During the Festival of Trees, local organizations are asked to decorate a holiday tree to represent themselves in the community.

The shortest day of the year is upon us, and that means it’s time to create our own light for the dark months ahead.

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

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.

Westmoreland State Park welcomes you to attend our first Wreath Making Workshop.  Enjoy baked goods, hot cocoa, coffee, or tea whilst creating your very own festive decor for your home.  Holiday wreaths are beautiful, diverse, extravagant or quaint, and often handmade classic decorations that have come to represent that good old holiday cheer.   Gathering and harvesting of evergreens for the home during the winter was a practice of early Europeans.  Evergreens were a species that most looked at in awe and wonder as it was resilient to winter and quickly became a symbol of the season.  Try your hand at traditional wreathmaking.   All supplies provided.  Register and pay in-advance for your spot by visiting or calling the Visitor Center at 804-493-8821.

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.

Please Note: This is an entirely indoor astronomy program.

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

In the spirit of the holidays, enjoy a traditional and delicious in-season activity.  Decorate your very own gingerbread house.  All supplies are provided to include icing, sprinkles, candy canes, candy, and more!  Adventure to the Discovery Center to travel to the North Pole.  Bring your family or friends and get ready for fun.  There are 10 available spots for this program.  Please register and pay in-advance at the Visitor Center.

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

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.

Forgo the fireworks and crowded festivities and accompany a ranger on this guided hike through the quiet woods with the moon and stars lighting the way.

While Americans traditionally ring in the New Year at midnight on New Year's Eve, other cultures welcome it with the first sunrise of New Year's Day. Join rangers for this unique experience, witnessing the sky transition from dark to light as a new day and a new year dawns. While on top of the Piedmont Overlook, we will have ample time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

Come join our Ranger on a sunrise hike through the Holly Marsh Trail! With sunrise at 7:30am over the Potomac River, the hike will begin at 7:00am sharp. Registration is required and you can register here.

Step into the new year by joining Machicomoco's rangers on a hike through history at our interpretive area.

Sweet Run’s 11 miles of hiking trails will be open for you to enjoy on your own or with us on one of our two naturalist-led hikes.

Join us for our kick off to 2025 with one of two great hikes.  Take a two mile journey to our living shoreline with a grand view of the York River (the hike to the hill overlooking the shoreline is meant to be ability-inclusive and will have an all-terrain wheelchair available for reservation).  Or go on a four mile adventure to the Pamunkey Trail and gaze at the river from a secluded viewing platform.  Both hikes will begin at 10:00 am from the amphitheater.  .

Grab your hiking boots and step into the rich history and vibrant landscapes of Sky Meadows State Park, once known as the Mount Bleak Farm.

2025 is going to be a walk in the park!

You are welcome to hike on your own or join us for one of our four guided hikes throughout the day.

Welcome 2025!!

Make a first-day keepsake!  Join us at the River Bend Discovery Center to make your first craft of the new year.

There is no better way to celebrate the new year than with a hike!

Celebrate the new year with a retirement party!

Kick off the New Year with a refreshing, family-friendly hike that everyone can enjoy!

In partnership with the Cumberland County Recreation Department, the third annual Cumberland Plunge will be held at the beach at 2 p.m. Upon the signal, participants will dash into the park's swimming area. A warming bonfire will be on the beach to help dry you off.

Ring in the new year with a stroll along the river!  Join us for a nice stroll along our River Trail.

Our Winter Lecture Series is back for its twentieth year!

Enjoy stories, songs & s'mores around a cozy winter campfire.

On his birthday, the Sailor's Creek Battlefield interpretive team will uncover General Robert E.

Join us on January 25 at Princess Anne Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Festival Kickoff!

Join us on January 25 at Princess Anne Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Festival Kickoff!

Join us for a presentation by guest speaker Bob Sutherland on "Navigating the Night Sky” and learn how to use key constellations to unlock the winter sky and reveal hidden gems he has photographed among the stars.

We can "bear-ly" wait for the second installment of our Winter Lecture Series. Ali Davis, District Wildlife Biologist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, has a lot of experience helping constituents manage human-wildlife conflicts and is looking forward to sharing some tips and tricks on how to avoid conflict on your property.

Join us at Sailor's Creek Battlefield, as we celebrate Black History Month with the program "Follow the Drinking Gourd." We will begin with a short lecture at the Visitor Center on the Underground Railroad, highlighting the pioneers of that era and their remarkable strength in overcoming challenges.

Love is in the air!

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual event promoted by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

February 15th is National Susan B.

Craft your way into the heart of nature at Claytor Lake State Park for Valentine's.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count is a community/citizen science project to collect data on wild birds.

