Events in Virginia State Parks

Slither and splash into the world of reptiles.

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

Join our costumed interpreters for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Grayson Highlands State Park's forests, wildlife, and climate are defined by its altitude, which is in turn defined by its rocks!

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

Look up and learn about tree diversity in the park!

Explore the life cycle of butterflies.

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.

Can you match the skull to its pelt?

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

Think you can stump a ranger?

Why are animals' teeth different?

What's that roosting in the rafters?

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

What's under that rock?

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

One Fish, Two Fish, I-Don’t-Know-Who Fish!

Let us keep the kids entertained while the adults set up or take a break from setting up and stop by for a quick craft; discussion of Belle Isle's history; or a lesson on critters.

This program is all about learning how to identify wild animals by the tracks that they leave behind.

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of a bug.

Can not seem to get your campfire lit?

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.

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.

Pollinator populations everywhere are in a steady decline, but why all the buzz about it?

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.

Enjoy a magnificent sunset on the tranquil Potomac River and listen for nocturnal creatures. We'll meet inside the visitor center to gear up before riding to the beach for an evening paddle.

Come join the party!

Kick off your stay at our ranger-led campfire.

Come chow down at the campfire and share some s’mores as we settle into the weekend and leave our marks on a fiery take-home souvenir!

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!

Experience the beauty of High Bridge Trail under the enchanting light of the setting sun and the rising moon.

Join your fellow campers to hear about all of the different trails and activities the park has to offer and discover the history of the park. This is a great chance to ask questions about the park, local activities in the area, and future events at Fairy Stone State Park.

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

Join us at the Community Fire Ring to relax, enjoy a roasted marshmallow, and get to know your camping neighbors.

Relax and have a s'more by the campfire as we learn about one of our most common nocturnal animals: bats!

As dusk draws near, lightning bugs appear!

See the night-time world like you've never seen it before!

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

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

The Let's Go Adventures staff will introduce you to the basics like, how to select a rod and reel combo, knot tying, and selecting the right fly for conditions and species.

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).

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

Join us for a guided birding tour - on the river!

Each month, volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to work together on a project that helps improve and maintain our beautiful park.

Join us to learn some cool tricks and tips about stand-up paddle boarding.

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile, guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail.

Walk together with a park ranger alongside meadow and forest to find out who is out and about!

With ties to England severed, all imports to the American colonies have abruptly ended.

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.

Join us at the Visitor Center and let's venture out into ancient times!

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

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

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

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.

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

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

Visiting the Natural Bridge could bring out your inner artist this weekend as Roni Navroski teaches you how to paint on a feather.

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

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what shells you can find on our beaches?

This week's theme for Junior Rangers is Weather.

Take a closer look at your surroundings in our monthly nature journaling classes.

Help us protect our native trees by removing invasive Spotted Lanternfly nymphs.

Join a ranger on this guided hike and learn about the fascinating world of fungi.

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

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

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

Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.

With ties to England severed, all imports to the American colonies have abruptly ended.

Soar into the fascinating world of raptors with Family Learning Adventure!

Ready to reel in some fun?

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

Did you know that grasshoppers have their ears on their bellies? Or that thousands of organisms can live in a drop of water? Let's take a closer look at what's around us and journal our new discoveries.

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

Be nice to bugs, win cool prizes.

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the remarkable abilities of bats and the importance of preserving their habitats.

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.

Meet Natural Tunnel's wildlife ambassador, Popcorn the corn snake.

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

Plants are far more than just part of the park's scenery, many plants have a wide variety of uses for humans.

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.

Beat the heat with this wonderful workshop in the cool quiet of the library!

Become a Junior Ranger today at Westmoreland State Park.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

As you make your way to the shoreline, stop and visit the live creature displays of fish & shellfish that were recently captured in the York River and Woodstock Pond.  The ranger on duty will share about these creatures and their role in the ecosystem.

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

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.

You might be smarter than a 5th grader but are you smarter than a crow?

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

We are on an expedition to have some fun, make a splash, and discover some of the tiny creatures that inhabit the shoreline of the Rappahannock River.

Join us in paying homage to 70,000 years of history and human tradition as we learn the sport of Archery.

With ties to England severed, all imports to the American colonies have abruptly ended.

Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

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