Events in Virginia State Parks

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

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.

Take a journey to Wilburn Ridge and discover the marvelous world of the Mountain Laurel and the Catawba Rhododendron. Learn about the different species within the park, why they grow where they grow, and hear the lore of these amazing plants.

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

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.

Interested in learning more about archery while having fun?

Westmoreland State Park invites you to learn about the different fossil types that you can find here along the shoreline, and why, as you create your very own shark tooth necklace keepsake.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Did you know 'creepy crawlies' are some of the world's most important recyclers?

Bird feeders are a great food source for Virginia’s birds and a wonderful way to bring nature into your own yard.

What is a seed bomb?

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 wondered why the wind blows?

The Bay can hold many secrets.

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.

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.

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

June is National Pollinator Month, a time to highlight the importance of pollinators and encourage actions to protect them.

Imagine a world without fruits and veggies...they could not exist without pollinators!

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Master the art of fire making using a flint and steel in this fired up workshop!

Meet us on South Beach to help clean up trash and search for treasures.

Come join us for a rejuvenating session of Forest Therapy at Seven Bends State Park.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

The brackish waters of the York River has a unique variety of fish and shellfish.  Follow the Woodstock Pond Trail to the river access point past shelter #3 to the left of the pond, Rangers will be using 2-man seine and other nets to discover what is in the water.

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

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

Who made those footprints?

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.

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

Explore amazing insects, discover the world of rocks and minerals, learn about a remarkable tree and how you can help bring it back from the brink of extinction, and get up close and personal with some of our reptile friends.

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.

How many animals inhabitants of First Landing State Park can you identify?

Every Monday evening from May to the first week of September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

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

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

The Survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

First Landing is home to many creatures both large and small.

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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.

Join the Rangers each week to learn a new skill to help you survive in the wild.

Animals may be shy, but they leave plenty of clues behind.

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

How can we be more sustainable when practicing our favorite hobbies?

Ever wondered how you stack up against some of the largest birds in the sky?

“What does the fox say?” Did you know that there are two different foxes found in Virginia, the red fox and the grey fox?

Bring your current project, plans, or patterns, and work with others doing the same. If you do not have a project but would like to contribute, we are looking for some clothing items that we can either wear or display at the park for special events.

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

Our beautiful park is the perfect place to pick up a fun new workout routine.

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

Children Ages 7 - 13 Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Children can experience Virginia’s frontier like never before.

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

Yes, you too can canoe!

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the American Civil War.

Whether your child is an aspiring adventurer or simply loves being outdoors, this program is designed to ignite their curiosity and foster valuable skills.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a part of First Landing State Park you may have never visited: the Narrows Beach!

Designed to introduce young participants to the wonders of the natural world and foster an appreciation for the environment.

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

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

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

While most of the adventure on the New River takes place above the water, there is no shortage of things to see below the water!

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.

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

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Our amazing amphibians are abundant here in the mountains.

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

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

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

Trees are so important to our environment. They give us air to breathe, homes for animals, wood to build our homes and help control erosion.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Right now in Fairy Stone Lake, giant gelatinous blobs resembling brains can be found attached to stationary objects in the water, using their tentacles to feed.

Enjoy a scenic guided walk along the New River Trail. This easy one-mile round trip tour will take visitors outside one of the oldest mining operations in North America, the Austinville lead mines.

Whether you're fascinated or a little rattled, snakes are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, and they’re not as scary as they seem.

What's a benthic organism and how do they survive in the creek?

Meet us on South Beach to help clean up trash and search for treasures.

Have we sparked your interest?

Join our Park Rangers for a unique experience of Aquia Creek as the cloak of twilight descends.

Hop on over for a hands-on adventure into the world of frogs. Join park staff as we search for some of Virginia’s native frog species and their tadpoles.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.

Children Ages 7 - 13 Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Children can experience Virginia’s frontier like never before.

Do you want to witness the art of Gyotaku fish printing, an ancient craft where you can create your own fish masterpiece!

Kayak season is here!

Kayak season is here!

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

Let’s go on a fun "History Hike" at Staunton River State Park. Our interpretive ranger will lead the hike on River Bank Trail and talk about the exciting history of the Staunton River and our beautiful State Park.

Bring your phone and take a walk on the Sensory  Explorers’ Trail with Alex Newhart, a Virginia Master Naturalist photographer.   Learn how to capture exceptional nature photographs using only your smartphone no matter which type of phone you use (Android or iPhone).

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

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

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .