Due to the expected impact of the winter storm, all Virginia State Park overnight facilities will be closed from Friday, Jan. 23 through Tuesday, Jan. 27. This decision is based on the forecast for unsafe conditions and potential power outages. For updates click here.

Volunteer Pawpaw Forage

Location of Powhatan State Park in Virginia

Where

Powhatan State Park, 4616 Powhatan State Park Rd., Powhatan, VA 23139.
Park Office

When

Sept. 19, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Would you like to learn about pawpaws and help collect them for our Pawpaw Festival? On the day of the festival, the fruits we collect will be offered as free samples for festival attendees to taste. Our goal is to gather as many as we can in advance so that we have plenty for folks to try! As you work to gather pawpaws, you will have the opportunity to taste a pawpaw yourself! Ripe pawpaws have creamy, pale yellow flesh that tastes something like mango-banana pudding.

A park ranger will accompany you to the foraging area and provide all the necessary instructions. Plan walking 1-2 miles on trails that are mostly flat as well as dense off-trail areas.

We recommend bringing water and wearing close-toed shoes and lightweight pants to avoid contact with ticks and poison ivy. You are welcome to bring gardening gloves to protect your hands, but the park will also have a few pairs of men's size medium/large work gloves to lend out. If you have any shallow boxes about shoebox-sized, please bring them! They will be used to store the fruit.

Register here and we will contact you with more details!

pawpaw fruits hanging from a branch

Other details

Standard parking or admission fee applies: Yes.
Extra fee: No.
Registration required: No.
Children welcome: Yes.
Phone: 804-598-7148
Email Address: powhatan@dcr.virginia.gov