Events in Virginia State Parks

Join our Park Rangers as they discuss the history, ecology, and culture of the Widewater Peninsula.

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The second installment of the "Prowl the Powell" nature series will take place on Saturday, July 19 at 9 am.

Kayak season is here!

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Previous kayaking experience required for this trip.

Experience paddling on one of Virginia's most beautiful and historic waterways: the James River.

For years, the railroad has played a vital role in the economics and history of Southwest Virginia.

Join a few rangers as we remove invasive species throughout the park!

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Start your weekend with fresh air, beautiful scenery, comradery, and a feeling of accomplishment.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Let's venture out in search of the great bumble bee.

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

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

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.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

Join us for a hands-on fire building workshop, reminiscent of the outdoor skills sessions once held at Group Camp 7.

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

Leesylvania State Park is home to many different turtles!

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

Bear Creek Lake is a modest 40 aces in size yet has a many-faceted story to tell of human actions and nature's ways.

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

Join us for a week-long celebration honoring the vibrant history of Pocahontas State Park, specifically highlighting the activities and programs once offered at its formerly segregated side, Group Camp 7, which was opened for use for the first time on July 15th, 1939.

This week's theme for Junior Rangers is Insects & Plants.

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

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

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.

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

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

How does the man on the moon cut his hair?

Did you ever wonder why butterflies and moths have such amazing colors and patterns?

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the interactions between a predator population of coyotes and a prey population of deer in a forest. This program is suitable for all ages.

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.

Want to learn how to play the outdoorsman’s version of BINGO? Each guest will be given a Virginia State Parks Bingo Card with a picture or a word in each box. If you find five objects in a row on your card, then you get BINGO. Let's set out on the trail and see what kind of natural wonders we can find. Along the way we might also be able to observe the Staunton River and learn about the history of the Park.

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

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

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.

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

It's National Moth Week!

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

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

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?

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

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

Get creative when you build your very own bug at this ranger-led program.

Have we sparked your interest?

Come join us as we learn to make paper, then get in touch with our creative side by painting with watercolors.

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

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety, including how to store food, what to do when you come across a bear while hiking, camping in bear country, and more.

The natural world around us is like a game of Jenga, and when species are removed, the balance becomes increasingly unstable.

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

Come say hello to Ranger Shelly, our red-eared slider and local shellebrity. Join us at the beach as she enjoys some sunshine and enrichment time.

Meet us at the Camp Store to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles while we come together to clean our beaches!

Come out to Chestnut Creek, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater.

Have you ever picked wild blackberries or collected wild herbs for a recipe?

Join us for a refreshing blend of learning and outdoor fun that promotes environmental awareness and sparks a sense of wonder about the tiny worlds hidden in plain sight, right by the pool.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Learn how Native Americans made spear tips, and then practice your aim using a traditional spear-throwing tool called an atlatl.

Hit the lake and join us in canoeing on the historic John H.

Did you know that it takes nine steps to load a Civil War musket?

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the trail around High Bridge with interesting historical items from the park.

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

Who made those footprints?

Get Tickets!

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

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

The Friends of Westmoreland State Park presents Music on the Cliffs, a free Summer concert series featuring local musicians...

Take your camping skills to the next level in this camping workshop!

Come rock and roll with local band "Candy Machine" live as they perform music from the 1950s through the 1980s on the water's edge at the beach amphitheater.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Moths are often referred to as night time butterflies.

Paddle around the lake with us and discover the variety of habitats the lake provides.

Join us around the fire as we hear several stories from Occoneechee State Park’s past.

Experience the beauty and serenity of High Bridge Trail State Park under the glow of the moon during this ranger-led evening hike.

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

The Chesapeake Bay provides visitors with some of the most stunning views of the sunset and sounds of the waves.

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for a night of awe and wonder.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

Ever wondered what it’s like to paddle under a sky full of stars?

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.

July 19-26 is National Moth Week!

Ever wonder what kind of animals are out and about during the night? Our wetlands serve multiple purposes, but they are excellent hunting grounds for many of our nocturnal animals. We will show you how they use these skills with some hands-on activities. Wear some comfortable closed-toe shoes for this evening tour through our wetlands.

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

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

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunting on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 hours. This program has a limited number of available spots.

Come along on a one-mile hike through our trails with knowledgeable rangers to learn about the plants and animals who live in Kiptopeke State Park.

Join Virginia Master Naturalists and Chippokes park staff  to celebrate the peak of butterfly season in this early morning hike.

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

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

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

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

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.