Events in Virginia State Parks

The Delta Aquarids meteor shower is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak.

The Perseids meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak.

The American Jet Sport Association (AJSA) will be hosting a Southern Summer Series jet ski race at Claytor Lake State Park July 31-August 2. The event is open to both spectators and jet ski riders of different classifications.

Get knee-deep in the Shenandoah during Fly Fishing 101!  Join us for an introductory fly-fishing program designed to teach you all the basics you need to start catching fish on a fly.

Ready to learn the ins and outs of stand up paddleboarding?

Ever tried to balance on a board in the water as you paddle down the lake?

Experience paddling on one of Virginia's most beautiful and historic waterways: the James River.

Join us for a rewarding morning of gardening with fellow plant lovers.

Have you ever shot a bow and arrow before?

From hikers, to dog-walkers, to bikers, and horse-riders, the park's trails are enjoyed by many kinds of people, pets, and wildlife!

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

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

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has coordinated the Annual Loudoun Butterfly count since 1997.

Did you know Westmoreland State Park has a beach where you can find fossils?

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

Curious about what flowers you see blooming in Sky Meadows' fields during the summer heat?

  Help our rangers and volunteers keep our park clean!

The 2nd Annual Clinch River Fest will take place along the scenic Clinch River at A.R.

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

Turn trash into treasure at Caledon!

Calling all budding detectives.

Did you know you can make paper from paper?

Observe nature as a naturalist with a Lake Anna State Park sensory or photo scavenger hunt and return the completed activity before 4:00 pm to receive a special prize!

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Ever wonder what the Battle of Cedar Mountain was all about? Come join Ranger Webb-Watkins to find out!

The brackish waters of the York River has a unique variety of fish and shellfish.  Follow the Woodstock Pond Trail to the river access point past shelter #3 to the left of the pond, Rangers will be using 2-man seine and other nets to discover what is in the water.

Stretch your wings on this hike all about the birds that call Chippokes State Park their nest!  Join a Ranger led excursion along College Run Trail to the shoreline of the James River.

Have you ever wanted to identify the different birds in your yard or even start bird watching as a hobby?  If so, this program is for you.  We'll go over the basics of finding and identifying birds, the basic equipment you might need, as well as some tips to help you make the most of your birding adventures!

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

Does your child love exciting stories and fun facts?

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

Join us on the first Saturday of the month from May to November to experience the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

Come out to Fries, get your feet wet, and explore what organisms live underwater!

Come see what Mason Neck State Park has to offer on International Adaptive Activity Day.  Discover the beauty of inclusive outdoor adventures at our special event celebrating International Adaptive Activity Day!

Want to test your paddling skills?

Create a nature-inspired souvenir to remind you of your visit to Occoneechee State Park.

Every acorn a squirrel forgets is a tree the forest remembers. Come learn how gray squirrels play a very important role in Bear Creek Lake State Park and play a squirrel game about finding acorns.

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Discover the vital role butterflies play in our ecosystem and the remarkable journey they undertake from egg to winged adult.

Come out to the newly renovated Roanoke Station Nature Center!

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

Join our rangers for a guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father.

Join us as we build a beaver to find out if their teeth, and other body parts, are useful, or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature.

Bug out and win cool prizes.

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.

Join us for an engaging lecture that explores the history of Point Lookout, the largest Union prison camp of the American Civil War.

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

Kayak season is here!

Search for some frogs and learn what makes them so interesting! Our rangers and volunteers will walk you through every step of their life, and teach you how to not only find them, but also how to safely handle them.   .

Trees are vital to our environment.

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

Style can have function too!

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

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

Think you can stump a nature expert?

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.

“What does the fox say?” Did you know that there are two different foxes found in Virginia, the red fox and the grey fox?

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

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.

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

Come explore the historic town of Fries! A park ranger will share stories of local history and show what remains of the once thriving textile industry.

Join our rangers as we hike to the Claytor Lake Overlook for beautiful views of rolling hills and the lake.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Get to know the park's ambassador reptiles: a sweet juvenile cornsnake and a spunky mud turtle! You'll examine turtle shells, skeletons, and skins, and on feeding days you may even be able to watch as a park ranger feeds them their favorite meal.  All ages are invited. Those that may be familiar or even fearful these reptiles are bound to learn something new about these fascinating critters.

What lurks in the leaves below the surface?  Join us in searching for the many types of critters that call Long Pond home!

Come paint and relax at Hayfields State Park!

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

Come find us at the Splash Park as we get hands on with skulls and furs from Virginia’s native animals.

Join a ranger as they showcase local rocks, minerals, and fossils commonly found around Natural Tunnel State Park.

Are all snakes venomous?

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a feast, and they want you to join.

Ever wondered what stories Douthat State Park holds?

Learn why they're called survival bracelets--and then make one yourself.

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

Attract the local pollinator friends with these seed bombs for your garden!

Kiptopeke is full of beautiful sights to draw inspiration from. Breath taking sunsets on the bay, graceful migratory birds in flight, the swirling lines of seashells in the sand, and the pops of color from flowers in the fields can awaken the artist in all of us. Want to create your own masterpiece or capture a memory in your own impressionistic style?

We are on an expedition to have some fun, make a splash, and discover some of the tiny creatures that inhabit the shoreline of the Rappahannock River.

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

Ever wonder what the Battle of Cedar Mountain was all about? Come join Ranger Webb-Watkins to find out!

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

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.

Seine netting is a skill that dates back many centuries ago for people to enjoy the bounty of the seas.

It's none of your Beeswax! Let's venture out in search of the great bumble bee.

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

Explore the marshes of Back Bay by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

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

Paddle around the lake with us and discover the rich history and variety of habitats at Holliday Lake State Park.

What does fire mean to you?

Settle in for a relaxing wagon ride as a park ranger guides you through the scenic landscapes of James River State Park.

Find out what's at Staunton River State Park!

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

Welcome to the park, complete with a campfire where you can ask questions and get answers while you learn about our history, upcoming activities, and the animals that live around the park.

Join a park ranger for a guided nighttime adventure through the maritime forest as we search and listen for some of First Landing State Park’s most fascinating nocturnal residents: owls.

Come gather around the campfire and immerse yourself in a night of fun.

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Ever wondered what it’s like to paddle under a sky full of stars?

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.