Events in Virginia State Parks

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

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 State Park?

Join the Rangers on a guided hike through our most popular trail!

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

Did you know that 11 to 3 million years ago Chippokes, the James River, and most of the Tidewater area of Virginia was all under water and at the bottom of the Claremont Manor Sea? Join an interpreter on an adventure through the Fossil Beds of Chippokes to see what we can find...

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

Uncover the mysteries of mycology on this ranger-lead hike and learn more about the fungi that grows along the park’s trails.

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.

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.

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.

Do you know how many common "weeds" have historic use as food and medicine?

Have you ever thought about what an animal eats?

Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Virginia Master Naturalist Anne Ellis at the Sweet Run State Park for a leisurely walk in search of butterflies.

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.

Join us for a guided hike through Goodwin Lake Trail as we explore the trees that make up our local ecosystem.

Take a guided walk with a butterfly expert in search of tiny-winged creatures of the forest! First, you'll get tips and tricks for learning butterfly identification and anatomy as well as a glimpse into their amazing life cycles and awe-inspiring adaptations.

Come on down to the river for an in-seine-ly good time!

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! .

Owls are known as silent fliers, impeccable listeners, and skilled hunters.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

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

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

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.

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

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

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

Come and explore a dynamic ecosystem that prevents erosion and brings life to the river.  The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants.  Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.

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

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Immerse yourself in nature and experience the calming and health-promoting benefits of the forest.

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.

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.

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

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

Is the critter this month small, medium, or large?

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

Don't judge a book by its cover!

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.

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?

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

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.

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

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

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

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.

Spring has sprung.

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

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

Did you know that people have been using plants to dye fabric for centuries?

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

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

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

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

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.

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

Meet us at the Terrace Gardens to learn about Occoneechee in the 1800s.

On this hike, stimulate your senses as we immerse ourselves in nature.

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

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center to watch us feed our residents in the salt water fish tank.

Independence Day is a time to celebrate our country's birth.

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.

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

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

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

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

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

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

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.

Slow down and reconnect with the natural world on a ranger-led hike.

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.

Come find us behind the Visitor Center as we appreciate the view and learn about the history of the lake and the lands that lie beneath it.

Been itching to go fishing?

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.

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

Need a hiking stick or just want to embellish your own?

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

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.

Experience an enjoyable ride on the lake while we watch the sun slip below the horizon.