Events in Virginia State Parks

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?  The Tyke Hike is the perfect fit for little legs.  The hikes are less than a mile and mostly stroller friendly.  The ranger will help your little one discover neat things in nature in this one hour adventure.

Spring brings about lots of change in our natural world.

Witness the amphibian life cycle and see aquatic invertebrates up-close when you join us in this partnership program with our local Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists (CPVMN).

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Join us for “Hoppin’ into Spring: A Bunny Vase Workshop” Celebrate the season with a fun, eco-friendly craft!

Come join the monthly meeting of the Widewater State Park Friend's Group!

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce upcoming grafting workshops in collaboration with the Wise County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

"Beavers:  Nature's Engineers" examines the characteristics and habits of North America's largest rodent.  Learn about how beavers alter the environment more than any other creature except humans.  Find out how beavers contributed to the westward expansion as settlers arrived in the New World.  Following a short lecture about the beaver and a few "local stories", a beautiful movie will follow the life of a pair of beaver's lives throughout a year-long period.  Various items, including a beaver skull, pelt, and examples of wood cuttings, will be displayed.  A special gift will be given to all children who attend the program.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce upcoming grafting workshops in collaboration with the Wise County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

Leave No Trace principles not only apply to you, but also your dog.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is thrilled to announce the spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program!

Time to polish your beginner or advanced identification skills for the local fauna of Virginia.

Did you know Raccoons can remember solutions to tasks and have “hands” like ours?

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Is it a bobcat or a coyote?

Let your Friday afternoons be filled with natural  and historical wonders.  Join us for a closer look at some of the interesting things about our ecosystem and region.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

In early spring, Virginia's tiny delicate woodland wildflowers make their appearance!

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Come join the party!

Join DCR, First Landing State Park, and DAVID USUI: Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer for a free screening of Been Here Stay Here.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

Step back in time as we uncover some of the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Start off your weekend off right with s’mores and more! Join our rangers in a welcome campfire at the Outdoor Classroom behind the Discovery Center each Friday this month, where you can learn more about the wildlife and fossils that we have here in our park. Whether you want to learn more about Westmoreland, or you just want to hang out and eat s’mores, you know where to find us! Dress appropriately for the weather on the day of the event and bring water. .

The story of a man wrapped in legend, contradiction, and unanswered questions, this program invites visitors to explore the puzzling personality of Richard Anderson Ewell, a commander whose reputation has shifted, stretched, and sparked debate for more than a century.

If you love working outdoors and meeting new and interesting people, you won’t want to miss our annual Volunteer Kickoff at Powhatan State Park!

Event Registration is full!

Looking for a way to give back to nature and enjoy the outdoors?

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

Join the rangers to give back a bit of your time and help maintain the beauty of York River.

Flying nearly 3,000 miles in migration, butterflies are seemingly delicate creatures that are true examples of nature’s awe inspiring beauty and determination.

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Discover the colorful world of butterflies at Twin Lakes State Park!

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Step out on the trail to search for springtime renewal.

Join us for a guided Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience March—a month of transformation.

The appearance of frogs and salamanders is a sure sign of spring.

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River.

Celebrate National Learn About Butterflies Day with First Landing State Park Rangers and the Butterfly Society of Virginia.

Come join our Rangers in celebrating the Highland Maple Festival!

Walk through history by touring Sky Meadows' historic Mount Bleak House.

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

Just as visitors begin to return to our park in the spring, so do spring ephemerals.

Join a park interpreter on a scavenger hunt along one of our less explored trails to find all of the colors, shapes, and sizes that are found in nature.

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

What better way to celebrate St.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

It's Learn About Butterflies Day! Not only are butterflies beautiful but they also play an important role in our ecosystems.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Pi might go on forever, but our trails don't.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

This popular activity gives you the chance to glean the makings of a s'more while enjoying a geocaching adventure.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Step inside the Discovery Center to learn from a park ranger about local wildlife, the park's history, and the New River! All ages welcome.

Join the rangers on a hunt for three of James River's 14 geocaches.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Legend has it that St.

If you're curious about trees, satisfy your curiosity on this Arbor Adventure!  Join a ranger on Chippoax Trace Trail to identify Chippokes' fauna, specifically trees.  This trail takes visitors from rolling farm fields, into canopied woodlands, and to a worthwhile scenic view of the beautiful salt marshes of Chippokes.

Parents, you spoke, and we listened!  We're excited to introduce our first toddler series: Little Wanderers.

Celebrate National Learn About Butterflies Day with us at the park.

Discover the Stories Behind the Stones!

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

Come join our Rangers in celebrating the Highland Maple Festival!

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

Explore how birds, bats, bees, and other pollinators aid in the life cycle of plants and flowers with a fun game inspired by green light, red light.  Parks are for everyone.

Join us at the Oxbow Center to celebrate National Learn About Butterflies Day with Chris Allgyer, a Virginia Master Naturalist from the High Knob Chapter.

Join a ranger in learning the key differences between our native and non-native pollinators and what they do to help the environment.

Build your very own bug hotel to help provide a habitat for beneficial insects. Your creation will offer pollinators a special space where they can breed and grow!

Join us in discovering the hidden wonders of these temporary seasonal wetlands.

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

Want to save the bees, butterflies, birds, and more?  Just plant native!  Even the smallest pollinator-friendly patch will make a difference.  At our pollinator garden workshop, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started and receive a planning packet to help create your own pollinator habitat at home.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

In 1988, March 14 was officially named Pi Day (3.14) but also celebrates Albert Einstein's birthday and International Day of Mathematics. Join us as we get irrational and explore topics like The Butterfly Effect, Golden Ration (phi) / Fibonacci Sequence and pi, with pie of course!

Who made those footprints?

Experience the sights and sounds of the park at sunset with a leisurely guided hike beginning at 7 p.m. from the main parking lot.

Join us for an evening adventure as we explore the fascinating world of vernal pools.

Join our rangers for a bit of fun around the campfire as we welcome you to the park.

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for a night of awe and wonder.

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

Calling all Junior Rangers!

The Visitor Center at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park offers a museum filled with treasured artifacts discovered over the years where the last major fight of the American Civil War in Virginia occurred on April 6, 1865.

Tours of the Hillsman House, a National Historic Landmark, are available to the public by request.

A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Sailor's Creek Battlefield is available to visitors year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield offers six, self-guided Hiking Trails with historic markers for the public to explore year round during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).