Events in Virginia State Parks

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

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.

Paint pretty pictures with prickly pines (try saying that five times fast).

Can you catch the biggest fish?  Discover native fish species in the Shenandoah River and responsible fishing practices by catching some “fish” that represent the different species!

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

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Harrold Holliday!

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

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

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.

Challenge yourself to identify animals not by what they look like, but by what their tracks look like.

Let nature spark your creativity!

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Think you can stump a ranger?

Do you know what's in the woods?

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.

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

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

Step into the heart of Douthat State Park on this guided hike, where you'll uncover the wonders of nature, from the tiniest details to the grandest views.

Can not seem to get your campfire lit?

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.

In Virginia, a lot of pre-contact Indigenous history was obscured by colonization.

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.

Enjoy the sounds of local musicians as you take in our beautiful park.

Come join the party!

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!

Where's the best place to fish at the park?

Join our rangers for a bit of fun around the campfire as we welcome you to the park.

Join us at the amphitheater for a warm welcome to the park, camping tips, and fun activities!

Watch the last traces of daylight strike the Blue Ridge Mountains on this haywagon ride.

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

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.

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

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

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

Join us for a rewarding morning of gardening alongside fellow plant enthusiasts.

Come experience the beautiful James River on this guided kayak tour with DCR's Bay Experience team!

Kayak season is here!

Join us for a special guided tour uncovering the untold histories of High Bridge Trail State Park, conducted aboard a stretch golf cart.

Kayak season is here!

This trail begins on Iron Mine Trail and features an iron mine used by Fayerdale residents and an overlook of Fairy Stone Lake before transitioning into the Upper and Lower Stuart's Knob Trails.

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

The Friends of York River State Park will be giving the park facilities a nice face lift!

Seine fishing is an ancient practice that utilizes a net to surround and catch fish.

Spend time paddling down the Clinch River.

Curious about what flowers you see blooming in Sky Meadows' fields during the summer heat?

Join us on the first Saturday of the month to experience the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

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

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

From May to August, the Overton-Hillsman House will be open to the public on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The historic home was a witness to war, a battlefield hospital, and the birthplace of one of the nation’s foremost Black educators.

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

Get a bird's eye view of some of nature's most fascinating and elusive predators in this one-hour program featuring live birds of prey.

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

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

The York River was home to four manned lighthouses: Bells Rock, Pages Rock, Tue Marshes, and York Spit.  Bells Rock was the uppermost, just two miles below West Point.  Pages Rock was the only other light above the Coleman (Rt.

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

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

Ahoy Matey!

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

During the spring and summer, ospreys dominate the skies over Leesylvania as they build nests and raise their young.

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

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

The Survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

Ever wondered what you can and can't eat out in the wild?

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the eastern king snake, and our two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Have you ever seen a tree grow out of a rock?

Let's give a warm welcome to the park's new ambassador animal, a spunky little Mud Turtle!

Let nature spark your creativity!

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 one of our trails to find a small fallen branch to turn into a hiking stick!

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

Do you like to get hands-on experience looking for cool critters?

Have you ever wondered what makes an owl such a skilled night hunter?

Join our staff for a guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father. Mulberry Hill was also a working tobacco farm owned by the McPhails during the American Civil War.

Grab a self-guided bingo card from a ranger and head out on the Bay View Trail to search for different plants and wildlife. Complete the bingo card and bring it back to a ranger for a prize!

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

Want to save the bees, butterflies, birds, and more? Just plant native! Even the smallest pollinator-friendly patch will make a difference. Come to our pollinator garden workshop and learn everything you need to know to get started.

We know All Too Well that spotting a bobcat in the wild can be rare but that doesn't stop them from having a Reputation.

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.

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes State Park through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

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.

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.

Turtles love worms, fish love worms, birds love worms, and our interpretive rangers love worms.

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.

Help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!

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

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

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

Get crafty with us as we make our own shark tooth necklaces.

Step into the shoes of an archaeologist and uncover the secrets of an owl’s diet!

Join a ranger for an eye-opening look at nature’s clean-up crew!

Slime is survival.

Did you know that 11-3 million years ago Chippokes State Park, 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 interpretive ranger on an adventure through the Fossil Beds of Chippokes to see what we can find.

Let’s go on a fun "History Hike" at Staunton River State Park. Our interpretive ranger will lead the hike on River Bank Trail and talk about the exciting history of the Staunton River and our beautiful State Park.