Home > Blog > Save The Dates: Can't Miss May and June Festivals, Events and More

Save The Dates: Can't Miss May and June Festivals, Events and More

By Shellie AnnePosted May 07, 2019

With the excitement that Summer is just around the corner, and the weather ebbing and flowing toward warm sunny days, we know you'll want to take advantage of all the fun found outdoors at Virginia State Parks.

We've got so much going on it's hard to keep a lid on it...here a few fun festivals and events worth your attention this May and June at Virginia State Parks.

There's a boatload of festivals and fun lined up this year, bigger and better than ever before

Wayne C. Henderson and Friends - MOUTH OF WILSON

May 26, 2019

Wayne C. Henderson and Friends Memorial Weekend at Grayson Highlands State Park

What better way to treat yourself on a holiday weekend, than an evening of music in the fresh mountain air. Music is the cornerstone of our Appalachian heritage. Award-winning guitar maker and musician Wayne C. Henderson wants to spend some time with you sharing memories and music of the area. He will even bring some of his most musically talented friends.

Join us from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the campground amphitheater. For directions and more information about Grayson Highlands State Park, click here.

Pickin' in the Park: Music in the Mountains - DUFFIELD

May 26, 2019

Pickin' in the Park: Music in the Mountains at Natural Tunnel State Park

Wondering what to do on a warm Sunday afternoon? Members of the Cultural Arts Council will provide local bands to play the afternoon away. This program showcases some of the talents our local musicians have. Dust off your shoes because these bands will get your toes tapping and hands clapping. The program is sponsored by: Hob Nob Drive-In and the Mountain Empire Community College School of Music.

Summer Line-Up:

May 26: Tennessee Border
June 30: Lawson Family Band
July 28: Childress Family Band

Join us from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Amphitheater. Admission is free; parking is $4 per vehicle. For directions and more information about Natural Tunnel State Park, click here.

29th Annual Steam and Gas Engine Show - SURRY

June 1-2, 2019

Annual Steam and Gas Engine Show at Chippokes State Park

Start your summer off with a visit to the 28th Annual Steam and Gas Engine Show at Chippokes State Park. "Hit-n-miss" engines, antique tractors and classic cars will be on display. Enjoy tram rides, tractor pulls, sawmill demonstrations and kids' activities, including a pedal tractor pull competition. Food and craft vendors will be on hand. Don't miss this great family event. Cost: $5 vehicle park entrance fee. $15 tractor pull hook-up fee.

To display your car or tractor or to take part in the tractor pull, contact the park beforehand at (757)-294-3625.

Join us on June 1 and 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For directions and more information about Chippokes State Park, click here.

Firefly Festival, a High Bridge Trail Signature Event - FARMVILLE

June 7, 2019

Firefly Festival on the High Bridge will knock your socks off

Witness the spectacular sight of fireflies by the tens of thousands in the tree tops below High Bridge. Meet a ranger guide for a brief explanation of these wonderful, luminous insects. We moved this program to be slightly earlier in June this year to avoid a waxing full moon and to achieve an excellent dark contrast of the star-field above and the living "stars" around and below you (read more here).

Visitors have close access to the program from Camp Paradise Road on the Prince Edward County side of High Bridge or arrive at our River Road parking area in Cumberland County by 8:30 p.m. in order to have enough time to walk the mile to High Bridge.

A $10.00 per vehicle parking fee applies at both parking lots during the festival. Food vendors will be available. Be prepared to stay out after dark, event is from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information contact the park office at 434-315-0457. For directions and more information about High Bridge Trail State Park, click here.

Claytor Lake Summer Festival - DUBLIN

June 8, 2019

Don't miss the fun at the Claytor Lake Summer Festival on June 8, 2019

The Claytor Lake Festival is the perfect venue for getting outside and enjoying the park. Enjoy food vendors, arts and crafts, wine tasting, a car show, a youth fishing tournament, live entertainment and fireworks on the lake at dusk.

Parking is $10 or $5 plus five cans of food for donation per vehicle. For vehicles with Handicap plates/placards parking is $5 or free with a donation of five cans of food. Parking is free for those with annual parking passes. See more about the Festival Day Boat Parade here.

Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For directions and more information about Claytor Lake State Park, click here, or for more about the festival visit Claytor Lake Festival on Facebook here.

