Events in Virginia State Parks

Join a ranger to learn about the wild animals found at Belle Isle State Park that delight your senses.

Stop by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center and learn more about the people who lived on the Wilderness Road frontier.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Join Ranger Webb-Watkins on an in-depth exploration of the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

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

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

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

Before furnaces, refrigerators, and grocery stores, winter preparation was essential for survival.

Join us for an exciting presentation on birds of prey!

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

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

Experience American Civil War history firsthand as soldiers of the 19th Virginia Infantry establish a period encampment at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park and invite the public to step into the daily life of a soldier on campaign in 1865.

Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch to learn about the remarkable seasonal wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Celebrate art, wine, and the natural beauty of Caledon State Park at the 21st annual Art & Wine Festival!

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.

Celebrate National Family Literacy Month with our Trail Tale series through the month of November.

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

The holiday season is upon us, so stop at this event to decorate for Thanksgiving or any other occasion using natural materials we will provide.

Come join Ranger Webb-Watkins for an orientation tour of the Battle of Cedar Mountain!

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

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

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

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

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.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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.

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 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.

In this workshop you will learn the art of creating handmade wooden spoons using the coal burning method.

Join us for a fun, nature focused, family crafting experience.

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

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

"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?

Do you have a passion for nature, environmental education, and wish to make a difference?

Who was Elizabeth Hartwell?

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

Join Ranger Webb-Watkins on an in-depth exploration of the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

BYOB "Bring your own Binoculars" and join an Interpretive Ranger on this adult only program for some quiet, laid-back birding around Old Pond Trail and Campground Walkway.

From farm to table, the food we eat has a story.

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.

From farm to table, the food we eat has a story.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Winter Birding Walks from November 2026 thru March 2027!  Join our experienced birder and volunteer, Lisa, on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

Handmade Evergreen Wreath Workshop Celebrate the holiday season with the timeless tradition of crafting your own fresh evergreen wreath.

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

Virginia State Parks license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days.

Virginia State Park license plate owners will receive free parking on the following dates, as well as special discounts and offers provided throughout the year.

From farm to table, the food we eat has a story.

Come out for a guided hike to the historic bridge and earthworks here at Staunton River Battlefield State Park! As we walk along the Battlefield Trail, we will explore the history of the battle and stand where soldiers stood over 160 years ago.

From farm to table, the food we eat has a story.

We're teaming up with the Warren Heritage Society to honor our local heroes!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Imagine finding yourself approaching a beacon of rest and resupply with nothing but the clothes on your back.

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

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Join a Park Ranger for a nature themed storytime program.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is delighted to announce the 2026 fall semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program!

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park! Nature journaling is the intersection of art, science, and curiosity.

Join York River park interpreters for a one-mile hike that explores Virginia's unique and diverse native tree species.

Before furnaces, refrigerators, and grocery stores, winter preparation was essential for survival.

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Do you know how to identify different trees?

High Bridge has long stood at the crossroads of technology, war, and community life.

Stop by for a sneak peek into the developing Virginia State Park's B.A.R.K Ranger program and upcoming dog-focused events at Belle Isle.

Join us at James River State Park for an unforgettable celebration of the cosmos!

Take a wander in the woods with a ranger as the moon and stars guide our path, and we celebrate the silent flyers of the night, the owls of Lake Anna State Park, by calling out to owls and seeing "whoooo" hoots back!

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

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

Join us at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park for our “Birding in the Gap” series, held on the second Saturday of each month during the months of February, April, June and November.

Looking for a way to give back to nature and enjoy the outdoors?

Join us for a series of gentle outdoor experiences designed for women who want to reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.

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.

Even after the chilly breezes of autumn have stripped them of their leaves, trees provide clues to their identification by way of their bark, leaf scars, and other individual characteristics.

The Friends of Occoneechee bring you the 3rd annual Turkey Trot 5K race and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk.  This 5K will take place in the beautiful scenery of Occoneechee State Park.

Check out the changing colors of Caledon and breathe in the fresh fall air of the forest.

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.

Did you know Westmoreland is one of Virginia's original state parks?

In this workshop you will learn the art of creating handmade wooden spoons using the coal burning method.

The oyster reef is one of the most dynamic ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay.  Come and discover what makes them so important to the health of the bay as well as our commercial fishing industry.  See how our park is contributing to create this habitat.

Our rangers need help putting on a show!

Take a fascinating hike and discover the rich history of James River State Park, from ancient fossils to the American Civil War and beyond.

Slime is survival.

Come join Ranger Webb-Watkins for an orientation tour of the Battle of Cedar Mountain!

The holiday season is upon us, so stop at this event to decorate for Thanksgiving or any other occasion using natural materials we will provide.

First Landing is home to many creatures both large and small.

Do you know how fossils are formed?

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Happy fall, y'all!

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Ranger Harrold Holliday!

Pop on your bright eyes and bushy tails and explore a trail through the eyes of a squirrel.

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.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center to discover why Virginia's Eastern Shore is one of the Western Hemisphere's best hot spots for birdwatching.

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!