Press releases

Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.

• Visit a Virginia State Park for your First Day Hike (December 16, 2025)
• Lighting of the Bridge is back and bigger than ever at Staunton River Battlefield State Park (November 24, 2025)
• New River Trail State Park opens Kids in Parks TRACK Trail in Fries (November 24, 2025)
• Late Natural Bridge State Park volunteer honored with Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award (November 21, 2025)
• Celebrate the holiday season at Wilderness Road State Park (November 20, 2025)
• Opt Outside Thanksgiving weekend at Virginia State Parks  (November 19, 2025)
• Natural Bridge State Park celebrates holiday season with Festival of Trees and Luminary Nights (November 18, 2025)
• Lights at the Lake returns to Bear Creek Lake State Park for 11th annual holiday celebration  (November 18, 2025)
• Holiday Market returns to Fairy Stone State Park (November 17, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks launches Ranger Conservation Corps to build future conservation leaders (November 06, 2025)
• 17th annual Veterans Day Luminary to be held at Sailor’s Creek (October 30, 2025)
• Caledon State Park acquires Lake Caledon property (October 28, 2025)
• Lake Anna State Park announces Dustin Yates as park manager (October 15, 2025)
• Discover nature in action at Fairy Stone State Park’s Fall BioBlitz (October 08, 2025)
• Innovation Award bestowed to Virginia State Parks’ Business Revenue and Administrative Team (October 07, 2025)
• Wilderness Road State Park hosts family-friendly Pumpkins in the Park celebration (October 07, 2025)
• Natural Bridge State Park receives GEM electric shuttle for visitors (October 06, 2025)
• Fall for Twin Lakes Festival returns to the park with new activities for the whole family to enjoy (September 29, 2025)
• High Bridge Trail State Park to host Public Comment Meeting Oct. 6 (September 26, 2025)
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation completes land acquisitions for future state park at Hayfields (September 19, 2025)
• Rooftop Tent Rally returns to James River State Park this fall (September 18, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks celebrates National Public Lands Day, provides free parking and a range of volunteer opportunities (September 17, 2025)
• The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announces support for Color Blindness Awareness Month (September 09, 2025)
• Public Information Meeting for Powhatan State Park to be held Sept. 23 (September 09, 2025)
• Austin Peightel named new park manager at Staunton River State Park (September 09, 2025)
• Martin’s Station Fall Encampment and Wilderness Road Heritage Festival return to Wilderness Road State Park (September 09, 2025)
• Estuaries Day returns to York River State Park (September 08, 2025)
• Multi-use trails for public, ecological restoration planned at new state conservation area and natural area preserve (September 04, 2025)
• Thistle Ridge Throwdown & Disc Golf Family Fling coming to Natural Bridge State Park (September 04, 2025)
• Grayson Highlands State Park hosts Fall Festival Sept. 27-28 (September 04, 2025)
• Powhatan State Park to host 3rd annual Pawpaw Festival (September 03, 2025)
• Staunton River State Park invites astronomers to the Fall Star Party (August 26, 2025)
• New River Trail State Park expands accessibility with all-terrain wheelchair (August 26, 2025)
• Reserve your spot for hunting opportunities at Virginia State Parks  (August 26, 2025)
• Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival returns to Natural Tunnel State Park (August 21, 2025)
• Sky Meadows State Park to host dark sky conservation program (August 19, 2025)
• Seven Bends State Park supporter establishes fund to benefit park’s natural resources (August 18, 2025)
• Albert Hash Memorial Festival returns to Grayson Highlands State Park (August 18, 2025)
• Butterflies on the Battlefield Pollinator and Nature Festival will be held at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park on Aug. 23 (August 12, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks offers engaging educational field trips for students of all ages (August 05, 2025)
• Seven Bends State Park now offers kayak rentals (July 29, 2025)
• Wilderness Road State Park hosts Community Appreciation Day (July 29, 2025)
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park names new park manager (July 07, 2025)
• Natural Bridge State Park receives national recognition as a certified Nature Explore Classroom (June 20, 2025)
• Westmoreland State Park welcomes new park manager, Dave Myers (June 18, 2025)
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park receives USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Award (June 16, 2025)
• Juneteenth celebrations to be held at Twin Lakes and Pocahontas state parks (June 11, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks celebrate 89th anniversary (June 10, 2025)
