Events in Virginia State Parks

Astrophotography is a type of photography that focuses on the night sky, photographing anything from other galaxies to beautiful nebulae.

On the first Sunday of every month, our Self-care Sunday Series invites you to join in on various activities specially created to help us engage with the beautiful surroundings of Powhatan State Park.

This special introductory program is designed to provide an in depth look at the fossils that have been found along the Potomac River.  We will explore the world of fossils and the ones that occur here.

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.

Upon visiting Chippokes you'll find many historic buildings that are direct links to the property's past as a former plantation and active farm site.  Beyond these fields and buildings, there are important narratives of the men, women, and children who worked and lived on property over the years as Chippokes has continuously evolved.  Join a ranger as we walk along the historic Quarter Lane,  from the River House to the Jones - Stewart Mansion, to share the history of both enslaved and tenant farmer families of Chippokes.

Grab your journal and come on down to the park and try your hand at a new skill - Nature Journaling!

Enjoy a guided walk with a park interpreter down to the Natural Tunnel as you take in the history of the park, the sound of Stock Creek below, and the marvel of the Natural Tunnel itself.

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'.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

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

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

Did you know there was once a thriving Boom Town located where our lake is today?

A diverse grouping of women paints a fascinating portrait of life at Poplar Forest over a 200-year period.

Mason Neck is home to many species of frogs living in the marshland, and the end of March is a perfect time find them as they begin to emerge for springtime.

Come join one of our Rangers on a guided hike through Widewater State Park!

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Can a fire really tell what kind of weather is coming?

Explore the natural and historic world of Twin Lakes State Park with a ranger. This program is part of a homeschool series, but all curious kids are welcome.

Join rangers at the Prince William Public Libraries this Spring for a fun nature reading session.

Explore the natural and historic world of Twin Lakes State Park with a ranger. This program is part of a homeschool series, but all curious kids are welcome.

Join Friends Group leadership and Park staff for an informational meeting about membership and exciting volunteer opportunities at York River State Park.

This series of homeschool programs for students aged 8-12 will meet at the Visitor Center at Lake Anna State Park from 10am - 1pm on multiple dates.

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the Spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

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'.

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

Join a Ranger to learn about science and nature at Leesylvania State Park!

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

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

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

Get outside, unplug, and reconnect with nature on a family-friendly walk in the woods!

Have you met the animals living at Hungry Mother State Park's Discovery Center?

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

Welcome to the 2025 season!!

Explore some of Machicomoco’s best views during golden hour while stopping in to talk with a Ranger about some of their favorite park topics.

Who, who, who is that? Venture into the night with an interpretive ranger to discover how owls are uniquely designed for nocturnal living and learn about all of their unique adaptations.

This weekend at First Landing, enhance your park visit with a fun activity that encourages exploration and reflection.

Become a member, volunteer, and a citizen scientist for the Hungry Mother Chapter of FrogWatch USA.

Being a woman is impressive, and we are celebrating womanhood here at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield!

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).

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.

If you love working outdoors, sharing your nature knowledge with others, and meeting new and interesting people then you are going to want to find out how to volunteer at Powhatan State Park!

The bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River.

As spring draws near, Virginia's earliest and most delicate woodland wildflowers appear!

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.

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Trees are life-givers and inspiration for many art forms.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

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

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

How did a railroad give hope to a community and how does the creation of a park continue to offer that hope?

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

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

Step into history this St.

Meet a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a guided hike to see if you can spot any of our springtime birds.

The marshes and wetlands of Mason Neck are home to many birds that live and thrive near the water.

Step into history this St.

Celebrate the arrival of spring at Douthat State Park with a fun, hands-on nature craft.

Join in this sweet-ending activity using global positioning system (GPS) technology.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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'.

Beginning in 1910, March 8 became recognized as International Women’s Day.

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

This winter, Powhatan State Park is offering Nature Journaling workshops at the Powhatan County Public Library!

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.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

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.

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

You never know what critters you will see around Belle Isle, there's dozens to pick from.

Calling all fairies, nymphs, pixies and gnomes!

Slither on down and join the Park Ranger for an in depth look into the fascinating lives of some local reptiles.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Tour a replica of the Anderson Blockhouse as rangers provide information about the history of the building and area.

Would you be friends with a wigglin' worm?

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

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

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 boomtown. 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.

Join a ranger for a 1.5-mile guided hike through fields and marsh to a splendid beach view of the Rappahannock River.

The Indigenous history of Virginia is exciting, captivating and challenging to learn about.

Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools. These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

This weekend at First Landing, enhance your park visit with a fun activity that encourages exploration and reflection.

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to begin your exploration and story time at your own pace.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Grab your journal and come on down to the park and try your hand at a new skill - Nature Journaling!

Eagle, Osprey, and Owls, oh my!

Explore what nature has to offer and join a ranger in a guided hike on our Gorge Ridge Trail.

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'.

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Come join one of our Rangers on a guided hike through Widewater State Park!

Do you love painting or creating artwork in the great outdoors?

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

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

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

Did you know there was once a thriving Boom Town located where our lake is today?

Mason Neck is one of the most famous sites to see bald eagles in Northern Virginia, and for good reason with over 60 year-round resident eagles and 18 nests throughout the park.