February 15th is National Susan B.

Step back in time and experience the life of a Civil War soldier at Camp Paradise, High Bridge Trail State Park.

Step back in time and experience the life of a Civil War soldier at Camp Paradise, High Bridge Trail State Park.

Now is the time of year that the Eastern Bluebird begins to nest, and you can help them find a home to raise a family.

A diverse grouping of women paints a fascinating portrait of life at Poplar Forest over a 200-year period.

Join Friends Group leadership and Park staff for an informational meeting about membership and exciting volunteer opportunities at York River State Park.

Being a woman is impressive, and we are celebrating womanhood here at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield!

Step into history this St.

Step into history this St.

Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools. These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach clean up.

Join the Kiptopeke State Park Team!  Looking for a rewarding seasonal job in a beautiful outdoor setting?  Kiptopeke State Park is hiring for the 2025 season!

What better way to celebrate St.

What better way to celebrate St.

Join the Caledon Trail Race Series for the Pollinator Dash!

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Join us at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., for an engaging program exploring the pivotal events of the Appomattox Campaign, the final campaign in the eastern theater of the Civil War.

Join us at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., for an engaging program exploring the pivotal events of the Appomattox Campaign, the final campaign in the eastern theater of the Civil War.

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Our Winter Lecture Series is back for its twentieth year!

The Spring 2025 installment of the Staunton River Star Party will be sponsored by CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) and hosted at Staunton River State Park.

Chippokes State Park is proud to partner with the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers Club to introduce a special dark night sky and stargazing opportunity for all to enjoy. Club members will use their telescopes to share the night time sky with park visitors.  Visitors will be free to ask questions, observe, and look through telescopes during this public viewing outreach event.

Help children 12 and under get hooked on the thrill of fishing and discover the fun of being outdoors.

Enjoy a walk with knowledgeable guides and celebrate the return of Spring.

Everyday, billions of light sources illuminate our planets surface.

Members of the Crewe Astronomy Club visit the park again to help you navigate the cosmos.

A new chapter of Barefoot University Forest School is forming right here at Hungry Mother State Park.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

Let's go fishing with friends and family!

Have you ever wondered about the pivotal command decisions made in the spring of 1865 that helped bring the fighting in Virginia to an end?

Calling all young anglers; kids aged 12 and younger get free admission and can fish for free during this annual event.

Step back in time with us on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park for a powerful commemoration of what the South grimly called “Black Thursday," the decisive battle that helped seal the fate of the Confederacy.

Step back in time and experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

Celebrate the beauty of spring at Shenandoah River State Park!  Each spring, Virginia Bluebells blossom along our winding riverbank, creating a beautiful carpet of blue and purple hues.

Step back into a tumultuous moment in American history with "Their War is Over: Prisoners, Casualties, and Their Unknown Destinations," a lantern-lit self-guided tour at the historic Hillsman House on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Immerse yourself in the raw aftermath of the Civil War as you move through an authentic re-creation of a working field hospital, complete with makeshift cots and the hushed urgency of battlefield medicine.

Step back in time and experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch to learn about the remarkable springtime wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Step back in time under the flicker of firelight as we explore the intertwined stories of two soldiers whose lives converged outside the town of Farmville during the Appomattox Campaign.

Join us for a special guided battle walk commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Battles of High Bridge and the fighting around Farmville.

Let's go fishing with friends and family!

Bring your paws out to Caledon for a doggone egg-stravaganza!

Children ages 1 to 10 will hop along with the Easter Bunny as they search for elusive candy-filled eggs, some containing prizes.

Join us for a geocaching adventure at Shenandoah River!

We let the dogs out!

Join rangers at Westmoreland State Park for a fun-filled Easter adventure.  Bring a basket to collect wooden ornaments that will be turned in for prizes.

Hop on over to Kiptopeke State Park for an afternoon of Easter fun!  Starting at 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy some games and crafts!

We're closing out this season's Winter Lecture Series with a fascinating program on bats.

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

Let's go fishing with friends and family!

Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach clean up.

Join us to celebrate our natural resources by connecting with recognized Tribes of Virginia and other event partners eager to promote environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation.

We will be celebrating Earth Day with a fair behind our Visitor Center. See what you can do to make this world a better place for everyone.

Come celebrate Easter at Occoneechee State Park.

It's Earth Day Week!

Give back to our beautiful planet and create art at Caledon State Park as a part of our annual Earth Day celebration.

Join us for Mason Neck State Park's Earth Day Celebration, where community unity meets nature's beauty!