Events in Virginia State Parks

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights!

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.

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

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights!

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

Please Note: This is an entirely indoor astronomy program Join Kim Kenny of the Crewe Observatory as he takes you back in time to Bethlehem to see the night sky as it was during Jesus' lifetime. Using the Holy Bible, computers and cutting-edge astronomy software, you will experience in two hours what the Wise Men saw and the signs in the sky from Jesus' birth to his crucifixion.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights!

This Winter Solstice, join our rangers on a morning hike through the Holly Marsh Trail to see the sunrise over the Potomac River!

Make the most of the shortest day of the year and ring in the winter season with a series of hikes.

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.

Craft a keepsake for the upcoming holiday season.

As you gather with your families during the holidays, visit our discovery hours at Shenandoah River State Park!  Activities available may include making your own animal track, meeting Henry the turtle, exploring under a microscope, and more!

Join us in creating your very own bird feeder to put in our park or your back yard!

Celebrate the first day of winter by going on a guided hike with a ranger and learning about Mason Neck’s unique environment and the history of the park as a bald eagle sanctuary.

Make the most of the shortest day of the year by stepping outside, connecting with nature, and welcoming winter with fresh air and scenic views.

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

Come face-to-face with some of First Landing State Park’s most fascinating residents!

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

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

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

Join a ranger on this one-mile trek and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable shoes and clothes, and bring a water bottle if possible.

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 us for a cozy afternoon of holiday cheer!

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

Have you ever found yourself in need of a length of string while out in the wilderness?

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

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

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 Journals are great way to practice intentional observation of your surroundings.

Celebrate the Winter Solstice—the longest night of the year—with a cozy, reflective evening by the fire.

The winter solstice marks the first day of winter for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, which is also our shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights!

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights!

Enjoy the beauty of York River State Park, while having the opportunity to take pictures along the way.

Help ensure years of great fishing at Claytor Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

Help ensure years of great fishing at Fairy Stone Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

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

Explore the crops that shaped the economy of the South before, during, and after the Civil War.

"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.

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.

Take a guided walk with a ranger in the winter woods to find out who is out and about. For some species, Virginia is their southern winter retreat, while others stay here year-round.

Join us for a guided Winter Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience the quiet beauty of the forest in its cold-weather stillness.

Join a ranger for a guided hike to look for winter birds.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

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.

Meet Rangers at Narrows Beach for a guided bird-watching experience through our tidal marshlands.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Mason Neck is home to more than twenty species of waterfowl during the winter.  Meet Rangers at the Visitor Center for an introduction to our visiting waterfowl, then join us as we look out over Belmont Bay for the many ducks, geese, and coots in the 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!

Winter’s snow-covered trails are full of mysteries—each footprint a clue left behind by the animals that call this place home.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

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

Stand in the shade of one of the most 'poplar' trees in the park as you learn about Swift Creek, native wildlife, and more about the park's history. The trail is hard packed earth with some challenging elevation changes on this easy-moderate 0.7-mile loop from the Visitor Center. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, pack water/snacks, and dress for the weather.

Ever wonder what stories a tree can tell?

Let your creativity flow at our Creation Station, where you can create your favorite animal mask, opossum puppet, turkey, butterfly, or batteau craft.

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

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.

This special craft program involves making fun edible ornaments that will serve winter birds as a dependable food source during the cold winter months.  Participants will make a natural bird feeder using pine cones, peanut butter, string, and birdseed.  Shortening is available for guess with peanut allergies.  While creating your bird feeder, learn about some of our common Virginia backyard winter birds.

Join a ranger for a cozy conversation about our cliffs, erosion, and how to preserve the scenery of a landscape that is constantly changing while enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa!

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

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

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the interactions between a predator population of coyotes and a prey population of deer in a forest. This program is suitable for all ages.

Can you start fire with a steel wool?

Dozens of birds and other animals migrate to and away from Mason Neck each year, while others hibernate to escape the cold.

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

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

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

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

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

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

Explore the crops that shaped the economy of the South before, during, and after the Civil War.

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.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

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

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

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Explore the trails of Sweet Run and learn about how the season of winter impacted the inhabitants, both human and animal.

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

Join us for a cozy afternoon of holiday cheer!

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

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

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.