Events in Virginia State Parks

Hear the sound of axes.

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

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Imagine spending your afternoon by the water, catching dragonflies and damselflies discovering all the little details you usually miss.

Customize your hiking stick and suddenly every trail feels more personal.

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

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

This three-hour class will cover the basics of paddling skills including how to select and fit a personal flotation device (PFD), different types of kayaks, planning and safety, reading the river, identifying river hazards, and proper paddling strokes.

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

Most people don't like to drop their camera in the lake, but the rangers at the park will do it on purpose.

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

Bees get all the credit, but they're not the only pollinators.

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

While designing a cool animal tooth necklace, learn how to to identify different animal skulls like a mini wildlife scientist.

Celebrate National S’mores Day with a night of classic campfire fun!

Enjoy the beautiful park setting as you are entertained by some of our very own local musicians.

Watch the last traces of daylight strike the Blue Ridge Mountains on this haywagon ride.

We all know that hiker who likes to stop every few steps to point out some cool fungi, or stop to examine a freshly fallen feather.

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

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

Come experience the beautiful James River on this guided kayak tour with Virginia State Parks' Bay Experience team!

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

Join Rangers for a morning of family fun, fishing and learning about the Potomac River.

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

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.

Great culinary innovations transformed the flavor profiles of the 18th century.

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

Take a summer walk of exploration with two Virginia Master Naturalists in this second of a series of seasonal walks planned for children. Use your five senses to find clues to how various organisms – plants, animals, and more – work together to survive in this forest community.

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

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

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

What makes a bird a bird?

Step inside the Discovery Center to learn from a park ranger about local wildlife, the park's history, and the New River! All ages welcome.

In 1847, Theodore O'Hara wrote Bivouac of the Dead.

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

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.

Join us for the 2026 season of Music by the River, one of the highlights of the summer on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Join our Park Rangers as they discuss the history, ecology, and culture of the Widewater peninsula.

Enjoy a summer evening with live music and local wine surrounded by the forest at Caledon State Park!

Join us for the very first Music on the Waterfront at Holliday Lake State Park.

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

Experience the sights and sounds of the park at sunset with a leisurely guided hike beginning at 8 p.m. from the main parking lot.

Fireflies aren't the only species that glow at night.  Did you know several plant and animal species glow under black light?

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.

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!

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

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

In 1847, Theodore O'Hara wrote Bivouac of the Dead.

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!

"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?

The final week of Junior Rangers is all about the Spirit of Adventure!

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.

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.

The final week of Junior Rangers is all about the Spirit of Adventure!

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Hear the sound of axes.

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

The final week of Junior Rangers is all about the Spirit of Adventure!

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

Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars as we celebrate one of the most spectacular celestial events of the year- the Perseids meteor shower!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

Imagine spending your afternoon by the water, catching dragonflies and damselflies discovering all the little details you usually miss.

Customize your hiking stick and suddenly every trail feels more personal.

Summer is a great time of year to take-in Southwest Virginia's beautiful scenery by bike.  This ranger-led bike meet up will go from Foster Falls to Austinville and back (10.4 miles round trip).  Group Ride: Rides will be at a group pace.

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

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

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

Most people don't like to drop their camera in the lake, but the rangers at the park will do it on purpose.

Bees get all the credit, but they're not the only pollinators.

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

While designing a cool animal tooth necklace, learn how to to identify different animal skulls like a mini wildlife scientist.

Enjoy the beautiful park setting as you are entertained by some of our very own local musicians.

As the sun dips low and the night draws near, we humans usually turn in for the night, but this is showtime for bats!

Watch the last traces of daylight strike the Blue Ridge Mountains on this haywagon ride.

"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson With the use of a Celestron telescope, view the astral bodies up close and learn about the history of the stars.

Come out to Grayson Highlands State Park for a magical night under the stars and witness the amazing Perseid Meteor Shower.

Are you ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city?

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.

Start your weekend with fresh air, beautiful scenery, camaraderie, and a feeling of accomplishment.

Habitat loss has caused Monarch butterfly populations to reach dangerously low numbers, especially Migratory Monarchs.

Please join us for a very special afternoon with Carl “Gump” Blair and Gene Dunford.

Come face to face with the good, the bad and the bizarre features of an earthworm!