Events in Virginia State Parks

“The Moon and stars are not above us; they are within us." --John Muir Come join our rangers on an evening hike through the Holly Marsh Trail to view the Full Moon rising above the Potomac River!

June 26th is National Canoe & Kayak Day!

The forests are full of things both delicious and dangerous, but can you tell which is which?

Celebrate DCR’s 100th anniversary around the campfire with s’mores and trivia!   .

End your week with a relaxing paddle along Swift Creek Lake.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Ever wondered what critters are crawling beneath the surface of a stream? Join us on a fun adventure as we search the stream for interesting, tiny critters: freshwater invertebrates.

Keep an eye out around the campgrounds for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

Spending the weekend camping at Lake Anna State Park?

Enjoy the beautiful park setting as you are entertained by some of our very own local musicians.

Come join the party!

Enjoy a magnificent sunset on the tranquil Potomac River and listen for nocturnal creatures. We'll meet inside the visitor center to gear up before riding to the beach for an evening paddle.

Do you enjoy roasting a marshmallow?

Where's the best place to fish at the park?

Start off your weekend off right with s’mores and more!

Join a Ranger and your fellow campers to hear about all of the different trails and activities the park has to offer and discover the history of the park. This is a great chance to ask questions about the park, local activities in the area, and future events at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

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

Come for the s’mores, stay for the fun!

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

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

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

Welcome to the park, kick off your stay with an unforgettable evening by the fire at the water's edge.

See the night-time world like you've never seen it before!

Enjoy an early morning hike with a ranger to view the sunrise. We'll be hiking to Little Pinnacle to observe what display Mother Nature will show that morning!

Grab your binoculars and get outside.

Grab your binoculars and go birding.

Experience the James River like never before on this ranger-guided canoe float between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing!

Become a Junior Ranger at False Cape State Park!

Have you ever wondered what lies under your feet?

Summer brings in many far-flung 'visitors' all the way from the tropics of Central and South America.

Survey says… join us for DCR 100: Family Feud.

Calling all young explorers and adventurers!

The Timberneck House got a new paint job last year!

Explore how birds, bats, bees, and other pollinators aid in the life cycle of plants and flowers with a fun game inspired by green light, red light.  Parks are for everyone.

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

Mussel's and Aquatic Bugs, oh my!

This archery session offers instruction for beginners and shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with a talk on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

Join us on a ranger-led hike to certify your canine companion as a New River Trail State Park B.A.R.K Ranger!    The B.A.R.K.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Discover how the many trees in the park play a purpose in supporting the inhabitants - past and present - of the park.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942) developed patches that were used by the enrollees as a means to identify others of their duties.

On this first full weekend of Summer, join a ranger to talk about Equinoxes and Solstices, the trees that call the park home, take "Advice from a Tree" (Ilan Shamir) and make your own tree related craft to take home as a souvenir.

Join us as we give the rhododendron bushes at the park office a little post‑bloom TLC!

Beat the heat at our River Bend Discovery Center!

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

DATE CHANGE: This program has been moved to Saturday, June 27.

This summer is America's 250th Anniversary and the 90th Anniversary of the opening of Westmoreland State Park!

Do we have bears around here?

This program is a part of our blast to the past week!

Imagine a world without fruits and veggies; they could not exist without pollinators!

Your annual family favorite camping experience is back at Sky Meadows State Park!

Come talk to the Kiptopeke Rangers at our educational booth at the entrance to North Beach.

Why should we want to create spaces for bees and other pollinators?

Bug out and win cool prizes.

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.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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.

Think fast and buzz in at DCR 100: Jeopardy!

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

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

The common practice of "tagging" individuals with nicknames has been around since the beginning of time. History is filled with colorful, comical, degrading and demeaning examples.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Let your creativity run wild as you dive into a world of nature-themed crafting fun. Young artists can choose from a variety of nature-inspired crafts such as animal masks, opossum puppets, butterflies, turkeys, or even a batteau craft.

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

As part of Sky Meadow's Annual Great American Campout, (GAC), join the Let's Go program staff for an archery adventure! Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Learn how orchard trees and shrubs benefit pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while helping create healthier habitats across the landscape.

So many adventures happen on the Bullpasture River, but what’s happening below the water surface?

Take a guided walk with a park ranger and butterfly expert in search of colorful creatures of the meadow! First, you'll get tips and tricks for learning butterfly identification and anatomy as well as a glimpse into their amazing life cycles and awe-inspiring adaptations.

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

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 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.

Set out on a relaxing ranger-guided tubing adventure as you float from Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing along the scenic James River! This approximately 2-mile trip generally takes around two hours, depending on river flow.

DATE CHANGE: This program has been moved to Saturday, June 27.

Meet Maverick, our corn snake animal ambassador, as he helps teach us all about our scaly friends and the good that they do for our environment.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Ever wanted to learn to crab?

Ever wondered what you can and can't eat out in the wild?

Art in the Park programs explore connections between art and the natural world through a hands-on project each month.  This month's program is Paper Making!

Mussels play a huge part in our watershed.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

Are all snakes venomous?

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

This program is a part of our blast to the past week!

Ever wondered what stories Douthat State Park holds?

DATE CHANGE: This program has been moved to Saturday, June 27.

Take only memories, leave only footprints.

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.

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a feast, and they want you to join.

Slither, crawl, and shellabrate with us as we dive into the wild world of reptiles.

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of a bug.

Discover the colorful world of butterflies at Twin Lakes State Park!

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!

Every program description needs a hook, but this program already has plenty of them.

Join our rangers for a scenic hike from the Howe House to the beach as we learn how to identify some of our common native trees using our handheld identification sheets.

Ever cared to create art outdoors?

Have you ever wanted to pan for gold?

Did you know that people have been using plants to dye fabric for centuries?

How many fish can you catch?