Events in Virginia State Parks

From the revolutions of Europe to the battlefields and cities of Civil War America, German immigrants found themselves caught between two worlds.

All Girl Scouts are invited to the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park to participate in Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day on Saturday, September 12 from 1-3 p.m. The theme for this year’s program is Lead the Way.

Calling all curious explorers!

Come out to the New River, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater!

Did you know you can identify some turtles just by looking at their shells?

Roasting on an open fire isn’t the only thing chestnuts are good for!

Take your first shot at archery in this beginner-friendly workshop.

Westmoreland State Park is home to five different ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the corn snake, Stevie Nicks the king snake, and three red-eared sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

Come on down to the river for an in-seine-ly good time!

Parents, you spoke, and we listened!  We're excited to introduce our first toddler series: Little Wanderers.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, and Hawkeye are fictional archers with real-world skills.

Join us in removing invasive plants from our ecosystem!

What is paracord, and what is it used for?

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.

Earth Manners explores what it means to be a good neighbor to people, wildlife, and the places we share.

Celebrate Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend with a creative, nature-inspired adventure by the lake.

Explore the park’s different ecosystems that provide habitats for an array of unique mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds.

Dive into an ancient craft with a ranger, known as Gyotaku fish printing.

Hungry Mother is made up of many micro-ecosystems.

What will we scoop up this time?

Travel back in time over 160 years ago.

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.

Calling all Girl Scouts, girls, and women of all ages!

Experience the fun of paddling during Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend with a canoeing program that helps you work toward your Senior Paddling Badge.

Enjoy a summer evening with live music and local wine surrounded by the forest at Caledon State Park!

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

Take in the sounds of the Richmond Symphony at the Heritage Amphitheater while surrounded by the beauty of Pocahontas State Park.

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

What do you know about our scaly friends?

Experience Sky Meadows, an International Dark-Sky Park, at this monthly astronomical celebration!

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for a night of awe and wonder.

Join this ranger-guided sunset bike ride along High Bridge Trail.

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

See the stars and explore our night sky with park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park!

Come find out hooo is lurking in the shadows of the night!

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

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!

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

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes State Park through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

Staff and volunteers of High Bridge Trail State Park can offer a wide variety of programming that can fulfill some requirements for earning Girl Scout badges.

Fall is a great time of year to take-in Southwest Virginia's beautiful scenery by bike.  This ranger-led bike meet up will go from Foster Falls to Austinville and back (10.4 miles round trip).  Group Ride: Rides will be at a group pace.

Hoot have thought reconstructing skeletons could be so cool?!

Pottery and ceramics have been made and used by humans across the world for nearly 30,000 years.

Have you ever wondered how long it takes for our trash to fully decompose?  This program will explore our trash and its effect on the environment.

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

Get "hooked" on fishing!

Learn about the people who lived and worshipped around the Smith Mountain Lake area long before the dam was built.

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

Discover the shapes hidden in nature on this fun and interactive walk designed for guests 7-10 years old and their caregivers.

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

Discover the science beneath the surface at Karst in a Cup, where you'll learn how groundwater moves, how caves develop, and how karst landscapes shape out environment.

If you're curious about trees, satisfy your curiosity on this Arbor Adventure!  Join a ranger on Chippoax Trace Trail to identify Chippokes' fauna, specifically trees.  This trail takes visitors from rolling farm fields, into canopied woodlands, and to a worthwhile scenic view of the beautiful salt marshes of Chippokes.

Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.

This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources.

From the revolutions of Europe to the battlefields and cities of Civil War America, German immigrants found themselves caught between two worlds.

Join us on a guided golf cart tour of High Bridge where we will learn about the bridge's history and the role it played in the American Civil War.

Westmoreland State Park is home to five different ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the corn snake, Stevie Nicks the king snake, and three red-eared sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

"A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can indeed change the world." - Margaret Meade, Anthropologist Do you have a passion for teaching and being outdoors?

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

Did you ever wonder how animals thrive in their ecosystems?

Earth Manners explores what it means to be a good neighbor to people, wildlife, and the places we share.

From antlions to zebra swallowtails, amazing insects are everywhere!

Have you ever wondered what different animals furs feel like?

Salamander Meander invites you to explore Appalachian creeks in search of the region's unique salamander species.

Help support the park you love.

The Friends of Powhatan State Park is a group made up of citizen volunteers from Virginia’s Piedmont region who are passionate about supporting the park’s mission.

Learn about pawpaws and help collect them for our Pawpaw Festival! On the day of the festival, the fruits we collect will be offered as free samples for festival attendees to taste.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Are you age 60+ with an interest in spending time in nature?

Explore the marshes of Back Bay by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

Everyone loves a relaxing evening especially out on Hungry Mother Lake.

Learn about pawpaws and help collect them for our Pawpaw Festival! On the day of the festival, the fruits we collect will be offered as free samples for festival attendees to taste.

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

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

Learn about pawpaws and help collect them for our Pawpaw Festival! On the day of the festival, the fruits we collect will be offered as free samples for festival attendees to taste.

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

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

The library is coming to the park!

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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

Did you know that many species of fungi, plants, and even wildlife glow under a black light?

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

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Have you ever heard the tremulous trill of the eastern screech owl on a dark night?

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

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

Start your weekend with fresh air, beautiful scenery, camaraderie, and a feeling of accomplishment.

Join Virginia Master Naturalist Dr.

Together we can make a difference for our neighbors in need!

We are hosting Central Virginia's favorite fruit focused event, the 4th Annual Pawpaw Festival.

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

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

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

Bring your furry friends for a beautiful nature walk with one of our rangers.

During the American Civil War, German-language newspapers played a powerful role in informing immigrant communities and shaping their views on the conflict.

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Westmoreland State Park is home to five different ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the corn snake, Stevie Nicks the king snake, and three red-eared sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

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