Events in Virginia State Parks

Ever wonder what dolls of the 18th century frontier looked like or what they were made of?

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

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?

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the remarkable abilities of bats and the importance of preserving their habitats.

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.

Honeybees and their human keepers have been teaming up for thousands of years to not only make nutritious honey, but also to turn some of it into the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man – honey mead.

Discover the world of edible and medicinal plants on this ranger-led walk through the park.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Wash Woods legends come alive for one weekend only!

Join us for a lantern-lit walk along the New River Trail in Ivanhoe, VA with a very special guest and author Patty Elton.

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.

Discover the basics of bird watching as you acquire skills and knowledge.

Make Tuesday your Trail Day.

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

Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach cleanup on Saturday, October 18th!

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

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.

Come learn a basic survival skill at the Rooftop Tent Rally!

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

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Join us for Monster March, a fun Halloween parade where kids show off their costumes and collect candy!

Check out the changing colors of Caledon and breathe in the fresh fall air of the forest.

Visiting the Natural Bridge could bring out your inner artist this weekend as Roni Navroski teaches you how to paint on a feather.

We extend our invitation to attend the Chippokes State Park 12th Annual Harvest Festival sponsored by the Friends of Chippokes (FOC).

Join Machicomoco and the Fairfield Foundation as we team up to offer prospective Junior Rangers hands-on archaeological dig opportunities at the Timberneck House in order to earn a Junior Ranger patch.

You don't have to go to the mountains to enjoy the stunning fall colors that Virginia has to offer!  At Powhatan State Park, the forests abound with warm red, orange, gold, and yellow from a wonderful variety of native trees. Bask in the autumn beauty on this ranger-led hike, where you'll practice tree identification using leaf shape, color, bark, and nuts.  The walk will be about 2-3 miles at a relaxed pace on a mostly flat trail with a few moderate inclines.

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

Ever wondered where bats live?

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

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

Come out to picnic shelter #2 to learn about the raptors and songbirds that migrate through Kiptopeke.

Join our costumed interpretive rangers for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen.

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.

James River State Park is teeming with hidden gems, from plants and animals to minerals and historic artifacts.

While often under appreciated, opossums are unique animals with fascinating behavior and traits, being North America's only marsupials and possessing the qualities that make them so outstanding.

Experience the magic of autumn with the Fall Foliage Festival at Sky Meadows State Park!

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.

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

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

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?

Come test your skills and strength with apple slingshots!

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

Come join a ranger on a short hike along the Battlefield Trail to the historic fort at Staunton River Battlefield State Park!

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

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.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety: how to store food, what to do when you come across a bear hiking, camping in bear country, and more.

Join us to learn about Virginia's native plants that can be processed into beautiful natural pigments.

Stop by the Discovery Center and claim your copy of the Spooky Nature Scavenger Hunt!

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

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

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.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Happy fall, y'all!

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.

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.

Enjoy this activity with a sweet ending using global positioning system (GPS) technology.

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

Join our costumed interpretive rangers for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen.

Spend an autumn afternoon with us from 1pm-5pm as we celebrate National Opossum Day with community partners, music, food, and games.

Who made those footprints?

Rainy fall days bring our mushrooms to the surface.

Although most of Mason Neck’s critter friends are nocturnal, that doesn’t mean we can’t see evidence of them.

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

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.

What’s a seed bomb?

High Bridge has long stood at the crossroads of technology, war, and community life.

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

Think you’ve spotted an alien?

Leaves are changing quickly this month.

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

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

The leaves are changing, and the nights are growing cold, it's the perfect time for a hayride!

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.

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

Experience the sights and sounds of the park at sunset with a leisurely guided hike, starting from the main parking lot at 6 p.m. The Interpretive Center will be open between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with family- friendly astronomical-themed activities. At 7:30 p.m. we will gather behind the Interpretive Center for members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) to orient us to the night sky and offer telescopic views of planets, galaxies, nebulae, and other wonders.

Whoooo’s calling in the night!?

Join a ranger around the fire for a taste of outdoor tradition.

Join us for some spooky storytelling by the campfire!

Wash Woods legends come alive for one weekend only!

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

 Face your fears and unlock the mysteries of Machicomoco's nighttime creatures by investigating the park after dark with us. Join us on a hike to discover some of the "spooky" animals of the park and to do some hands-on learning to find out what you really need to worry about and make the outdoors less frightening.

Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic town of Fries, VA.

Come see the stars and explore our night sky with our park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park.

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

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

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

Grab a Bald Cypress Scavenger Hunt from the Trail Center and hit the trail!

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

Come along on a one mile hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park.