Events in Virginia State Parks

Enjoy a movie night under the stars and bring your chairs, blankets, snacks, and more for the whole family!

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

Join a ranger at the campfire to discover the secret lives of our nighttime pollinators.

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

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

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

Hoot Hoot - Who's That?  Join us for our third installment of our Nights in Nature Series!

Join our rangers as we hang out in the park after dark!

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

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

Come see the stars and explore our night sky with our park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park.

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

Paddle through the Catlett Islands on a Ranger led kayak tour which explores the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and history of the park.

Grab your binoculars and get outside.  Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will lead these monthly hikes to discover and identify birds at Sweet Run State Park. We will explore parts of this beautiful 900-acre preserve to see what lives in it and visit its diverse habitats.

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

Get knee-deep in the Shenandoah during Fly Fishing 101!  During this program, our fly-fishing instructor will go over all the basics to get you catching your first fish on a fly!

The Great Egret joins the Great Blue Heron for super-sized avian fun at the park.

Join a ranger to hike the Stuart's Knob Trail on National Trails Day and learn about the history of Fayerdale and the importance Stuart's Knob played to in helping the residents earn money throughout its short tenure.

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

In our park's nature center, you can see many different native animals of Virginia.

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

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

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

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

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.

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. .

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.

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

Does your pup have what it takes to be a B.A.R.K Ranger? B.A.R.K.

Come join a ranger on a fun tree identification hike!

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

What is a gundalow?  These long wooden flatboats were used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

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

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 Creatures of the Highlands.

How do forests change over time?

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

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

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?

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

Join the Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry (NOVAAR) Club as their model rockets go up, up, and away.

Stop by our table at the turtle pond where a ranger will be stationed to provide information about Virginia’s native turtle species.

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

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.

Discover how the Pocahontas State Park you've grown to know and love got its start as you travel back to the late 1930's to learn what was happening in Chesterfield County and the rest of the nation.

Join us for a paddle clean-up event on Fairy Stone Lake!

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

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

Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

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

Follow a ranger on a walk through agricultural history in this guided tour of the Farm and Forestry Museum.

Join a ranger to learn about a few of the cool, crawly creatures you may see around Belle Isle and make your own dirt treat to eat.

Energy makes sense; it helps all living things grow but is not always the same.

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?

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

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

Join a ranger to create something special from natural elements found around the park.

Mason Neck is home to many osprey during the spring and summer months.

Dive into an ancient craft with a ranger, known as Gyotaku fish printing.

Have you ever thought about what an animal eats?

Join the fun of this centuries old art and show your creativity while learning about the fish of Smith Mountain Lake.

Come explore the world of 'creepy crawlies' as we search high and low for our smallest of neighbors: bugs!

Join us as we continue to pay homage to 70,000 years of history and human tradition as we practice the sport of Archery.

Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.

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?

Can you imagine a world without video games, cell phones, or TV?

Express yourself on the trail with a stylish and unique hiking stick you designed and decorated yourself.

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

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

Join a ranger at the Canoe / Kayak Launch picnic area to see a sampling of trees that call Belle Isle home, gain some tree knowledge and make a craft to take to your home.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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.

During this interactive experience, discover how birds’ beaks have evolved to fit their environments.

Did you know that inside every bug is an artist?

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

MaMa BriBri and The Stranger bring new twists of classic hits from all eras.

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.

What does fire mean to you?

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

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

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

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking?

Stop by and learn about the animals that live all around Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Join our rangers for a bit of fun around the campfire.

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

The Rappahannock Astronomy Club presents an evening of deep space viewing.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.