave to Smokey Bear as He Flies Over Island Beach State Park for His 82nd Birthday

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, N.J. — Beachgoers along the Jersey Shore will have a special reason to look toward the sky Sunday, Aug. 9, as Smokey Bear takes to the air to celebrate his 82nd birthday.

Smokey Bear is scheduled to fly over Island Beach State Park aboard a New Jersey Forest Fire Service helicopter as part of a special birthday celebration highlighting his decades-long mission to promote wildfire prevention.

The flyover is expected to take place sometime between 1 and 3 p.m., although the exact timing remains weather- and flight-dependent.

Smokey Bear Takes to the Jersey Shore Skies

Smokey will be flying low over the ocean aboard one of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopters, giving beachgoers an opportunity to wave to the nation's most famous wildfire prevention bear.

The flight will travel along the Jersey Shore, with Smokey expected to wave to beachgoers from Cape May to Asbury Park.

A banner plane will lead the flight, displaying a special "Happy Birthday, Smokey Bear" message.

The celebration will also give visitors to Island Beach State Park a chance to take home a special souvenir.

The first 4,000 visitors to the park will receive a commemorative Smokey Bear beach tag.

Celebrating 82 Years of Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear has been a familiar symbol of wildfire prevention for generations. His famous message, "Only you can prevent wildfires," continues to remind people that individual actions can make a major difference in protecting forests, wildlife and communities.

The birthday flight is being made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.

If weather or other conditions prevent the flight from taking place Sunday, it will be rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16.

So if you're spending Sunday at Island Beach State Park or anywhere along the Jersey Shore, keep an eye on the sky — you just might see Smokey Bear flying overhead.

Happy 82nd birthday, Smokey! 🐻🔥