Events in Virginia State Parks

The Orionids meteor shower is an average meteor shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak.

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

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

Calling all homeschoolers!

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

Have you watched for waterfowl?

Join a Ranger for Spooky Tales! Dress up in your favorite costume and bring a spooky snack.

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.

Join a ranger to make your own corn husk doll and learn about their unique history! The corn husk doll has origins in Indigenous culture.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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!

Did you know your shoes leave more than tracks behind?

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

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

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

Get tangled up in the fascinating world of spiders!

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

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

Take in the crisp air and the brilliant colors of autumn as we stroll along Douthat’s scenic lakefront.

Let us keep the kids entertained while the adults set up or take a break from setting up and stop by for a quick craft; discussion of Belle Isle's history; or a lesson on critters.

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

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

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

Did you know that many species of fungi, plants, and even wildlife glow under a black light?

Join us at the Community Fire Ring to relax, enjoy a roasted marshmallow, and get to know your camping neighbors.

Practice starting a fire using natural materials and a 'ferro' rod, then gather around a crackling fire to hear stories shared by a park ranger. Some stories will tell of this region's history, and some will feature adventure, mystery, or spooky experiences in the outdoors.

Join us for some spooky storytelling by the campfire!

Get ready for a Halloween Howl!

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

We go searching in the dark for spiders where they wait to prey on insects. We shine a spotlight on them and watch their incredible eyes shine back. First meet us at the Campfire Circle to learn about which spider species are common in our area, their role in the ecosystem, and what makes them unique.

Come join the party!

Ghosts and goblins aren't the only things that come out at Halloween, so do the owls!

Join a ranger for a late October campfire where we'll tell spooky stories, roast marshmallows and make S'mores.

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

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

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

Join us around the campfire after dark as we share scary stories about things that go "bump" in the park.

This Samhain, join our rangers on a morning hike through the Holly Marsh Trail to see the sunrise over the Potomac River!

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

Bring the dogs out on Halloween for a howling good time!

Discover the amazing world of bats as you create your own bat craft to take home.

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

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

Leaf your fears behind and tree-t yourself to a ranger-led hike focusing on trees and the treats they make for animals and humans alike.

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

Pocahontas State Park has over 20 graveyards, or burial grounds, within the park's boundaries.

Celebrate Halloween with a little hands-on conservation magic.

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

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

Grab the leash, summon your courage, and join us for a spooktacular fall B.A.R.K.

Have you carved your pumpkin for the fall season yet?

Let your imagination run wild with this fun scavenger hunt.

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

Come join us at the Tutelo Birding Trail Trailhead (near the Splash Park) as we embark on a Nature Hike though the Tutelo Birding Trail where there's plenty to see.

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

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

Do you find some animals to be creepy, crawly, or downright gross?

Join the Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry (NOVAAR) Club as their model rockets go up, up, and away.

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.

Join us for an opportunity to get "a-head" on wildlife knowledge and learn to identify skulls based upon their characteristics.

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.

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

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.

Virginians of the past often used their imagination and everyday objects for recreation.

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

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, or is that a bat?

Meet the park's ambassador snake, examine snake skeletons, skin sheds, and make a colorful clay snake to bring home.

Happy fall, y'all!

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Celebrate the spooky season with Halloween Nature Crafts!

Come stop by our River Bend Discovery Center to see what hands-on activities our park interpreters are offering!

Join our rangers for a ride down Backbone Trail and learn about why trees change color in the fall, what Virginia critters hibernate and all the ways nature prepares for winter.

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.

The rangers will have a variety of craft materials available so you can let your creativity flow like Swift Creek. This program encourages artistic expression, enhances fine motor skills and encourages teamwork.

Curious about Virginia's native snakes?

Have you explored Virginia's newest state park and hiked the Laurel Loop Trail?

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.

Meet Maverick, our corn snake animal ambassador, as he helps teach us all about our scaly friends and the good that they do for our environment.

Does seeing a bat make you shiver or smile?

Come find us in the museum at the Visitor Center as we get hands on with skulls and furs from Virginia’s native animals.

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

Join a ranger to learn about a few of the crawly creatures you may see around Belle Isle and make your own dirt treat to eat.

Join us as we build a creature to find out how adaptations of native animals (as well as creatures of Appalachian folklore) can help them be specially made for their environment.

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

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.

This Halloween, trade in the candy bag for a basket and head into the woods in search of one of nature’s greatest treats—the acorn.

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

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

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

Join our rangers around the campfire to roast some s'mores, eat some sweets, and listen for spirits while learning about the native wildlife and the seasonal lore that has sprung up around them.

Join us at the annual St.

Get ready for a spooktacular Halloween night at the museum!

You asked, and we listened!

Step back in time as you explore the brand‑new interpretive trail at Green Pastures Recreation Area.

Trade neighborhood sidewalks for sandy trails this Halloween during a special night hike at False Cape State Park! Explore the park after sunset as we make our way through the maritime forest to the beach, learning about the amazing animals that thrive at night and the natural mysteries of the dark.

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.