Events in Virginia State Parks

Discover what makes First Landing’s iconic Bald Cypress so extraordinary.

This classic campground activity is perfect for spring renewal.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

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.

Give your outdoor skills a boost and learn how to build a warm and cozy campfire during this hands-on workshop. Learn about fire safety, types of fires, and what materials to use when making s'mores at your next campout.

Head over to the historic “Wash House” to uncover the many stories behind this unique historic structure.

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

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

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.

Calling all birders and nature enthusiasts. Birding and wildlife viewing are hobbies enjoyed by enthusiasts around the world.

The Green Arrow?

A breeding colony of great blue herons is not a rookery, it is a heronry (we didn't make that word up).

Join park staff and living historians for a weekend of special programs commemorating the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Sailor’s Creek, one of the final major engagements of the Civil War.

April showers bring May flowers.  For the month of April, homeschoolers will learn about the water cycle, water pollution, and how it affects us and the environment.

Explore the fascinating animals of the Shenandoah Valley through an interactive display of animal artifacts from authentic furs, scaly sheds, and skull replicas.

For nearly thirty minutes, unopposed Union artillery battered Confederate General Richard Ewell’s beleaguered troops just south of Sailor’s Creek.

Join us at Sky Meadows State Park for a hands-on clinic designed to get you started in your journey as an angler.

The Friends group is a dedicated volunteer organization made up of community members who actively support the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park.

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).

Follow your nose to the historic Log Cabin and step into the world of early settlers in the Crooked Run Valley!

This hands-on experience invites visitors to discover the fascinating and essential connection between agriculture and livestock at Sky Meadows.

Knowing what animals are moving around the park is not only a rewarding hobby, but it just might save your life!

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

Step back in time and explore the rich history of Sky Meadows State Park on a guided walking tour of its historic grounds.

Seine netting is a skill that dates back many centuries ago for people to enjoy the bounty of the seas.

Spring is a fantastic time of year to take-in Southwest Virginia's beautiful scenery by bike.  This ranger-led bike meet up will go from Foster Falls to Austinville and back (10.4 miles round trip).  Group Ride: Rides will be at a group pace.

Join a park ranger on a three-mile hike to the waterfall and back.

Head over to the historic “Wash House” to uncover the many stories behind this unique historic structure.

Step back in time and savor the sweet traditions of the past at Sky Meadows State Park!

April showers bring May flowers.  For the month of April, homeschoolers will learn about the water cycle, water pollution, and how it affects us and the environment.

Take a guided stroll through the vibrant salt marsh along the Cape Henry Trail and uncover the hidden life of this vital wetland ecosystem.

Did you know that Sky Meadows is home to hundreds of beef cattle?

"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.  .

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

Slither, crawl, and shellabrate with us as we dive into the wild world of reptiles.

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

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail (0.81mi.).

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

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

Learn about some of the species of birds of the woods and fields, and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.  Join a Virginia Master Naturalist to discover our role and our impact on bird conservation.  The featured species will be Wood Thrush, Red Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, and Tree Swallows.  We hope to see these and many more!

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.(The Roaming Ranger will be at Woodstock Pond).

Tap into the swamp’s natural magic in this creative art workshop!

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

The Bald Cypress Trail is one of the park’s most popular trails with several swamp overlooks.

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.

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park!  April 10, 2026: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Tree ID Hike @ Visitor Center: Want to know more about the trees you see daily?

Stretch your wings on this hike all about the birds that call Chippokes State Park their nest!  Join a Ranger led excursion along College Run Trail to the shoreline of the James River.

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

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

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 historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources.

Let your creativity flow at our Creation Station, where you can create your favorite animal mask, opossum puppet, turkey, butterfly, or batteau craft.

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

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

Ever wondered how a beaver’s fur keeps it warm and dry, or how a white-tailed deer communicates within its herd?

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

Stop by our table in front of the Bath House for a sneak peek into the developing Virginia State Park's B.A.R.K Ranger program and upcoming dog focused events at Belle Isle.

Venom?

Come join the party!

What's in these mountains?

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking?

As the sun dips low and the night draws near, we humans usually turn in for the night...but this is show-time for bats!

Start off your weekend off right with s’mores and more!

Join us at the outdoor stage for an evening program about the soaring predators that hunt from the sky at night, including learning different owl calls, adaptations, and a chance to dissect an owl pellet!

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

Join us at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park for our “Birding in the Gap” series, held on the second Saturday of each month during the months of February, April, June and November.

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

Step back in time and experience the daily life of an American Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

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 Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

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

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

Known by many as a time of rebirth and renewal, spring brought welcome change to both the fields and the forest of Virginia’s frontier.

The Timberneck House got a new paint job last year!

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

Step out on the trail to search for springtime renewal.

Think you’ve spotted an alien?

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

Blink and you might miss them—spring’s wildflowers don’t stick around for long!

Visiting the Natural Bridge could bring out your inner artist this weekend as Roni Navroski teaches you how to paint on a feather.

Meaningful, spontaneous conversations can inspire curiosity and foster deeper engagement with community programs!

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River. We'll take a wagon ride to the river and walk along the beach, where we aim to watch eagles as they nest and perch along the shore.

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

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, or is that a bat?

Join a community celebration of all things Jefferson and Natural Bridge with family-friendly activities along Cedar Creek trail.

This place, this land, is as old as time itself.

After this cold winter, get ready for spring planting.

Have you heard the joke about frogs?

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

Join our volunteer John Duncan on a short stroll and tour of the historic Howe House as we discuss how the park came to be.

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.

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

Come explore the historic town of Fries! A park ranger will share stories of local history and show what remains of the once thriving textile industry.

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!