Events in Virginia State Parks

Journey to Martin’s Station and find yourself immersed in Virginia’s frontier history.

Long ago, giant beasts roamed the lands we now call Virginia...put yourself into the shoes of an Ice Age hunter in this spear-throwing workshop using an ancient spear-throwing device: the atlatl! The atlatl was used on the North American continent and all over the world, enabling both men and women to efficiently hunt megafauna such as woolly mammoths and giant ground sloths.

Calling all history (and kayak) lovers!   Celebrate Virginia State Park's 90th anniversary with us on a guided kayaking tour!

How did Pocahontas State Park come to be? What are the "Original 6" State Parks?

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

We need your help cleaning up our park the day after the Claytor Lake Festival.

Come talk to the Kiptopeke Rangers at our educational booth at the entrance to North Beach.

Join a ranger in making your very own shark tooth earrings or necklace!

Discover how the many trees in the park play a purpose in supporting the inhabitants - past and present - of the park.

Take a journey to Wilburn Ridge and discover the marvelous world of the Mountain Laurel and the Catawba Rhododendron. Learn about the different species within the park, why they grow where they grow, and hear the lore of these amazing plants.

Bring out your inner artist using air dry clay.

Watch history come to life during this traditional hand crafts live demonstration with John Alexander, featuring basket weaving, broom making, and toy making.

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore one of the oldest dwellings on property.

Ride with a park guide as we experience Smith Mountain Lake from a boat.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

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

Come join us to learn about two of the historical figures who helped shape the Widewater Peninsula.  Margaret Brent - English colonist, Catholic landowner, attorney - An unmarried woman who moved to the colonies, and stayed unwed, was strange enough.

Do you know North America's favorite marsupial?

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

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

How can you determine the approximate age of a box turtle?

Kick off the summer with a new hobby.

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.

Established as a private residence in 1659, Caledon has a long and storied history.

Join us at Sky Meadows State Park for a celebration of history and culture as we recognize the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s 100th Anniversary and Virginia State Parks’ 90th Anniversary on Sunday, 14 June 2026. The program will kick-off with a one hour Range-led presentation and question-and-answer period in the Carriage Barn adjacent to the main parking lot.  Trace the history of the preservation and protection of natural, historical, and cultural resources through the evolution of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia State Parks, culminating in the story of Sky Meadows and ongoing efforts to serve future generations.

Head on over to the park to learn about Ranger Parker Red Fox, the Virginia State Parks mascot.

When armies clashed during the American Civil War, often times following a battle bizarre, inexplicable, curious, strange twists of fate and ironic circumstance astonishingly revealed themselves.

Celebrate Virginia history and culture with a tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine at Lake Anna! Follow the journey of prospector Stampmill Sam as we explore the lives of Virginia gold miners and the lasting legacy of the Virginia Gold Rush on the Lake Anna area. Dive deeper into the ancient history of our landscape and learn how forces of nature brought gold to the surface of Earth. Then, we’ll pan for gold in the same stream where prospectors once hunted for this elusive mineral.   Please arrive at the Visitor Center 10 minutes before the start time of your tour. Guests will be collected from the Visitor Center for a 5-10 minute drive to the mine site. The tour will last 1 hour and includes 0.5 miles of hiking over hilly terrain with frequent stops.  Wear sturdy walking shoes that can get wet.

Come to the Visitor Center and learn about local artist, Palmer Hayden, before grabbing a watercolor kit and finding a nature scene at the park to paint in your own style!

Stop by our pop-up booth on the boardwalk and test your knowledge of First Landing State Park!

Basket weaving has been an important craft for thousands of years. Try your hand at this ancient process and learn about the history of weaving in the area, as well as how to harvest and weave Japanese honeysuckle (and other invasive plants).

Discover the art of journaling in the wild with a ranger.

Let your creativity run wild as you dive into a world of nature-themed crafting fun. Young artists can choose from a variety of nature-inspired crafts such as animal masks, opossum puppets, butterflies, turkeys, or even a batteau craft.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

From forts to farms to state parks, the property of Hayfields has taken many forms, what can we learn from each change?

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

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.

Through history, people have utilized plants to survive, out of which have come special relationships.

Set out on a relaxing ranger-guided tubing adventure as you float from Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing along the scenic James River! This approximately 2-mile trip generally takes around two hours, depending on river flow.

This is a “casting” call for miniatures enthusiasts and historic craft fans!

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

"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?

Learn about the fascinating history of our park, our lake, and the surrounding area.

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

Ever wonder what dolls of the 18th century frontier looked like or what they were made of?

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

Ever wanted to learn to crab?

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Help us Save The Monarchs at Holliday Lake State Park!

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

Join our rangers on a short stroll and tour of the historic Howe House as we discuss how the park came to be.

Bring the whole family for a fun and interactive look at how camping in Virginia State Parks has changed over the last 90 years!

Come with us on a guided canoe tour of the beautiful lake at Fairy Stone State Park.

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

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.

Become a Junior Ranger at False Cape State Park!

This summer the Junior Ranger program is exploring the outdoors through the elements, and Week 2 is Water!

Discover your park perspective!

Who wants to be a junior ranger?  Join us for our junior ranger camp for ages 10-12 from Monday, June 15, to Thursday, June 18!

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

Help us celebrate Virginia State Parks 90th Birthday!  While Hayfields may not have been a state park 90 years ago, we are one of the newest parts of Virginia State Parks history.

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

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 life cycle of butterflies.

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.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

Discover your park perspective!

This summer the Junior Ranger program is exploring the outdoors through the elements, and Week 2 is Water!

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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.

Animals may be shy, but they leave plenty of clues behind.

Are all snakes venomous?

Need a hiking stick or just want to embellish your own?

Ever wondered how you stack up against some of the largest birds in the sky?

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

With warmer wetter weather comes springtime fungi!

Did you know that people have been using plants to dye fabric for centuries?

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.

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

See the night-time world like you've never seen it before!

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

Spend time paddling down the Clinch River.

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

Yes, you too can canoe!

Have you ever shot a bow and arrow before?

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

Join a Hungry Mother interpreter for some WILD adventures this summer!

Discover your park perspective!

This summer the Junior Ranger program is exploring the outdoors through the elements, and Week 2 is Water!

The Bald Cypress Trail is one of the park’s most popular trails with several swamp overlooks.

Are you trying to secure the tarp over your tent, or interested in how to keep your boat or canoe tied up so that it won't float away?

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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!

Paddling a kayak gives you a new perspective of the world.

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

Have you ever touched bear fur or looked at the teeth of a beaver?

Discover what the tiny creatures living beneath the water’s surface can tell us about the health of a stream.