Events in Virginia State Parks

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

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

Everyone loves a relaxing evening especially out on Hungry Mother Lake.

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

'Coddiwomple' with us through the forest and along the creeks that feed into Bear Creek Lake.

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk in Galax.

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

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 along Chestnut Creek.  Gravel tires work best on New River Trail crushed stone trail surface.

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

Calling all homeschoolers!

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

A long summer has given way to autumn.

Join Park Rangers to learn why leaves change colors in fall.

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

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

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.

Join us at Widewater State Park for a slithery, fun-filled adventure with “Snakes Alive!” Meet our friendly, live, non-venomous snake ambassadors and learn fascinating facts from a volunteer and herpetologist, Ana Sparks, specializing in snake behavior.

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

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.

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

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.

Have you ever fished the Chesapeake Bay?

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

Begin your journey along the Wilderness Road towards Cumberland Gap as an interpreter takes you on a guided tour of the museum.

Celebrate the season at our River Bend Discovery Center with crisp air, colorful leaves, and hands-on fun for all ages!

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

Westmoreland State Park was one of the first six state parks developed in Virginia by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.

Take in the crisp air and the brilliant colors of autumn as we stroll along Douthat’s scenic lakefront.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

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.

The Catlett Islands are full of ghosts, but they aren’t what you think!

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

Glide across Douthat Lake on the Canoe of Many Colors and take in the vibrant reds, oranges, and golds of autumn.

Join our rangers as we get creative and make a fun bat craft with pinecones and other natural things found in the park.

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

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

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

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

Who-who-whoooo's calling?

Come join us as we discover the secret lives of our night-time pollinators.

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

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

Join us for an evening by the fire as we shine a light on one of nature’s most fascinating nighttime creatures—bats!

Hike through the forest after dark in search of sights and sounds from the owls who are hunting there.

Please visit the website for more information!

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

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.

Join us this 2nd Saturday of the month at Westmoreland State Park where we plan to tackle our Visitor Center Garden Beds and Murphy Hall Garden Beds.

Join the Virginia Master Naturalists and Park staff on this Autumn expedition to learn about how changing seasons affect Chippokes foliage!

Experience a celebration of Southwest Virginia's unique cultural heritage.

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

A long summer has given way to autumn.

Celebrate the Harvest Season at Historic Foster Falls!

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

We need your help replanting our bare root native plants!

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

Experience the anticipation of seeing what lies around each "bend" of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River from a kayaker's point of view.

Take a guided walk with a ranger alongside golden meadow and autumn forest to find out who is out and about!

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

Come and explore a dynamic ecosystem that prevents erosion and brings life to the river.  The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants.  Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.

Slither on down to the Visitor Center to weave a web of knowledge on the spookier side of nature.

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center as we celebrate butterflies!

Explore the park’s expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat home.

Calling all Hampton Roads students K-12! Join the Rangers at ODU for their “Reign in Science Day”.

Join a ranger for a guided hike on the Twin Pinnacles trail to enjoy the peak fall leaf colors.

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

Are all snakes venomous?

Fall in love with Twin Lakes State Park at our annual fall festival.

Over the hills and through the fields we go!  Climb aboard our open-air hay wagon, outfitted with wooden benches and a cozy layer of hay for a classic fall adventure.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

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

Who says you have to get up at the crack of down to go bird watching?

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.

Join a ranger to make your own corn husk doll and learn about their unique history! The corn husk doll has origins in Indigenous culture.

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.

Join Kiptopeke State Park as we host the Eastern Shore Anglers Club for a Youth Fishing Day Event.  This event will be for children ages 6 to 15.  Registration begins at 12:30 pm at the Kiptopeke Fishing Pier and fishing will be 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.  The first 50 kids to register will receive a free fishing rod combo and tackle.   For more information, please visit the Eastern Shore Anglers Club website and www.esanglersclub.org. .

Get out and get creative with our monthly series of Nature Journaling workshops led by a local naturalist!  Teens and adults are invited to deepen their connection with nature and stretch their creative muscles in this hands-on course. You'll practice collecting and recording your observations of nature in various creative ways with your journal.

Monarch butterflies are on the move! Get involved with some citizen science and learn about these cool creatures.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Reds, yellows, oranges and deep purplish colored leaves are dancing in the breeze this fall.

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 at the Visitor Center as the Virginia Museum of Natural History's scientists will be presenting a selection of live reptiles from their collection.  Be part of the iNaturalist BioBlitz at Fairy Stone State Park, where students, park rangers, scientists, and community members unite to explore and identify as many species as possible.

Happy fall, y'all!

A park ranger will be on hand with natural items from the park to share so bring your curiosity and questions.

What is your favorite camping activity: roasting marshmallows, hiking a trail, staying up late and looking at the stars, using a flashlight, or sleeping in a tent? Tell the ranger why you think camping is so much fun, then explore camping life as you create some awesome crafts.

Celebrate the season at our River Bend Discovery Center with crisp air, colorful leaves, and hands-on fun for all ages!

Build your very own bug hotel to help provide a habitat for beneficial insects. Your creation will offer pollinators a special space where they can breed and grow!

Come meet one of our ambassador reptiles up close and personal!

Experience the anticipation of seeing what lies around each "bend" of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River from a kayaker's point of view.

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.

Join us at the visitor center for a pumpkin extravaganza.

Did you know corn can be found in just about everything?

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

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

Slither on over to the Visitors Center for an in-depth look into the fascinating lives of local reptiles.

Leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

Come join a ranger for a fang-filled spooky craft!

Step into the hidden world of fungi on this guided hike with a park ranger.