Events in Virginia State Parks

Take a float as day turns into twilight, and the creatures of the night arise.

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

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

"Hoo-hoo" wants to join a park ranger in exploring the dark of night?

Can you identify the differences between a mammalian predator or prey animal's skull?

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.

Enjoy a summer movie night featuring the small yet marvelous creatures seen in abundance throughout the summer: caterpillars!  "The Extraordinary Caterpillar", a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary reveals the vital, and often overlooked, role caterpillars play in our ecosystems. Before the movie begins, a park ranger will introduce the audience to a few live caterpillar species and discuss their important role in our world.  From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways to make a difference.

Join astronomers from the Echo Ridge Astronomical Society to observe and learn about the moon!

Who is calling to you in the night?

The local Crewe Astronomy Club will bring their hi-tech telescopes and amazing video presentation about our planet, our solar system, and our universe to the visitor center.

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.

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

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

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

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

The big blue can hold many secrets and sometimes those secrets wash ashore! Join a Park Ranger as we wander the beach identifying shells, animals, and other treasures commonly found along the beach at False Cape.

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

Stop by to visit the Nature Mobile parked in the Launch A parking lot to discover the fascinating history and wonders of the pawpaw tree.

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

Join us for a Ranger-led visit to the Historic Homestead at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Kick off the summer with a new hobby.

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.

Slow down and discover the hidden colors of Sky Meadows!

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.

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.

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.

Mother Nature invites young nature-lovers to hear and read nature-themed stories. Share experiences of the natural world, nurture that curiosity for the wonders of Earth, and stay to explore the Discovery Center’s exhibits. Gaining an appreciation for nature will lead to a desire to protect it!

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

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.

This is the kind of Sunday program where you wander down the beach, stumble into a ranger-led arts and craft activities, and end up staying way longer than planned!

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Nature Journals are great way to practice intentional observation of your surroundings.

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.

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.

There are bugs everywhere in the park- cicadas in the trees, ants in the grass, crickets in the caves, and even the macro invertebrates in the creek!

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.

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

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.

Join our park ranger for this fascinating workshop on owls and what they eat.

Spend your Sunday by the river!  A ranger will be stationed or roving in the picnic area with a fun activity for the whole family!  Activities may include a fur and skull table, meeting the wildlife ambassadors Henry the turtle or Fred the snake, dip netting, crafts, and more!

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

The joy of nature journaling is not about being a perfect artist; it’s about curiosity and wonder, slowing down and taking a closer look at what is out there.

Water, no matter if it comes from oceans, rivers, or rain, tells us a story.

Explore the history of Highland County and how Hayfields fits into it!

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

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

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Ranger Harrold Holliday!

Evenings are a wonderful time in the park to be on the water.

What creatures rule our beaches at night?

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

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.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

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

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.

Who made those footprints?

Do you enjoy coffee, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables?

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.

Take an unforgettable journey above and below the water as we explore the hidden world of the river.

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

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

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

Is the opossum misunderstood?

No, not those kind of tacos.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The Friends of York River State Park is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support the mission of the park: We champion the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of York River State Park's estuarine environment.

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

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

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

Yes, you too can canoe!

Spend time paddling down the Clinch River.

This pleasant paddle will show you two aspects of the lake: one of a lake built in the 1930s and another of a wetland created by nature.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

How can we be more sustainable when practicing our favorite hobbies?

Where do animals go when the summer sun is blazing?

Join us for the fifth annual Farmville Five Blood Drive!

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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

Imagine your afternoon at the park involving turtles soaking up sunshine as they enjoy the tickling grass.

Trees are vital to our environment.

What swims in the shallows of South Beach?

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

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.

First Landing is home to many creatures both large and small.

Are all snakes venomous?

Does your pup have what it takes to be a B.A.R.K Ranger on National Dog Day!

Hear the sound of axes.

Ever wondered what makes coyotes such successful survivors in our backyards and beyond?

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?