Estuaries Day - WILLIAMSBURG

June 8, 2019

Learn something new this year at Estuaries Day at York River State Park

Family fun where the river meets the sea. Ranger guided activities include fossil hunting, hiking, paddling, and seining. Several exhibitors will have hands-on displays to enhance the estuarine experience. Among them will be the Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, Historic Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist and the National Park Service Chesapeake Roving Ranger. All other activities are free with $4 parking.

Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For directions and more information about York River State Park, click here.

Annual Eagle Festival on Mason Neck - LORTON

May 11, 2019

Enjoy a day packed with family fun at the Annual Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park and the park staff invite you to participate in this jam-packed day of live animal shows, activities, music, food and more. Mason Neck State Park is home to a thriving population of Bald Eagles and is a wonderful place to enjoy the beauty of nature in a busy urban area. Join us as we celebrate our national symbol. Don't miss the Birds of Prey Presentation.

Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and admission to the festival is free! For directions and more information about Mason Neck State Park, click here.

ADDITIONAL SAVE THE DATES

Reynolds Homestead American Music in the Park Series at Fairy Stone State Park - STUART

Saturday, May 25 - Mason Via and Friends
Mason Via is a talented young musician/singer/songwriter out of Danbury, NC. Mason's lyrics and emotionally charged vocals are the driving force behind his band's great music.
Saturday, July 6 - F.A.R.M. T.E.A.M.
Have fun with the Free Alliance of Recalcitrant Musicians Totally Eclectic About Music featuring musicians Mary Jo and Charlie Leet and Gayle and Rory McTighe.
Saturday, August 10 - Simple Gifts of the Blue Ridge
This perennial favorite folk music group from the Blacksburg area entertains with hammered dulcimers and a wonderful array of tunes from around the world.

Join us at shelter 2 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. FREE! More park info here.

Music in the Park at Hungry Mother State Park - MARION

Our popular outdoor concert series returns. Join us on the lawn at the Gazebo for wonderful music in the great outdoors. Many of our musicians are our favorite local bands/singers, but we also offer musicians never before heard in our area. Musical styles range from bluegrass, olde tyme, folk, acoustic, pop, and oldies to Americana. Please don't forget to bring something to sit on whether it's a blanket for the ground or comfortable camp chairs, as we only have a few picnic tables close to the Gazebo. FREE! Join us from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. More park info here.

May24: The Pointer Brothers - Bluegrass/Acoustic Jazz
May 31: Tommy Short - Bluegrass
June 7: A Little Bit More - Americana
June 14: Bill Huber - Folk/Light Rock
June 21: Supperbreak - Pop/Country
June 28: Ryan Ward - Solo/Acoustic
July 5: Valley Grass - Bluegrass/Gospel
July 12: Cross Cut - Bluegrass
July 19: No Music Due to Arts and Crafts Festival
July 26: Daniel Bachman - Solo/Acoustic
August 2: Haze & Dacey - Pop-Folk/Roots-Rock
August 9: Timothy Seaman - Acoustic Pop/Rock/Country
August 16: Virginia Remnants - Rock Americana
August 23: Bill and Maggie - Americana
August 30: Raymond Akers - Pop/Folk/Country

Music on the Cliffs at Westmoreland State Park - MONTROSS

June 15 - Midnight Coal
July 20 - David Smith
August 17 - Haze and Dacey
September 21 - Hard to Tell

Join us from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. FREE! Every third Saturday, bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner, sit back, listen to some great music and enjoy the view from the Cliffs. More park info here.

Great American Campout - ALL PARKS

June 22, 2019

Be a part of the Great American Campout

Don't miss your chance to experience camping in parts of the parks that are non-camping areas, first time and experienced campers won't want to miss all the fun programs and activities. Additional fees may apply.

See a full listing of campout events at each park here.

Never be out of the loop, subscribe to the eNews

Full listing of events

Click here to search our events database for more festivals and programs, as they're added daily. We could only fit a handful in this article, there is so much more happening this May and June.

We've got a boatload of great festivals and events lined-up for you, bigger and better than ever before at Virginia State Parks, don't miss out on any of the fun.

You may also enjoy: Save the dates July and August Festivals, Events and More