Events in Virginia State Parks

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 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.

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.

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.

Support our park’s food chain by helping us remove invasive weeds from our pollinator garden! Our pollinator garden is a recent addition to our park that refuels resident and migratory pollinators that are tired from flying across the river.

This archery session for beginners and provides shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with instruction time on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

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

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snakes that live here in our Visitor Center.

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

Come join our Rangers in celebrating the Highland Maple Festival!

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

Vernal pools are shallow, temporary pools that typically form in early spring.

Join a ranger on a guided hike to learn more about different birds, plants, and ecosystems found in the park.

What better way to celebrate St.

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.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Early spring is a time of subtle but exciting change, and this guided hike invites visitors to look closely for the first signs of the season waking up the forest and fields.

Ever heard of a seed bomb?

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

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.

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

This is a “casting” call for miniatures enthusiasts and historic craft fans!

We all know that hiker who likes to stop every few steps to point out some cool fungi, or stop to examine a freshly fallen feather.

Do you have a passion for nature, environmental education, and wish to make a difference?

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

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

Come join our Rangers in celebrating the Highland Maple Festival!

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

Tour a replica of the Anderson Blockhouse as rangers provide information about the history of the building and area.