Events in Virginia State Parks

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Reconnect with nature and your innate creativity with monthly Nature Journaling workshops led by Mary Larson, Virginia Master Naturalist.

All of the park's original facilities back in the 1930's were built by hand.

In honor of Virginia State Parks History and Culture Weekend and in conjunction with Flag Day, the staff at Sailor's Creek Battlefield invite you join us for this exciting historical program.

Head on over to the park to learn about Ranger Parker Red Fox, the Virginia State Parks mascot.

Come learn about Palmer Hayden, a renowned Widewater artist who is known for his paintings of everyday life in African-American communities.

Belle Isle State Park was established in April 1993, but this 892-acre property has a long history.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

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

Come join us here at Clinch River State Park for Virginia State Park's History and Culture Day!

Learn about the history of Westmoreland State Park as one of the original six Virginia State Parks and dive into the rich history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) legacy.

The natural environment that cradles Bear Creek today is a new one.

The York River was home to four manned lighthouses: Bells Rock, Pages Rock, Tue Marshes, and York Spit.  Bells Rock was the uppermost, just two miles below West Point.  Pages Rock was the only other light above the Coleman (Rt.

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.

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

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

Flag Day is a celebration of the American flag that occurs each year on the anniversary of the flag’s official adoption, June 14. What we know fondly as the “Stars and Stripes” was adopted by the Continental Congress as the official American flag in 1777, in the midst of the Revolutionary War.

Ever wonder what dolls of the 18th century frontier looked like or what they were made of?

Archery programs are some of the best recreational activities that State Parks have to offer.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a lunch date, and they want you to join.

Join us for a Saturday afternoon of music and fun.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions!

The Battle of Bunker Hill is now infamous.

The shadow of revolution darkens Powell’s Valley.

Join us for a free historical tour of the Cedar Crest Conference Center.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

Park Interpreters will have a few historic games that kids would play in colonial times.

The visitor center is one of the best spots to search for bald eagles hunting fish and soaring through the sky, so stop by and search for eagles along with our park rangers.

Ever wondered how the cabins you stay in and the shelters you enjoy were built without modern technology?

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 boomtown. 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.

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

How did soldiers sleep after a march?

The Indigenous History of Virginia is exciting, captivating and challenging to learn about.

Peak into the microscope to view the tiny cells that make up your favorite plants and animals.

Don't scrap those scraps.  Learn how to turn leftovers into a delicious dirt dinner for decomposers.

Look into the forest and see the tangible mark of the ancient past on the landscape of today.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

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

Join our amazing volunteer Darin Handy as he shows us all sorts of amazing critters, live!

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.

Join us for the 2025 season of Music by the River, one of the highlights of the summer on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Enjoy a summer evening with live music and local wine in the woods!

Join our friends from Whitetop Yoga to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our standup paddleboards out in the lake.

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk all about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

Join us on a ranger-led wagon ride through history. We will take you on a tour of our beautiful park, stopping at multiple places along the way to interpret the amazing history of Staunton River State Park.

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride.

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

Spend a nice summer's evening sitting around the campfire with storyteller Melanie Smith as she spins tales that span Appalachian culture.

Dive into the rich heritage and vibrant culture of Virginia's state parks on History and Culture Day!

Come with us to experience the beginnings of Bluegrass music and follow its evolution as it traveled across the ocean and settled in the Appalachian Mountains.

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

Paddle through time and experience the rich history of Douthat State Park under the stars. Celebrate 89 years of Virginia State Parks with a special evening program where you'll glide across the lake in a canoe by moonlight.

Each night when the sun goes down, the owls of First Landing come out to hunt!

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

Are you ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city?

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Father's Day?

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

This three-hour class will cover the basics of paddling skills including how to select and fit a personal flotation device (PFD), different types of kayaks, planning and safety, reading the river, identifying river hazards, and proper paddling strokes.

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

Visit the park’s Discovery Center (formerly known as The Spot, the interior portion of the concession stand) to check out the park’s display celebrating its civil rights history.

Celebrate Juneteenth with fun, self-guided activities that celebrate the rich history of Twin Lakes State Park, available while supplies last.

Hunting for hidden history on Twin Lakes State Park's trails is easy with the geocaching app.

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Calling all history (and kayak) lovers!   Celebrate Virginia State Park's 89th anniversary with us on a guided kayaking tour!

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore the oldest dwelling on the grounds.

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

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

On June 14th and 15th, we invite you to visit the park's historic cemetery for Virginia State Parks History & Culture Weekend.

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to begin your exploration and story time at your own pace.

Plan on hiking the Rhododendron Trail to see the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands?

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

Join us at an exciting and empowering camp at the Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA.

Travel through time during the 2024 Virginia State Parks History and Culture celebration at First Landing State Park.  Visit the park on Sunday, June 15th for a guided hike focused on First Landing history, from the pre-colonial era to modern day. The hike is offered at 11 am or 1 pm.

Celebrate the rich history and culture of Virginia's State Parks by diving into the archaeological work that has been done on Mason Neck.

Enjoy a refreshing cup of lemonade with a ranger and engage in interesting discussions to gain a unique insight into local wildlife and conservation efforts.

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

Discover wildflowers and their pollinators as we walk along the trail along Saunder's Creek.

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

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

Step back in time and participate in games played in the 18th century.

Hungry Mother State Park's interpretive rangers are always finding cool things around the park and thinking up new activities and crafts.

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.

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some will be tactile, and most do not use words.

Did you know the park's lakes were built by humans?

Celebrate Virginia State Parks History & Culture Weekend with us as we learn about the history of Fairy Stone State Park.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

The Big Idea that led to there being a Bear Creek Lake State Park was really a collection of smaller ideas that came together at the right time.

Create your own up-cycled Nature Journal! Keeping a Nature Journal is one way of memory keeping.  You don't have to be an artist to journal, it could be filled with stickers from parks, poems, or lists of what you saw. Journals are as unique as the individuals using them.

Dive into excitement with our "Dipnetting Adventure" at Holliday Lake State Park.

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun! .

Have you ever heard the sound of a pack of coyotes howling in the middle of the night?

The Bay can hold many secrets.