Events in Virginia State Parks

As the summer heats up, get ready for some "foot-stomping" fun with an evening of bluegrass music.

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

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

Join the Virginia Peninsula Stargazers as they point out the different items of our solar system in the night sky. They will have the equipment.  Just bring your curiosity.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs.

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

Join a ranger on a thrilling and educational evening under the stars!

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

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.

A light glows beneath the surface of Holliday Lake.

Kick off your week with us as we explore the natural world from the stars above to the depths below!

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!

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

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.

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.

Have you ever been walking along a trail and come across a pile of "meatballs"?

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.

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk all about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

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

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

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.

Discover wildflowers and their pollinators as we walk along the trail along Saunder's Creek.

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

Not all-aquatic wildlife has fins or scales!

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.

Interested in learning more about archery while having fun?

What is a seed bomb?

Come "shell-ebrate" some of the coolest animals around and meet Hungry Mother State Park's ambassador turtles.

Play classic Hide-and-Seek with a modern twist!

Spend your Sunday by the river!  Each Sunday, a ranger will be stationed in the picnic area with a fun activity for the whole family!  Activities may include a fur and skull table, meeting the wildlife ambassadors, dip netting, crafts, and more!

How many colors do you think you can find in nature?

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.

Dive into excitement with our "Dipnetting Adventure" at Holliday Lake State Park.

Do you like to get muddy and search for the tiniest critters living in a stream, creek, or pond?

Do you like to get muddy and search for the tiniest critters living in a stream, creek, or pond?

The Bay can hold many secrets.

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

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

Do you want to learn the history of the land where Kiptopeke State Park is today?

Can you solve some of the tests scientists use to determine crows’ intelligence?

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

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

Model and observe the different stages of a trees life, from seedling to sapling to a mature tree, and discover how important trees are to the life around them.  Parks are for everyone.

What helps keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and safe for everyone to enjoy?

What's under that rock?

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

Kick off your week with us as we explore the natural world from the stars above to the depths below!

Get ready for summer discoveries and fun!  Our kid's camps are a great way for children to be immersed in the estuarine ecosystem.  We offer two sessions of the Nature Explorers (children who have completed Kindergarten* through 2nd grades) to introduce younger campers to unique creatures and basic outdoor activities.  Our Junior Rangers (one session for children who have completed 3rd through 5th grades) will be more engaged in wildlife mapping and outdoor skills.  Registration begins February 10th.  Cost is $40 per child.

Early morning is one of the best times to experience the lake.

Grab your gear and saddle up for a ride down the Cape Henry Trail, First Landing‘s longest multi-use trail.

Discover your park perspective!

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 5 is Water Bodies! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Kick off your week with us as we explore the natural world from the stars above to the depths below!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

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.

The beauty of nature has inspired artists for thousands of years.

Explore the life cycle of butterflies.

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

Don't judge a book by its cover!

Seine netting is a skill that has allowed countless people over time to enjoy the bounty of the seas.

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.

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?

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 5 is Water Bodies! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Discover your park perspective!

Kick off your week with us as we explore the natural world from the stars above to the depths below!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

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

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

Bring your own hiking stick to decorate!  Before you attend the program, explore one of our trails to find a small fallen branch to turn into a hiking stick!

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.

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

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

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!

Yes, you too can canoe!

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail.

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 5 is Water Bodies! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Discover your park perspective!

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

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

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

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

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

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