Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.
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Halloween Happenings
Halloween brings a variety of events to state parks across Virginia. From haunted hikes to pumpkin painting, visitors of all ages are guaranteed to have a howlin' good time at Virginia State Parks this spooky season.
Choose from our list of Halloween events below or click here to see what else our parks are offering over Halloween weekend.
Mountain Region
1. Haunted History Tour
Saturday, Oct. 21, 7-8 p.m.
Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic village of Foster Falls. During this guided walk, a park interpreter will share stories of local mining history, the remains of the once booming iron industry of the late 19th century and some local ghost stories. Registration is required.
2. “Gourd”-geous
Saturday, Oct. 21, 1-2 p.m.
Come and decorate a Pie Pumpkin! You can dress it up, paint a pretty pattern, or make it spooky. Most of all, have fun! Stick around till the end of the hour and you may win a prize. Then, take the pumpkin and put it on your porch or display it at your campsite and show off your Halloween Spirit.
3. Pumpkins in the Park: Trunk-or-Treat
Thursday, 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.
We guarantee you'll see some scary costumes at Wilderness Road. Photo by Mike Brindle.
4. Haunted History: A Lantern Tour of Natural Bridge
Friday, Oct. 27, 7-8:30 p.m.
This October voices from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, all by lantern light. Uncover stories of times gone by and discover some of the people who have left their mark on the history of this place. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited.
A Lantern Tour is a great way to learn about the Bridge.
5. Campground Halloween Party.
Friday, Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m.
It's all treats and no tricks here! We’ll have candy, spooky wagon rides, a costume contest, crafts and ooey-gooey s’mores around a campfire.
6. Shot Tower TREATS
Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Stop by the shot tower for a Halloween treat and tour! Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers. Interpretive signs provide details on the tower, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Fall Celebration
Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Come take part in hands-on living history through corn shelling, doll making, candle making, blacksmithing, survival skills, as well as a visit from the Fincastle Colonial Militia Re-enactors. There will also be a campsite decorating, pumpkin carving contest and much more.
Join in the fun pumpkin carving contest during the Fall Celebration at Claytor Lake.
8. Halloween Costume Contest
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2-3 p.m.
Kick off 'Hallo-weekend' with a good ole-fashioned costume contest. All are welcome to join the fun: adults, kids, even dogs. Whether your costume is funny, scary, colorful and creative, or classic, come strut your stuff at the amphitheater stage for a fun competition for the spooky season.
9. Goblins and Goodies Halloween Event
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Saturday, Oct. 28, 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, pumpkin decorating, crafts, hayrides, candy and games. Wear your favorite Halloween costume and join us for a "howling" good time.
You'll have a howling good time at Goblins and Goodies.
10. The Haunted Trail
Saturday, Oct. 28, 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. This program contains graphic content is not recommended for small children.
11. Ghost Hikes
Saturday, Oct. 28, 7-8 p.m., 8-9 p.m., 9-10 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 beginning at the ADA Fishing Area parking lot on Union Bridge Road.
12. Hoot ‘N Haints Family Festival
Southwest Virginia Museum State Park
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 4-9 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 “Haunted Moat” and much more.
The museum is decorated every year for Hoot 'N Haints.
Central Region
13. Haunts & Hunts at Occoneechee
Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Come celebrate Halloween at Occoneechee State Park. We have an exciting event planned for all the little ghosts and goblins who want to get outside. The program starts with a wagon ride through the park ending at the terrace gardens. Halloween treasures will be hidden throughout the gardens. We will work together as a group to find secret prizes so that everyone walks away a winner. Be sure to wear your favorite costume! Space is limited, so please pre-register.
14. Full Moon Owl Prowl
Saturday, Oct. 28, 6-7 p.m.
Come take a walk with us under a full moon to search for some of the park's most elusive night-time predators — owls! As we walk along under the quiet cover of darkness, we'll listen for their haunting voices as they cry out across the landscape. You'll practice identifying the unique calls of three different species of owls and learn how their fascinating adaptations have made them formidable night-time predators.
A full moon at Powhatan is something you don't want to miss.
15. Spooktacular Nature Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
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.
16. Fall Farm Days
Saturday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Embrace the changing colors of the season during Sky Meadows' Fall Farm Days. Step back in time and see history come to life. Take in the many sights and sounds of a Piedmont farm as you explore the park's Historic Area. Also, get in touch with nature and explore a managed landscape rich in biodiversity. Discover native flora and fauna, learn the craft of beekeeping, the importance of various pollinators and much more! In addition to the history and nature- themed programs, we also offer hearth cooking and blacksmith demonstrations, food vendors, and live music.
17. Gathering in the Graveyard
Saturday, Oct. 28, 10-11 a.m.
Pocahontas State Park has more than 20 graveyards or burial grounds within the park's boundaries. Join a ranger in exploring these connections to the past.
18. Bats Above Us
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2-3 p.m.
You think "spidey senses" are cool? Come discover what superpowers real bats have. Test your echolocation skills or try on bat wings to see if you can fly just like these nocturnal bug zappers.
Learn all about bats just in time for Halloween.
Coastal Region
19. Ghost Trail Hike
Friday, Oct. 20, and Saturday, Oct. 21, 7:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Join us for this spooky hike in the park at night to discover some of its haunted past through storytelling and period dressed interpreters. Hikes are about 30 minutes and cover a short distance. You can pretend that you are not scared but who are you really fooling? Reservations are required.
20. Pumpkin Painting
Friday, Oct. 27, 5-6 p.m.
Celebrate fall by painting your own pumpkin at the park! Pumpkins are available at the front office or at a paint session in limited quantities. Take your pumpkin home, use it to decorate your campsite, or leave it at the office to add to the park’s fall display. Registration is preferred due to limited quantity. All proceeds benefit the Friends of Machicomoco State Park.
Come paint a pumpkin at Machicomoco.
21. Create an Abator
Friday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Did you know that there are 17 known species of bat that live in the state of Virginia and that three of those are federally recognized as endangered?
Let's learn about the magnificence of these three endangered species while we make a Halloween-themed avatar, better known in the fall season as an abator, that can fly just like a kite. If your abator kite can fly, you can bat yourself on the back.
22. A Full Moon Adventure: Luminous Legends of Wash Woods
Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30-10 p.m.
Join us under the full moon to explore the Wash Woods in the maritime forest of Virginia Beach. From sailors to surfmen, we’ll discover who made up the remote Wash Woods community. Under the cover of night, we’ll journey by tram into the park. Then embark on a 1-mile roundtrip hike to the historic site including a cemetery from the 1800s. Bring a flashlight and sturdy walking shoes.
$15 per person (fundraiser for Friends of False Cape). Reservations are required by calling 757-426-7128.
Wash Woods cemetery at False Cape State Park
23. Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, Oct. 28, 5-9 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.
24. Trek and Treat
Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30-4 p.m.
Join us for a spooktacular adventure! Put on your favorite costume and get ready to explore Holly Marsh trail, 0.9 miles filled with excitement. As you journey through the park, you'll encounter themed stations where you can collect delicious treats.
25. Haunted Hike
Sunday, Oct. 29, 8-9 p.m.
Test your courage with this terrifying night hike. Traverse the swamp while looking out for the creatures of the night, all without a flashlight!
Find More Events
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
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