Events in Virginia State Parks

Join a ranger on a guided hike to learn more about different birds, plants, and ecosystems found in the park.

Did you know the Shenandoah Valley began forming around 300 million years ago during a massive continental collision known as the Alleghenian Orogeny?

The blue crab is one of the most iconic species of the Chesapeake Bay.

Discover the art of crafting your own paracord bracelet while learning how this versatile tool can prepare you for the unexpected.

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

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

It is almost Veterans Day and we are honoring the heroes who sacrifice for all of our freedoms. Join a ranger to learn about this special American holiday.

Step into the park after the sun goes down and discover a whole new world that comes alive at night!

Join us for a peaceful evening walk along the shores of Douthat Lake as the sun dips behind the mountains, casting golden light across the water and fall foliage.

Explore the trees of Sweet Run with Beth Sastre a horticulturist with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Loudoun from 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Along the way Beth will share all about spotted lanternflies, an invasive species that has caused an impact to forests and agriculture. The guided hike will follow Farmstead Loop and visit some of our historic structures as well.

Explore the sky with the NASA Skywatchers to learn about the moon, planets and stars.

Staff, volunteers, and period-dressed public historians invite visitors to join us for our 17th annual Veteran’s Day Luminary commemorative trail illumination.

The cooler, quieter months are some of the best times to explore the scenic beaches of First Landing.

You don't have to go to the mountains to enjoy the stunning fall colors that Virginia has to offer!

Bird feeders are a great food source for Virginia’s birds and a wonderful way to bring nature into your own yard.

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 from decades gone by.

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

Fly fishing is a fun and relaxing hobby that immerses you in nature.  With a little guidance, you can learn how to cast a fly rod and start experiencing nature in a whole new way!

Seine netting is a skill that dates back many centuries ago for people to enjoy the bounty of the seas.

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

The bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River, but it's not alone! Come learn about the biology and history of this American icon, and find out why raptors love to make Caledon their home.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is pleased to present the 30th Annual Festival of Trees.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

Birding is a wonderful hobby, and with over 200 species observed in the park, Mason Neck is a prime location for bird watching.

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

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.

Join us for an immersive evening at Sweet Run that draws inspiration from the elements of fire and water.

Join the Rangers to discover new skills to help you survive in the wild.

Join a ranger for a guided hike along one of the fingers of Fairy Stone Lake that leads to an abandoned iron mine.

We all love the great outdoors and enjoy nature. Sometimes we are in a hurry and miss out on all the little things nature has to offer. The James River and its lush landscapes have always been a source of life and inspiration. So, let's take that inspiration and have a “brush” with nature while we paint what we see and talk about what we are painting.

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

"Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action." - Ralph Ellison For the last month of Autumn, homeschoolers will learn about all the ways that different animal species prepare for the cold winter days ahead.

Virginia State Parks license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days.

Make Tuesday your Trail Day.

Join us in the Discovery Center at Foster Falls as we find our breath and our peace in this hour-long meditation class!

Create, connect, and celebrate the season!

"Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action." - Ralph Ellison For the last month of Autumn, homeschoolers will learn about all the ways that different animal species prepare for the cold winter days ahead.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Bird Walks from November 2025 thru March 2026!  Join an experienced birder on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

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.

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

Join a Ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park! This series is intended for children ages 5-17 years old. Rangers are prepared for rain or shine so dress for the weather.

During the Festival of Trees, the Friends of Natural Bridge State Park asks local organizations to decorate a holiday tree to represent themselves in the community.

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.

Experience the wonders of the Tutelo trail with our park interpreter.

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.

Westmoreland State Park presents you with another fun, Fall Foliage Craft!

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.

Nature provides colorful outdoor scenery during the Autumn months.

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.

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.

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

"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson With the use of a Celestron telescope, view the astral bodies up close and learn about the history of the stars.

James River State Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park.

Who-who-whoooo's calling?

Come join the party!

Did you know fire has been and can be used as a tool in our environment?

Event Registration is full!

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.

Join our Rangers and Volunteers in keeping our beach free of litter!

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

Take a walk through the geologic history of our Earth with a Virginia Master Naturalist.

As squirrels get ready for the winter, just like any other hibernating animal they start preparing food!

It's fall y'all, and in Virginia that means it's time for planting native wildflowers! Take a brief guided walk alongside one of Powhatan State Park's managed meadows to learn about the seasonal cycles of this vital habitat.

Join us for a guided hike through Goodwin Lake Trail as we explore the trees that make up our local ecosystem.

As the seasons shift and the landscape quiets, November offers a perfect time to slow down and notice the subtle beauty of nature.

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.

It's getting cold outside!

Observe and capture the natural world of Chippokes State Park with writing and drawing in this introductory session.

What better way to start the day than with a hot cup of coffee.

Join a park interpreter on a scavenger hunt along one of our less explored trails to find all of the colors, shapes, and sizes that are found in nature.

The colors of Autumn are on display at Belle Isle so let's take "Advice from a Tree" (Ilan Shamir) and start November celebrating nature's beauty.

The upcoming winter bash at Hungry Mother State Park promises to be a magical event, supporting the heart warming mission of the Santa’s Elves Foundation.

Marshes are more than great spots for fishing, canoeing, and bird-watching.

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

Have you ever wanted to identify the different birds in your yard or even start bird watching as a hobby?  If so, this program is for you.  We'll go over the basics of finding and identifying birds, the basic equipment you might need, as well as some tips to help you make the most of your birding adventures!

Fallen leaves blanket the ground, but what some people may call an eyesore, many animals call home.

Happy fall, y'all!

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

Branch out of your comfort zone and be “tree”-ative!

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.

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

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.

Get out and get creative with our monthly series of Nature Journaling workshops led by a local naturalist!

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

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.

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.

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Virginia is home to a healthy population of black bears; do you know what to do if you encounter one?

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

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

Discover the art of journaling in the wild with a ranger.

The Tundra Swans are coming, the Tundra Swans are coming.

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.

It’s Native American Heritage Month, and we’re excited to partner with Samuels Public Library to celebrate!