Events in Virginia State Parks

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

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

Join us for a program that explores the often-overlooked psychological toll of the American Civil War.

What makes a bird a bird?

Come out to Chestnut Creek along the Cliffview Campground, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater!

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

Pocahontas Premieres, once again, is having its Mini Bluegrass Festival.

Join us for the 2026 season of Music by the River, one of the highlights of the summer on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

Mark your calendars, music on the cliffs is back and we want you to join us for this amazing summer concert series overlooking the Potomac River! Music on the cliff is our parks outdoor concert series where you can unwind and experience great local music in a beautiful natural setting.  While you're here, grab a drink from General’s Ridge Vineyard and enjoy food from a local food truck. Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket!  This event is brought to you by the Friends of Westmoreland State Park.

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

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

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

The Rappahannock Astronomy Club is pleased to present an evening of deep space viewing.

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

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

Visit James River for a chance to view one of the popular meteor showers of the year!

Watch the biggest meteor shower of the summer with our park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park.

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!

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

Join us for a program that explores the often-overlooked psychological toll of the American Civil War.

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

This is the kind of Sunday program where you wander down the beach, stumble into a ranger-led arts and craft activities, and end up staying way longer than planned!

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

Every Monday evening from May to September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Our beautiful park is the perfect place to pick up a fun new workout routine.

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.

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

Imagine your afternoon at the park involving turtles soaking up sunshine as they enjoy the tickling grass.

Hear the sound of axes.

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

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

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

Imagine spending your afternoon by the water, catching dragonflies and damselflies discovering all the little details you usually miss.

Customize your hiking stick and suddenly every trail feels more personal.

The Friends of Twin Lakes State Park is an all-volunteer non-profit that supports Twin Lakes State Park.

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

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

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

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

Most people don't like to drop their camera in the lake, but the rangers at the park will do it on purpose.

Bees get all the credit, but they're not the only pollinators.

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

While designing a cool animal tooth necklace, learn how to to identify different animal skulls like a mini wildlife scientist.

Whether you prefer the writings of Henry David Thoreau or the classic rhyme scheme of Dr.

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

We'll be closing out our 2026 season of music with a new offering.

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

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

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

Enjoy a movie night under the stars and bring your chairs, blankets, snacks, and more for the whole family!

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

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

The Timberneck House got a new paint job last year!

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

Join us for our 7th annual Butterflies on the Battlefield: Pollinator and Nature Festival.

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

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

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

While most of the adventure on the New River takes place above the water, there is no shortage of things to see below the water!

What makes a bird a bird?

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

Join the Rangers of False Cape for a delightful treat to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The Tobacco Road Band features four Southside Virginia musicians with roots deep in the popular tunes of our times.

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

Come rock and roll with local favorite "Candy Machine" as they bring the best hits from the 1950s through the 1980s to life at the Beach Amphitheater!

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

The local Crewe Astronomy Club will bring their hi-tech telescopes and amazing video presentation about our planet, our solar system, and our universe to the visitor center.

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

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

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!

The big blue can hold many secrets and sometimes those secrets wash ashore! Join a Park Ranger as we wander the beach identifying shells, animals, and other treasures commonly found along the beach at False Cape.

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

This is the kind of Sunday program where you wander down the beach, stumble into a ranger-led arts and craft activities, and end up staying way longer than planned!

Evenings are a wonderful time in the park to be on the water.

Every Monday evening from May to September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Take a float as day turns into twilight, and the creatures of the night arise.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Our beautiful park is the perfect place to pick up a fun new workout routine.

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.

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!

Imagine your afternoon at the park involving turtles soaking up sunshine as they enjoy the tickling grass.

Hear the sound of axes.

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

Summer 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.

Imagine spending your afternoon by the water, catching dragonflies and damselflies discovering all the little details you usually miss.

Customize your hiking stick and suddenly every trail feels more personal.

“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!

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

Join Park Staff for a majestic kayak paddle along the waters of Back Bay by the light of the moon.

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