Events in Virginia State Parks

Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month with us!

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

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.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Join a ranger to learn about the many birds that call Belle Isle home, including the Turkey!

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Join our rangers in exploring the wildlife along our central trails.

Now that winter is fast approaching, many bird species will begin migrating to and from Northern Virginia.

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.

Join us for an afternoon filled with creativity and fun!

Join a ranger to discover park history and how the tunnel was formed during this guided hike down Tunnel Trail.

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

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

Come make your very own turkey for Thanksgiving!

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

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

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.

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.

Join the Virginia Peninsula Stargazers as they point out the different items of our solar system in the night sky. They will have the equipment.  Just bring your curiosity.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs.

If you're camping with us at Chippokes State Park, we would like to extend a warm invitation to attend our special evening ranger-led campfire program.

Go with the flow and investigate the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Take a guided walk with a ranger in the autumn woods to find out who is out and about. Fall is here, and that means the winter bird migrants are coming!

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.

Make your own pig and meet our ambassador animal: Tazewell the potbellied pig!

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

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!

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

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

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

With the weather getting colder and colder, now is the perfect time to warm up beside a campfire!

Peak into the microscope to view the tiny cells that make up your favorite plants and animals.

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.

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?

Turn tree cookies into cute holiday ornaments as we craft inside the Visitor Center.

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

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

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.

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.

Let's learn about bats!

Make Tuesday your Trail Day.

Get your mid-week boost with a walk among the trees, meadows, with fellow nature lovers!

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

"For man, Autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together; for nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad." -- Edwin Way Teale, naturalist From its' agricultural cultivation in Mexico 9,000 years ago by the indigenous peoples, to it's global spread in the 1500s, and now it's daily use as food, fuel, and fodder, corn (or maize) holds a prominent seat at the table each season.

Not in the mood for a turkey trot this season?

Want to work up an appetite for the big turkey day feast, while helping a worthy cause?

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

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

Need a break from holiday shopping?

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

Not in the mood for a turkey trot this season?

The holidays can be stressful; come to Mason Neck and unwind.

Start a new tradition the Friday after Thanksgiving and #OptOutside at False Cape State Park.

Explore the trails of Sweet Run and discover the animals that have traveled the same trails.

This Thanksgiving weekend, trade shopping bags for backpacks and join us for a reflective guided hike at Douthat State Park in celebration of Opt Outside Day.

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

Why go shopping while nature is popping?

"For man, Autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together; for nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad." -- Edwin Way Teale, naturalist From its' agricultural cultivation in Mexico 9,000 years ago by the indigenous peoples, to it's global spread in the 1500s, and now it's daily use as food, fuel, and fodder, corn (or maize) holds a prominent seat at the table each season.

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 for our annual after thanksgiving hike!

Northern Virginia is rich in history, and Mason Neck is no exception.

Work off that extra serving of mashed potatoes by giving back to the park!

Work off that extra serving of mashed potatoes by giving back to the park!

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

Join our rangers in exploring the wildlife along our central trails.

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

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

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.

Past and present, friends and families have enjoyed getting together for some friendly competition.

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

Join us for a magical and entertaining view of one of our most treasured holidays at the Karlan Mansion.

A beloved holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees celebrates its 30th year.

To kick off this year's Christmas Lighting event the park will provide this one-day special offer to help those in need in our community.

Join us for ranger-led campfire with S'mores!

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

Come join the party!

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

Autumn is in the air!

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Come join us for Fairy Stone State Park's 4th Annual Holiday Market during small business Saturday.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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.

Take a walk among the forest's still and silent giants: trees!

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

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .

Celebrate the holiday season at Chippokes!  This special event allows for you to try your hand at wreath making, using all-natural materials and greenery collected from Chippokes State Park.

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

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

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

Have you ever wondered what kind of tree you're walking past on a hike?

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!

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

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

Try your hand at net making and learn more about the indigenous people that once used the park as seasonal fishing grounds.

Does your pup have what it takes to be a B.A.R.K Ranger? B.A.R.K.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

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.