Five events where you can celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday with him this summer

Smokey Bear, the iconic park ranger who has tirelessly promoted wildfire dangers to people across America, will celebrate his 80th birthday at events held across Wisconsin.

Smokey's official birthday is Aug. 9, according to a news release from the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest , but he's on a statewide tour, making appearances at events such as the Hmong Wausau Festival, a Trees for Tomorrow Forest Fest and the Wisconsin State Fair.

Smokey birthday fetes in Wisconsin kicked off with a special event held in June at Rhinelander's Pioneer Park Historical Complex, a party that included a "Top Chef"-inspired dessert competiton.

Here are five events at which Smokey Bear will appear and celebrate with the public.

Hmong Wausau Festival

Smokey will experience the cultural traditions of the Hmong community at the Hmong Wausau Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the Peoples Sports Complex, 602 E. Kent St., Wausau. Smokey Bear will also be testing participants' fire safety knowledge in a quiz game. The event features dancing, sports competitions, food, crafts and merchandise vendors.

Trees for Tomorrow Forest Fest

Smokey will celebrate his birthday, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the field of forestry in general while appearing at Forest Fest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 27, on the Trees for Tomorrow campus, 519 E. Sheridan St., Eagle River. The event offers programs about the management of Wisconsin's natural resources, and includes logging equipment demonstrations, children's activities and horse-drawn wagon rides. There will be cake.

Wisconsin State Fair

Smokey Bear will be at the Wisconsin State Fair, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 5 and Aug. 9. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will be helping Smokey celebrate his birthday there at Exploratory Park, which is located next to the Expo Center.

RELATED: Smokey Bear's first costume was made in Mercer, and the head is still on display there

David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center

Smokey will offering fire safety tips and a quiz on Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, located at 29270 Bayfield County G, near the U.S. 2 and State Highway 13 intersection. The Friends of The Center Alliance will provide a cake.

UW Center for Civic Engagement

Smokey will be available to meet with people on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the UW Center for Civic Engagement on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau, 625 Stewart Ave. His appearance coincides with Wausau's Artrageous Weekend , and the event will feature original portraits of Smokey Bear created by U.S. Forest Service Rudolph "Rudy" Wendelin . The portraits are on loan from the National Agricultural Library in Washington, D.C.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Five events where you can celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday with him this summer