Events in Virginia State Parks

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

Plan to attend the October 2026 Highland County Star Party at Hayfields State Park on Friday, October 9th.

Welcome to the park, kick off your stay with an unforgettable evening by the fire at the water's edge.

Join us for a public viewing night during the Fall Staunton River Star Party.

This October, spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, lit only by lantern light.

Campers are invited to join the Rangers for a free movie night, screened in our courtyard.

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

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

Come Visit Westmoreland State Park at the Warsaw Fall Festival!

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

Join a ranger for a guided hike along one of the fingers of Fairy Stone Lake that leads to an abandoned iron mine.

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.

Experience a celebration of Southwest Virginia's unique cultural heritage.

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

Characterized through the intricate beauty of their respective artistry, craftsmen were a centralized point effecting economic and political life in colonial America.

Turn trash into treasure at Caledon!

Drawing on years of dog training experience and a passion for our parks, join Ranger Rachel in the pilot program designed to bring training to the trails and help your dog become their best park-ready companion.

Amidst fall migration on October Big Day people all over the world are encouraged to observe birds in 24 hours and submit their findings to The Cornell Lab's international database! On this guided walk, a ranger will lead you alongside golden meadow and autumn forest to observe and record findings in the Cornell Lab's eBird app. In the fall, it's possible to see rare migrants as they make their way further south for the winter.

Join us in paying homage to 70,000 years of history and human tradition as we learn the sport of Archery.

Celebrate the Harvest Season at Historic Foster Falls!

Fall in love with Twin Lakes State Park at our annual fall festival.

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.

Beneath fallen logs and under a blanket of leaves, an entire world lies undiscovered.

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

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

It is time to put on your sweater and heat up soup.  Plants and animals from the tallest trees to the tiniest insects have been preparing for winter, too.  Join two master naturalist on a walk to explore those fascinating strategies.     This guided three-tenths of a mile gentle walk will meet at the Sensory Explorers’ Trail in the picnic area and will last approximately one hour.   For more information on the Virginia Master Naturalists please visit their website.   The Sensory Explorers' Trail is open for self-guided walks daily for people of all ages and has adaptations for the blind and visually impaired.

Sweater weather is better together.

In September 1864, a group of Confederate agents boarded a passenger steamer on Lake Erie with a plan that, if successful, could have set the northern frontier ablaze.

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.

Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.

Take a guided walk alongside Powhatan State Park's managed meadows to learn about the seasonal cycles of this vital habitat and collect seeds along the way!

Happy fall, y'all!

Why is Virginia's Eastern Shore one of the best hot spots for birdwatching in the whole Western Hemisphere?

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Parents, you spoke, and we listened!  We're excited to introduce our first toddler series: Little Wanderers.

Are all snakes venomous?

Join a ranger for a colorful guided hike along Bear Pond Trail. Learn about the park, check out Bear Pond and the new dock and take pictures of the scenic fall foliage along the way!  Bear Pond is a 1.0-mile, moderate trail with some uneven terrain with some moderate incline at the beginning. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather and bring water to drink.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Join a park ranger for a guided walk as we observe the amazing journey of migratory birds.

Leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

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.

Step inside the Interpretive Center and discover how Harvest, Home, and History are woven into the story of Sweet Run State Park.

Dive into the history of the Occaneechi Tribe that once called Occoneechee State Park home.

Ever wondered what happened at Kiptopeke before it became a state park?

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

The leaves are changing, and the nights are growing cold, it's the perfect time for a hayride!

Have you ever painted a picture?

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

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

Discover the frogs and toads of Loudoun County with Jenny Erickson of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

Join a ranger around the fire at Douthat State Park, gathering inside a historic CCC-built shelter for an evening of reflection, storytelling, and warm apple crisp.

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

Calling all amateur astronomers and people who enjoy the night sky! Join Natural Tunnel State Park astronomy volunteers and fellow astro-enthusiasts to mingle and observe what the night sky has to offer together.  These "parties" will take place at the Gazebo - the best viewing platform for the sky in the park and is meant to gather those whose goal is to observe, photograph and appreciate the night sky.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month (plus holiday weekends), April through October.  Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Whoooooo wants to go on a spooky after-dark adventure to search for owls on the trails?

See the stars and explore our night sky with park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park!

Join a ranger at the Upper Beach Parking Area to view the night sky during the new moon. Since there is no moonlight competing with the sky, the days surrounding a new moon offer the best conditions of the month for spotting the Milky Way, faint galaxies, and constellations A telescope will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

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

Step inside the Interpretive Center and discover how Harvest, Home, and History are woven into the story of Sweet Run State Park.

Characterized through the intricate beauty of their respective artistry, craftsmen were a centralized point effecting economic and political life in colonial America.

The Green Arrow?

This archery session offers instruction for beginners and shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with a talk on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

Enjoy the stunning views of the awe-inspiring mountains as the leaves begin to change from a deep green to vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues.

With warmer wetter weather comes a bounty of fungi!

Enjoy the Autumn days while also helping out your state parks! Check out some of Widewater's Autumn volunteer opportunities below.  Educational Volunteer Opportunities Federal Duck Stamp Class: September 19th, October 17th, & November 21st Natural Resource Management Japanese Silt Grass Removal: September 25th Beaver Dam Trail Maintenance: October 24th & November 21st Recreation & Special Events Volunteer Appreciation Event: October 3rd **Registration Required Trek n' Treat Trail - Decoration Setup: October 11th  - Decoration Takedown: November 1st Saturday, September 19th : Waterway Cleanups Summer Cleanup on the Aquia Creek Join this Stafford-based non-profit as they help keep Aquia Creek clean of trash and debris via kayaks in their Autumn cleanup at the park.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

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

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

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.

Monarch butterflies are on the move! Get involved with some community science and learn about these cool creatures.

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

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.

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

"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?

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

Have you explored Virginia's newest state park and visited the Eagle's Rest Overlook?

Did you know Raccoons can remember solutions to tasks and have “hands” like ours?

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Slip on your closed-toe shoes and get ready to explore the creek!

Who, who, who is soaring through the night skies?

Come one, come all, for a spooky hike this Fall!

This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

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.

This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

Join Us for a Quick Craft Holiday Keepsakes Workshop Looking for a cheerful way to kick off the holiday season?

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

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Are you age 60+ with an interest in spending time in nature?

This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

Spiders, friend or foe?

This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

"Beavers:  Nature's Engineers" examines the characteristics and habits of North America's largest rodent.  Learn about how beavers alter the environment more than any other creature except humans.  Find out how beavers contributed to the westward expansion as settlers arrived in the New World.  Various items, including a beaver skull, pelt, and examples of wood cuttings, will be displayed.  .

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Why is Virginia's Eastern Shore one of the best hot spots for birdwatching in the whole Western Hemisphere?

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

Come sit in the shade and make your own unique, nature-themed keepsake!

The Friends of Occoneechee State Park is a citizens support organization that supports the park's mission.