Events in Virginia State Parks

Come join the monthly meeting of the Widewater State Park Friend's Group!

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

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

Spiders, friend or foe?

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

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

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!

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

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic town of Fries, VA.

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

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

Get the blood pumping on this interactive guided hike with a ranger.

Experience the magic of autumn with the Fall Foliage Festival at Sky Meadows State Park!

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

Chomp chomp!

Join First Landing State Park on Saturday, October 17th from 1-5pm for our annual Fall Festival.

Blacksmithing was an essential craft that was in high demand during the building of permanent settlements in the 1700-1800s.

Step into the hidden world of fungi on this guided hike with a park ranger.

Leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

You are invited to join us around the campfire in listening to and/or sharing stories about personally meaningful nature encounters or relationships.

ZOSO The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience returns once again to rock the Heritage Amphitheater.

'Whoooo' goes there?

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

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

Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic village of Foster Falls.

James River State Park is a designated International Dark Sky park.

The Shorefire 25K and 10K races take runners on a scenic tour linking the Smith Mountain Lake State Park trail system.

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

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

Experience the magic of autumn with the Fall Foliage Festival at Sky Meadows State Park!

Join a ranger around the fire at Green Pastures Recreation Area, gathering inside the historic CCC-built picnic shelter for an evening of reflection, storytelling, and warm apple crisp.

Step into the quiet, mysterious woods after dark for an unforgettable experience.

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.

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

Fall is a great time of year to take-in Southwest Virginia's beautiful scenery by bike.  This 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.

Heads up; the sky is putting on a show-er.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

Enjoy pumpkin decorating, costume contests, and a community-based Trunk-or-Treat, where children can experience an old-fashioned Halloween in a fun and safe environment.

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

Our Friends Group is an organization of citizens who support our park's operations, events, and material needs through fund raising.

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

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

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!

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced morning walk from the Foster Falls Depot to the Shot Tower.

“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!

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

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

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

The Timberneck House got a new paint job last year!

Take a fall walk of exploration with two Virginia Master Naturalists in this third of a series of seasonal walks planned for children.

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

Enjoy the Potomac River's cool autumn breeze with your friends and family at Leesylvania State Park's Annual Fall Festival! Celebrate the season with hayrides, crafts, trunk or treat, vendors, and more.

Join the Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry (NOVAAR) Club as their model rockets go up, up, and away.

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

History often remembers naval warfare for its victories and innovations.

Step inside the Discovery Center to learn from a park ranger about local wildlife, the park's history, and the New River! All ages welcome.

Ready to experience the forest in all its autumn color?

Leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

Everyone has heard of dancing in the moonlight, but what about kayaking?

Known throughout history as a backdrop for adventure and freedom, the frontier concealed far more in the dark reaches of its hollows and hills.

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

'Whoooo' goes there?

Known throughout history as a backdrop for adventure and freedom, the frontier concealed far more in the dark reaches of its hollows and hills.

During Halloween, there are things that go bump in the woods. Venture into the shadows on our haunted trail, where eerie whispers drift through the trees, unseen footsteps follow close behind, and every twist in the path brings a new spine-chilling surprise.

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

History often remembers naval warfare for its victories and innovations.

Second only to humans in the ability to change their environment to fit their needs, learn just how smart a beaver can be.

Ready to experience the forest in all its autumn color?

The Friends of York River State Park is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support the mission of the park: We champion the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of York River State Park's estuarine environment.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

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

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!

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

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

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

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

In September 1864, a group of Confederate agents boarded a passenger steamer on Lake Erie with a plan that, if successful, could have set the northern frontier ablaze.

Leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

Step back in time as you explore the brand‑new interpretive trail at Green Pastures Recreation Area.

Trade neighborhood sidewalks for sandy trails this Halloween during a special night hike at False Cape State Park! Explore the park after sunset as we make our way through the maritime forest to the beach, learning about the amazing animals that thrive at night and the natural mysteries of the dark.

Gather around the crackling campfire for an evening of spine-tingling stories and eerie legends from Virginia State Parks' rich history!

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.

"Wisdom from the Wild" is a monthly series that will lead you on wonder-filled journey to recovering your sense of belonging and finding your truest self, rooted in the rhythms and raptures of nature.

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

Join us at Douthat State Park for Homeschool Naturalists, a monthly outdoor education series designed for homeschool students of all ages.

The Leonids meteor shower is an average meteor shower producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak.

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!

What better way to explore a Dark Sky Park than "shooting stars" through the Natural Bridge?

Explore the rich natural history of trees guided by a Virginia Master Naturalist.

Join us on the first Saturday of the month from May to November to experience the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

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

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