Events in Virginia State Parks

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

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Get your feet wet investigating the vast array of life in a stream. Catch crawdads, salamanders, frogs and such.

Come join a ranger for a riverside hike along the Clinch River.

Think you can stump a ranger?

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Pan for gold in the James River while learning about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park, and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river.  Participants must be ages 10 and over.

When it comes to carrying survival materials with you on the trail, every little bit of space counts, so hikers come up with creative ways to carry their gear.

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Harrold Holliday!

What's that roosting in the rafters?

Come over to picnic shelter #2 and get inspired by the great outdoors.

Come out to South Beach to learn how to use different types of nets to discover what animals are hiding offshore.

Get creative and discover the magic of upcycling! Join us in repurposing glass bottles that were headed to the landfill by painting your own vase.

Past and present, friends and families have enjoyed getting together for some friendly competition.

Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the forest cover of the mountains?

Ever wondered what critters are crawling beneath the surface of a stream? Join us on a fun adventure as we search the stream for interesting, tiny critters: freshwater invertebrates.

Holliday Lake State Park is buzzing with life this time of year.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

The forests are full of things both delicious and dangerous, but can you tell which is which?

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

End your week with a relaxing paddle along Swift Creek Lake.

The blue crab is one of the most iconic species of the Chesapeake Bay.

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

Enjoy the sounds of local musicians as you take in our beautiful park.

Brave the superstition and come out for a beautiful moonlight paddle on the lower Potomac River.

Come join the party!

Kick off your stay at our ranger-led campfire.

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park! Join us by the fire to get to know your fellow campers, learn about the history of the park, receive a few tips and tricks from a ranger on lighting a fire, and allow us to answer any questions you may have.

Where's the best place to fish at the park?

Join us at the amphitheater for a warm welcome to the park, camping tips, and fun activities!

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

What hides in the Appalachian wilderness after dark?

Welcome to the park, kick off your stay with an unforgettable evening by the fire at the water's edge.

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

As dusk draws near, lightning bugs appear!

Come for the s’mores, stay for the fun!

Come out to Leesylvania State Park to celebrate Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day.

Save the date for the annual Claytor Lake Festival.

In observance of Virginia State Park's History and Culture Weekend, the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a Civil War Bus Tour on Saturday, June 14.

Join us for History & Heritage Day at High Bridge Trail State Park, where we will explore the fascinating past of one of Virginia’s most historic landmarks!

Start your day with a peaceful and invigorating ranger-led hike at High Bridge Trail State Park.

Paddle through the Catlett Islands on a Ranger led kayak tour which explores the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and history of the park.

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

Join us Saturday, June 14th, for a guided kayaking program with Latino Outdoors DMV and Shenandoah River State Park.

Explore historic Prince Edward Lake on this guided canoe tour led by rangers.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a monthly "Birding in the Gap" program on the second Saturday of each month (with the exception of October and December).

Get knee-deep in the Shenandoah during Fly Fishing 101!  During this program, our fly-fishing instructor will go over all the basics to get you catching your first fish on a fly!

Learn about the park and lake's history by boat!

Join a ranger as you unravel the many mysteries of the Natural Bridge.

Join Rangers for a morning of family fun, fishing and learning about the Potomac River.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail.

Ride with a park guide as we experience Smith Mountain Lake from a boat.

Become a Junior Ranger today at Westmoreland State Park.

Journey to Martin’s Station and find yourself immersed in Virginia’s frontier.

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.

If you would like to hear what music sounded like in the 1840s before the Civil War, then we have a very unique experience for you. We will have a historically accurate live music program with reproduction banjos, fiddles, and more with some great history about the songs they are playing. This only happens once a year! Please bring some chairs or blankets and enjoy a wonderful evening with us.  BBQ food vendor will be at the park on Saturday and Sunday.

In 1860, nearly half of Fauquier County's 21,706 residents were enslaved, with thirteen enslaved individuals living at the Mount Bleak Farm.

From the Colonial Era thru today, black watermen have been a part of the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry in all levels.  Discover the communities built on harvesting fish and shellfish giving African Americans financial freedom even in the Jim Crow years.  Even today, we can help improve the bay so that everyone can enjoy it’s beauty and bounty.

Hear the tale of star-crossed lovers that the trail is named after and view the tunnel from above.

Established as a private residence in 1659, Caledon has a long and storied history.

Become a prospector as we follow in the footsteps of "Stampmill Sam".

How did Pocahontas State Park come to be? What are the "Original 6" State Parks?

Come walk the park's bluebird trail with a Virginia Master Naturalist as she checks the nestboxes and records data for the Virginia Bluebird Society.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch to learn about the remarkable summertime wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hosted by the Virginia Master Naturalist Bluebird Team, feel inspired as you learn about Eastern Bluebird conservation.

Pick up a copy of the self guided Cabin Creek Trail brochure at the Park Office or Visitor Center.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit?

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at archery?

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

How did a railroad give hope to a community and how does the creation of a park continue to offer that hope?

Join Machicomoco and the Fairfield Foundation as we team up to offer prospective Junior Rangers hands-on archaeological dig opportunities at the Timberneck House in order to earn a Junior Ranger patch.

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

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what that shell is on the beach?

Pottery and ceramics have been made and used by humans across the world for nearly 30,000 years.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Ride with a park guide as we experience Smith Mountain Lake from a boat.

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Please join us for a very special afternoon with Carl “Gump” Blair and Gene Dunford.

The shadow of revolution darkens Powell’s Valley.

The Battle of Bunker Hill is now infamous.

Learn about the fascinating history of our park, our lake, and the surrounding area.

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

Join rangers on a short stroll and tour of the historic Howe House.

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Join us for a hands-on adventure as we dig into the world of rocks, gems and fossils!

Discover the vital role butterflies play in our ecosystem and the remarkable journey they undertake from egg to winged adult.

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

Park Interpreter Meg Doppée will take you on a slow hike around Farmstead Loop Trail.

Love Sky Meadows?

Have you wondered about all of the bird houses around the park?  Have you caught a glimpse of beautiful blue feathers in the afternoon sunlight?

There’s duck calls and elk calls, but have you ever heard a squirrel call?

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.

Is the Chesapeake Bay healthy?

Come discover the world of self-publishing!