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Halloween happenings at Virginia State Parks
Halloween brings a variety of events to state parks across Virginia. From haunted hikes to pumpkin carving, visitors of all ages are guaranteed to have a howlin' good time at Virginia State Parks this spooky season.
Choose from the list below or click here to see what else our parks are offering leading up to Halloween. Some of these events may require registration or an additional fee, so click on the event name to learn more.
Mountain Region | Central Region | Coastal Region
Mountain Region
1. Haunted History Walk
Thursday, Oct. 31, 6-7 p.m.
As twilight descends, a ranger will guide you through the eerie woods, sharing ghostly tales and local legends that bring the park's history to life or perhaps the afterlife. Experience the haunting beauty of the landscape while listening to stories that will send shivers down your spine. Bring your sense of adventure and discover the secrets lurking in the shadows.
2. Things that go Bump in the Night Hike
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Whoooo goes there? Bats, owls and more, oh my! Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution. This moderate 1.5-mile hike will give you a chance to encounter owls, hunting bats and the moonlit silhouette of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
3. Campsite Decorating Contest
Friday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.
Campers are invited to get in the spooky spirit by decorating their campsites. Then, guests staying in campsites and cabins will be able to vote for their favorite campsite at the camp store or by visiting the camp host. The winner will be notified Sunday morning.
4. Pumpkins in the Park: Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m.
Enjoy pumpkin painting, costume contests, storytelling and a community-based trunk-or-treat where children enjoy an old-fashioned Halloween in a safe environment. Concessions will be available, and there will be a contest for the best-decorated community display.
We guarantee you'll see some scary costumes at Wilderness Road. Photo by Mike Brindle.
5. The Haunted Trail
Saturday, Oct. 26, 7-10 p.m.
Celebrate the spookiest season by daring to walk the park's haunted trail. Join us for an evening of spooks and scares as our beautiful park is transformed into the stuff of nightmares. Hold back screams as you traverse along a twisted, gnarled path with horrors around every corner. It's like a haunted house without the comforts of home. This program contains graphic content and is not recommended for small children.
6. Carve your own pumpkin
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2:30-4 p.m.
Meet us at the Oxbow Center to get in the Halloween spirit. We'll carve pumpkins while learning about the history behind the activity.
7. Goblins and Goodies Halloween Event
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Saturday, Oct. 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Bring the family to the park to enjoy the fall colors and a fun-filled Halloween event. Activities include a costume contest (for ages 12 and younger), pumpkin decorating, crafts, candy and games. Hayrides are offered from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Wear your favorite Halloween costume and join us for a howling good time.
8. Halloween Happenings
Thursday, Oct. 31, noon-8 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween with family and friends at Claytor Lake State Park for a day of spooky fun. Enjoy hayrides, games, crafts, face painting and a community-based Trunk-or-Treat. Costumes are encouraged.
You can go campground trick-or-treating at Claytor Lake.
9. Hoot ‘N Haints Family Festival
Southwest Virginia Museum State Park
Thursday, Oct. 31, 5-9 p.m.
On Halloween night, we’re calling all trick-or-treaters to take a break from your candy gathering and visit the museum for some ghoulish fun and games. There will be scary stories, a gypsy fortune teller, pumpkin bowling, monster bingo, mummy races, pick up the pumpkin, the “Haunting on the Hill” attraction and much more. Prizes will be awarded to game winners as well as participants.
10. Painting Pumpkins
Thursday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m.-noon
Join us at the visitor center for a pumpkin decorating contest. Paint your favorite park scene, pet or whatever your heart desires. The best-decorated pumpkin will win a bucket of candy. This program is open to all ages.
11. Fright Night
Saturday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Walk among the ghosts and goblins of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories. Join the fun on this short ranger-led hike that starts at the Upper Beach parking lot. Hikes will leave at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
This is the perfect setting for a spooky story
Central Region
12. Spooky Sundays
Every Sunday in October, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Slither on down to the Visitor Center to weave a web of knowledge on the spookier side of nature. You might just learn they're not as creepy or crawly as they seem. Explore the information at your own pace and pick up crafts and handouts to continue learning at home. Each week we will shine a light on a new topic, and learn to fear them, nevermore.
