Events in Virginia State Parks

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

"For a scavenger, patience is the key to the pantry." - Delia Owens For the first month of homeschool, visitors will learn about the hidden lives of scavengers: nature's clean-up crew!

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.

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 Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Get a closer look at nature during this meander over moderate terrain with some inclines.

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory 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." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Help support the park you love.

Get your mid-week boost with a walk among the trees, meadows, with fellow nature lovers!  You don't have to read scientific studies to know that being in nature and getting exercise in the fresh air is good for your body and your mind. So let's get together, make friends, and enjoy the outdoors while improving our health!  Each week will feature a different trail, each with a distance of about 2-2.5 miles.

Join a park ranger on a three-mile hike to the waterfall and back.

Let nature spark your creativity!

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

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

"For a scavenger, patience is the key to the pantry." - Delia Owens For the first month of homeschool, visitors will learn about the hidden lives of scavengers: nature's clean-up crew!

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

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Everyone loves a relaxing evening.

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

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

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

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

The Senior Ranger series is geared towards senior citizens who are interested in learning more about nature.

Are all snakes venomous?

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

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

This is a fantastic time of year to take-in the beautiful scenery of Southwest Virginia.

Take a break from the heat this summer with a monthly game night and pizza! A park ranger and educational volunteers will provide a variety of table-top games that range from simple to complex.

In recognition of Self-Care Awareness Month, the Friends of Twin Lakes State Park is hosting a program focused on simple, practical ways to build healthy habits and practice self-care.

Whoooo’s calling in the night!?

Join a ranger on a hike along the world-famous Appalachian Trail to the highest peak in Virginia: Mount Rogers.

Grab your binoculars for a fun bird hike and discover the many birds passing through the park this fall.

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

Join us along the New River for a FREE hour-long guided yoga flow session, led by a Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor.

Come drop some line in the water, and soak in some sun!

Calling all homeschoolers!

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

Would you like to learn about pawpaws and help collect them for our Pawpaw Festival? On the day of the festival, the fruits we collect will be offered as free samples for festival attendees to taste.

Visit a ranger at Massie Gap to learn about different creatures that live within the park.

Spend time paddling down the Clinch River.

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.

Take a fascinating hike and discover the rich history of James River State Park - from ancient fossils to the American Civil War.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

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

Imagine finding yourself approaching a beacon of rest and resupply with nothing but the clothes on your back.

Join us for the vibrant "Lunch on the Lawn," an afternoon of music, community, and creativity!

Stop by the Wilderness Road Blockhouse and step back in time to experience aspects of life on the frontier.

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.

The library is hitting the park!

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.

Come celebrate national bird day with this fun Birding Bingo.

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

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.

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

Trees are vital to our environment.

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

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

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

Making a paper bag scarecrow craft is a fun and creative activity that’s perfect for fall.

Discover how flowers are more than just beautiful; they’re essential partners in plant reproduction.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

Slither and splash into the world of reptiles.

Join an interpreter to learn a variety of useful everyday knots, from the simple square not to the high flying figure eight knot - there is a knot for every situation.

Help our resident box turtle keep in touch with her animal friends at other Virginia State Parks.

Have you ever wondered how beavers stay dry?

There are bugs everywhere in the park- cicadas in the trees, ants in the grass, crickets in the caves, and even the macro invertebrates in the creek! Learn the important roles these tiny creatures play in our ecosystems while making your own insect sticker.   .

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

Join us to hear about the impacts of fire, from the habitats it touches to how humans have learned to use it to our advantage throughout the ages.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what shells you can find on our beaches?

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

Slip on your closed-toe shoes and get ready to explore the creek.

Ahoy Matey and shiver me timbers, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day on the Potomac!

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Join us for a night of 'bat-tastic' fun at Twin Lakes State Park!

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking?

Chippokes State Park is proud to partner with the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers Club to introduce a special dark night sky and stargazing opportunity for all to enjoy. Club members will use their telescopes to share the night time sky with park visitors.  Visitors will be free to ask questions, observe, and look through telescopes during this public viewing outreach event.

Who's that calling in the night?

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

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

Join us for a special gathering around the campfire, enjoy the harmonious sounds of nature, dive into some delicious s'mores, and learn about the wild side of the park and who calls it their home.  Skulls, jaws, and furs!

Welcome to the park!

Enjoy an evening wagon ride around the park as we scan the night sky for bats.

Come celebrate this native Virginia fruit with a 10-mile or 5-mile run. The event will also feature beer trucks, family and nature programs, and live music.

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

Get ready for the ultimate test of endurance at Seven Bends State Park, where runners will battle through a 10-mile looped course featuring rolling terrain and scenic beauty.

Step back in time and experience the power and precision of Civil War-era firepower during this ranger-led musket demonstration, held within the historic grounds of Camp Paradise.

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

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

One of the best times to be on Hungry Mother Lake is in the fall mornings.

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

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. .

Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach cleanup on Saturday, September 20th.

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

Join a Ranger for a leisurely hike along Cabin Creek Trail.

Come hunt for shark teeth on the shoreline of the Potomac!

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

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

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