• The Nature Conservancy transfers 184 acres to Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, expanding Clinch River State Park (June 02, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks announces Drew Gruber as the new park manager of Culpeper Battlefields State Park (May 28, 2025)
• Alyssa Menard is named park manager at Holliday Lake State Park (May 21, 2025)
• Virginia's historic Green Pastures Recreation Area celebrates a new day (May 20, 2025)
• Grayson Highlands State Park expands with two land acquisitions (May 20, 2025)
• Music in the Park returns to Occoneechee State Park (May 16, 2025)
• Firefly Festival returns to High Bridge Trail State Park for two nights (May 14, 2025)
• Seven Bends State Park celebrates Kids to Parks Day, unveils new mosaic (May 13, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks offers wedding venues, launches online resource guide to assist with planning (May 12, 2025)
• More music series this summer at Virginia State Parks (May 08, 2025)
• Judd's Music in the Park returns to Smith Mountain Lake State Park (May 08, 2025)
• Master plan public information meeting to be held for Shenandoah River State Park (May 07, 2025)
• Kids Fishing Day returns to Natural Tunnel State Park (May 07, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks offers special events in celebration of National Kids to Parks Day (May 07, 2025)
• Wilderness Road State Park hosts America's First Frontier (May 06, 2025)
• Discover nature in action at Fairy Stone State Park's Spring BioBlitz (May 06, 2025)
• Annual Turtle Day “Shellebration” will be held at Twin Lakes State Park on May 24 (May 05, 2025)
• Kiptopeke State Park to host Tides of Time: Exploring Eastern Shore History (April 30, 2025)
• Pocahontas Premieres returns to Pocahontas State Park with new musical performances (April 29, 2025)
• Monday Market returns to Fairy Stone State Park (April 28, 2025)
• 27th Annual Eagle Festival to be held at Mason Neck State Park (April 28, 2025)
• Illumination of the Bridge returns to Natural Bridge State Park (April 17, 2025)
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation conducts aerial spraying to combat invasive spongy moth caterpillars (April 17, 2025)
• Celebrate Earth Day at one of Virginia's 44 state parks (April 15, 2025)
• High Bridge Station opens at High Bridge Trail State Park (April 10, 2025)
• Annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held at Kiptopeke State Park (April 08, 2025)
• Bark in the Park & Annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held at Caledon State Park (April 08, 2025)
• New River Trail State Park opens new birding trail, launches self-guided history tour (April 07, 2025)
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park hosts Osprey 10K and 5K races (April 01, 2025)
• Staunton River State Park offers self-guided astronomy programs (March 27, 2025)
• Sky Meadows State Park announces special spring break programs (March 25, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks launches spring interpretive programming, offers nearly 1,000 programs through fall (March 21, 2025)
• New River Trail State Park continues restoration progress following Hurricane Helene damage (March 20, 2025)
• Commemorate the 160th battle anniversary at both Sailor's Creek and High Bridge Trail State Park (March 19, 2025)
• Natural Bridge State Park to host Kids Fishing Day (March 18, 2025)
• Shenandoah River State Park to host Bluebell Festival (March 06, 2025)
• Claytor Lake debris removal complete, state park resumes normal operation (March 03, 2025)
• Adventure Races return to Shenandoah River State Park in September (February 26, 2025)
• Public information meetings for Sweet Run State Park to be held in March (February 25, 2025)
• Claytor Lake State Park announces changes to 2025 camping season (February 24, 2025)
• Fairy Stone State Park closes main campground for 2025 season, cabins and equestrian campground to remain open (February 14, 2025)
• Staunton River State Park invites astronomer to Spring Star Party (February 13, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks volunteer numbers increase (February 12, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks campgrounds reopen March 7 with burn restrictions in effect through April 30 (February 11, 2025)
• Virginia's longest and oldest adventure triathlon returns to Wythe County for 26th year (February 10, 2025)
• Bear Creek Lake State Park winter event breaks record numbers (February 10, 2025)
• York River State Park hosts Spring Bloom Adventure Race (February 06, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks Adventure Series returns for 8th year (February 05, 2025)
• Count birds for science during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (February 03, 2025)
• False Cape State Park is the Nation's Newest Civil War Trails Site (January 31, 2025)
• The fishing pier at Leesylvania State Park is closed (January 31, 2025)
• Virginia State Parks to host annual gift show Feb. 26-27 (January 28, 2025)
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park announces 2025 Winter Lecture Series (January 27, 2025)

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