13. Time Travel to the Cemetery
Sunday, Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, 10-11:30 a.m.
Step back in time as we uncover the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery. We will walk by the very same farm fields where those who are buried once lived and worked. Tucked away in a shady grove of forest surrounded by those fields, traditional burial plants, field stones and graves represent the lives of loved ones long since passed.
Discover who Alpheus Hudson was during Time Travel to the Cemetery.
14. Critter Chow
Friday, Oct. 25, 2-3 p.m.
Meet Gertie and Birdie, the park's educational ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters. Explore their diets, natural behaviors and the important roles they play in our ecosystem. As our rangers demonstrate the feeding process, they’ll share fascinating facts about these amazing creatures and answer your questions.
15. Haunts and Hunts
Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween at Occoneechee State Park with a wagon ride through the park to the Terrace Gardens. Halloween treasures will be hidden throughout the garden area. Wear a costume and bring a container to collect your goodies.
16. Spooktacular Nature Scavenger Hunt
Monday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-noon
Let your imagination run wild with this fun scavenger hunt. Join a park ranger for this competitive adventure on the 1-mile-long Goodwin Lake Trail. Each participant will get a scavenger list at the start of the hike. You'll have to pay close attention to your surroundings if you want to find all the items first.
Keep your eyes peeled during this scavenger hunt along Goodwin Lake Trail.
Coastal Region
17. Science in the Park: Homeschool Series
Thursday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m.-noon
Calling all homeschoolers and curious kids! Come be a scientist for the day with our park rangers. Join us to try a new science experiment and learn about the world around us.
18. Creepy Crawlies and Unloved Animals: Nature's Hidden Heroes
Sunday, Oct. 27, 4-4:45 p.m.
Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies and other unloved animals with a park ranger. These creatures might give you the creeps, but they play crucial roles in our ecosystem. Come learn why they're nature's hidden heroes!
Look but don't touch if you see a wheel bug at Widewater.
19. Invisible Life
Saturday, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join a ranger to learn about the microscopic life found in our park. This hands-on experience introduces participants to the fascinating world of microbiology within the park's ecosystem. Using microscopes and water samples from various park locations, attendees will learn to identify different microorganisms and gain a deeper appreciation for the crucial role they play in our environment.
20. Spooktacular Species Night Hike
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Face your fears and unlock the mysteries of Machicomoco's nighttime creatures by investigating the park after dark with us. Join us on a hike to discover some of the park's spooky animals and do some hands-on learning to find out what you need to worry about and make the outdoors less frightening.
21. Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6-9 p.m.
Come Trunk-or-Treat at Caledon! Come in costume to join park staff and local businesses for a free and fun-filled evening with carnival games, spooky stories and haunted photo-ops, s'mores and a Halloween campfire. The Friends of Caledon will be hosting One-Eyed Zed's Zombie Games with play-till-you-win prizes, a haunted obstacle course, glow-in-the-dark fun and more.
Who knows what you'll see at Caledon's Trunk-or-Treat.
22. Halloweekend
Saturday, Oct. 26, 12-4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Join us at Westmoreland State Park for one of our annual themed special events to celebrate the spooky season of October. There will be games, activities, face painting, pumpkin carving and decorating (and a contest for the best pumpkin), programs, and... plenty more fun.
23. Trunk-or-Treat
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 5-8 p.m.
Dust off your costumes for a stroll through Campground C as you've never seen it before. Visit decorated sites for a sweet treat, or challenge yourself to turn your car's trunk into a spooky scene straight out of the movies. Food trucks and additional activities will be available throughout the event. The best-decorated trunk will win a gift certificate from Virginia State Parks.
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
