Events in Virginia State Parks

Join us for an extraordinary holiday experience at Wilderness Road State Park.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

To kick off this year's Christmas Lighting event the park will provide this one-day special offer to help those in need in our community.

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

Grab your binoculars and get outside.

"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.

Join a ranger on a guided hike along the Blue Ridge Trail and discover what makes birding so fun!  This walk is open to all experience levels, covering the basics of binocular use and the foundations of bird identification.

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

Come join us for Fairy Stone State Park's 5th Annual Holiday Market during small business Saturday.

This place, this land, is as old as time itself.

Enjoy the beauty of York River State Park, while having the opportunity to take pictures along the way.

Does your pup have what it takes to be a B.A.R.K.

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

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

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

Fishing is a timeliness tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Explore the history of the Occoneechee Plantation on this one-mile guided hike around the Plantation Trail.

Stop by our parks' pop-up ranger program to learn about a variety of topics, from historical facts to life cycles of our park animals.

Join us for an extraordinary holiday experience at Wilderness Road State Park.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

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

Sit by a cozy campfire and travel back in time to the 1930s.

Turn trash into treasure at Caledon!

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!

George Armstrong Custer is often remembered for the battle that ended his life, but eleven years earlier he played a very different role in the closing days of the Civil War.

Past and present, friends and families have enjoyed getting together for some friendly competition.

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.

Create, connect, and celebrate the season!

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Have fun weaving your own handy and fashionable paracord survival bracelet! A ranger will guide you through the process and by the end of the program you'll have your own bracelet to take home.  One of the main reasons people wear paracord bracelets is their usefulness in emergency situations.

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

Join Pocahontas State Park staff and volunteers in creating seasonal cheer.

Find out which reptiles and amphibians call First Landing home! Located within the Trail Center, the Discovery Room is welcome to all ages.

Come make your own unique, nature-themed keepsake at our come-and-go craft station in the Big Water Visitor Center!

Join us for daytime, ranger-led campfire with S'mores!

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

As cold winds and long shadows settle over Powell’s Valley, step back in time and join the inhabitants of Joseph Martin’s Station at the Pig and Panther Tavern for an evening of glad tidings and good cheer.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is pleased to present special night viewings of the 31st Annual Festival of Trees.

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Discover the beauty of moths while creating a one-of-a-kind fabric artwork!

Foraging can foster a special connection with the surrounding community of plants, fungi, and fellow humans.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6 million plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

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

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

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

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

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!

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.

Joining a park ranger for a fun reading adventure!

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.

Have you ever wanted to shoot an arrow with the precision and grace of Robin Hood or Catniss Everdeen?

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.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

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.

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.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

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

Join a ranger to learn about animals found at Belle Isle State Park. You can touch pelts, see the footprints they make and hear their calls, as well as learn about adaptations they use to survive.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Get ready for a holiday race with a twist!

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

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

Ol' Saint Nick is coming to Sailor's Creek Battlefield!

There is no better place to capture the season than the beautiful Natural Bridge State Park.

Explore the park’s expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat home.

Joining a park ranger for a fun reading adventure!

Let's talk about the seasons!

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

Join a ranger on this one-mile trek and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a water bottle if possible.

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

Ever wonder where rainwater goes after it hits the ground?

Meteorological Winter is upon us which means the holidays are right around the corner!

Did you know owls get 'hairballs?' About once a day, an owl spits up a ball of hair and bones called an owl pellet which is actually the 'leftovers' from their most recent meals.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Join a ranger for a 1.5-mile guided hike through fields and marsh to a splendid beach view of the Rappahannock River.

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

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

"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.

There is no better place to capture the season than the beautiful Natural Bridge State Park.

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

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

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