Events in Virginia State Parks

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

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

There are more than just fish that live in the creeks at Grayson Highlands State Park! Beat the heat and get your feet wet searching for critters and macroinvertebrates that live in the cold mountain streams.

Join the rangers to give back a bit of your time and help maintain the beauty of York River.

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

Across Virginia, women made the journey into the wilderness with hearts full of hope.

Across Virginia, women made the journey into the wilderness with hearts full of hope.

Have you ever walked by the Timberneck house and wondered what it looks like from the inside and its restoration process?

Take your first steps on the path to adventure.

Celebrate Girl Scouts Love State Parks with a special day of exploration, history, and outdoor adventure designed around badge-inspired activities for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scouts!

In this hike and craft program, you'll join a ranger on a short hike to learn different ways to identify several tree species you can find around Lake Anna State Park and Virginia.

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

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

Curious about Virginia's native snakes?

Girl Scouts far and wide are invited to a day of outdoor exploration at Sky Meadows State Park!

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

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

Knowing how to be prepared in the wild is a skill we should all be equipped with.

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.

Hungry Mother is made up of many micro-ecosystems.

What will we scoop up this time?

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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

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

Get "hooked" on fishing!

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.

"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.

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.

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

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

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?

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

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

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

Join Virginia Master Naturalist Dr.

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?

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.

Feeding Frenzy at the Discovery Center is a chance to get up close with the park's ambassador animals as rangers guide you through a live feeding session.

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

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.

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

The Beach Bumz are a Baltimore Maryland, Orlando Florida based Beach Tribute Band.

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

From a vantage point above the Appomattox River’s floodplain, visitors can explore the cosmos from High Bridge with our local Crewe Astronomy Club.

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

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

“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!

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

Let's take a hike in the great outdoors to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)!  From the beginning of DCR in 1926, to the first six Virginia state parks to open in 1936, to 44 state parks in 2026, DCR has created a legacy that will last for many years to come.

Are you looking to connect with your community while enhancing the natural beauty of your local state park?

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

In the words of Woodsy Owl (1971), "Give a hoot; don't pollute!"   Volunteer and help Chippokes staff with keeping our shorelines clean and safe for others to enjoy.  Meet at the Visitor Center for instructions and supplies (gloves, available trash grabbers, trash bags.

See if you can spot the round sticker on the monarch as it begins its journey south.

Any trail…anywhere…leave it better.

The Timberneck House got a new paint job last year!

Show your support for America’s public lands by joining Sky Meadows Rangers for a rewarding trail maintenance project on the Gap Run Trail.

Please join us for a very special afternoon with Carl “Gump” Blair and Gene Dunford.

Bring your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to the park to be nature superheroes this National Public Lands Day!

Join Leesylvania State Park Rangers and volunteers to help keep the park clean.

Help preserve the beautiful Belle Isle State Park and protect the wildlife that calls it home.

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

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

Visit our park on National Public Lands Day with special programming. This is a free parking day for all!

Learn about how pollution can spread in an aquatic environment and help us protect ourselves and our wildlife by cleaning up our shoreline.