Events in Virginia State Parks

Watch the last traces of daylight strike the Blue Ridge Mountains on this haywagon ride.

For decades, stories of mysterious Bigfoot sightings have echoed throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

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

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

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

Step back in time as we uncover some of the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Join us at the Community Fire Ring to relax, enjoy a roasted marshmallow, and get to know your camping neighbors.

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

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

Join us after dark to observe moths and other insects of the night. Entomologists Dr.

Grab your binoculars and get outside.

Ready to learn the ins and outs of stand up paddleboarding?

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

Ever tried to balance on a board in the water as you paddle down the lake?

Enjoy the summer sun while also helping out your state parks! Check out some of Widewater's Summer volunteer opportunities below.  Educational Volunteer Opportunities Astronomy Assistant: July 17th & August 14th Natural Resource Management - Rain Barrel Maintenance: July 11th - Mothing Monitor: July 20th & 24th - Japanese Stilt Grass Removal: August 15th, 22nd, & 29th Recreation & Special Events Kayak Tour Caboose - Rising Sun: July 19th - Full Moon: July 25th - Twilight: August 8th Saturday, July 25th : Waterway Cleanups Summer Cleanup on the Potomac River Join this Stafford-based non-profit as they help keep Potomac River clean of trash and debris via kayaks in their Summer cleanup at the park.

We are looking for eager volunteers of all skill level to help us repair and maintain our trails!

Do you know how to identify different trees?

The marsh is a place full of wonder! Each living thing plays a key role in the delicate ecosystem.

Start your day with a ranger and your four-legged companion as Sweet Run State Park awakens for a new day.

Did you know Westmoreland State Park has a beach where you can find fossils?

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!

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

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.

The Green Arrow?

Calling all budding detectives.

Join a ranger for a leisurely look at clouds while you kick back, relax, and allow yourself to not be busy.

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.

Hike with a ranger to learn the basics of birding.

Bring your four legged best friend for a ranger lead walk in the park and have your pup be certified as an official York River State Park B.A.R.K.

"Equipped for Battle" is an opportunity to learn about the typical items soldiers from the American Civil War would have worn and carried with them into battle.

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

Does your child love exciting stories and fun facts?

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

Mussel's and Aquatic Bugs, oh my!

Explore the park with a leaf identification scavenger hunt.

Every acorn a squirrel forgets is a tree the forest remembers. Come learn how gray squirrels play a very important role in Bear Creek Lake State Park and play a squirrel game about finding acorns.

Summer heat can be challenging for both people and wildlife.

Stop by our parks' pop-up ranger program to learn about a variety of topics, from historical facts to life cycles of our park animals.

Discover the vital role butterflies play in our ecosystem and the remarkable journey they undertake from egg to winged adult.

Join a park ranger for this competitive adventure on the one-mile loop Goodwin Lake Trail.

Did you know your shoes leave more than tracks behind?

Explore the remains of the Goodwin Gold Mine and learn how gold was discovered here by stepping in the stream, getting wet, and learning the techniques to pan for gold! This is a hands-on historical activity demonstration; everything found during panning must remain at the site except gold and pyrite.

Refresh, renew, rejuvenate at Pocahontas State Park by expressing your poetic prowess on a ranger-led hike.

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

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.

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

Amid the hardships of the American Civil War, soldiers found strength in the bonds they formed and the small comforts of daily life.

What makes a bird a bird?

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.

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

What swims in the shallows of South Beach?

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

Think you can stump a nature expert?

“What does the fox say?” Did you know that there are two different foxes found in Virginia, the red fox and the grey fox?

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

Build your very own bug hotel to help provide a habitat for beneficial insects. Your creation will offer pollinators a special space where they can breed and grow!

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our rangers who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

Jump in and explore the underwater side of the Shenandoah River!

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!

From antlions to zebra swallowtails, amazing insects are everywhere!

Join a ranger under High Bridge for a relaxing afternoon of fishing.

Craftily sculpt a towering sandcastle, a mermaid, a turtle, your dog, or any other creature, character, or building you can think of to win this sand sculpture contest in honor of Sandcastle Day. All skill levels are encouraged to participate.

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.

Heard about popular pollinators like bees?

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

Come find us at the Splash Park as we get hands on with skulls and furs from Virginia’s native animals.

Meet Lake Anna State Park's animal ambassadors Flick, General Raphael, and Julia at the Visitor Center. Learn about the important roles Virginia reptiles play in the environment, snake safety tips, and what you can do to help protect wild reptiles.

Are all snakes venomous?

Beetles are our friendly neighbors in nature; though small in size, they have a major impact on ecosystems and food at the table.

Celebrate the end of water month at Mason Neck State Park and join an Interpretive Ranger near the Playground Area for a fun, interactive look at how rain affects our waterways!

Come say hello to Ranger Shelly, our red-eared slider and local shellebrity. Join us at the beach as she enjoys some sunshine and enrichment time.

Learn why they're called survival bracelets--and then make one yourself.

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

Kiptopeke is full of beautiful sights to draw inspiration from. Breath taking sunsets on the bay, graceful migratory birds in flight, the swirling lines of seashells in the sand, and the pops of color from flowers in the fields can awaken the artist in all of us. Want to create your own masterpiece or capture a memory in your own impressionistic style?

Join the rangers for a fun tree craft!

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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

Seine netting is a skill that dates back many centuries ago for people to enjoy the bounty of the seas.

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

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.

Experience a vibrant cultural celebration with the Yapatoko Drum & Dance group at this once-a-year special event.

Our ancestors gained the gift of fire; learn how to harness it safely with hands-on practice and rangers by your side.

Can you match the skull to its pelt?

Learn more about Lake Anna State Park with our family-friendly Campfire Trivia Night! Will your team be the winner of the Coveted Trivia Log?

As the sun dips low and the night draws near, we humans usually turn in for the night...but this is show-time for bats!

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Join a park ranger for a guided nighttime adventure through the maritime forest as we search and listen for some of First Landing State Park’s most fascinating nocturnal residents: owls.

Come gather around the campfire and immerse yourself in a night of fun.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month (plus holiday weekends), April through October.  Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Step into the quiet, mysterious woods of Douthat State Park after dark for an unforgettable experience.

Take part in the Bishop’s Events Sweet Run 5K & 10K trail race.

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

Join our Park Rangers as they discuss the history, ecology, and culture of the Widewater peninsula.

One of the best times to be on Hungry Mother Lake is in the early mornings when no one else is on the lake.

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

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.