Events in Virginia State Parks

Come make your own unique, nature-themed keepsake at our come-and-go craft station in the Big Water Visitor Center!

Join us for daytime, ranger-led campfire with S'mores!

Join Ranger Webb-Watkins on an in-depth exploration of the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

As cold winds and long shadows settle over Powell’s Valley, step back in time and join the inhabitants of Joseph Martin’s Station at the Pig and Panther Tavern for an evening of glad tidings and good cheer.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is pleased to present special night viewings of the 31st Annual Festival of Trees.

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Discover the beauty of moths while creating a one-of-a-kind fabric artwork!

Foraging can foster a special connection with the surrounding community of plants, fungi, and fellow humans.

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.

Celebrate National Family Literacy Month with our Trail Tale series through the month of November.

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

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

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

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

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.

Joining a park ranger for a fun reading adventure!

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.

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

Join us for a fun, nature focused, family crafting experience.

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

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

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.

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

Join Ranger Webb-Watkins on an in-depth exploration of the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

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

Join a ranger to learn about animals found at Belle Isle State Park. You can touch pelts, see the footprints they make and hear their calls, as well as learn about adaptations they use to survive.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Get ready for a holiday race with a twist!

Join us for a series of gentle outdoor experiences designed for women who want to reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.

Explore the rich natural history of trees guided by a Virginia Master Naturalist.

Ol' Saint Nick is coming to Sailor's Creek Battlefield!

There is no better place to capture the season than the beautiful Natural Bridge State Park.

Explore the park’s expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat home.

Joining a park ranger for a fun reading adventure!

Let's talk about the seasons!

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

Join a ranger on this one-mile trek and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a water bottle if possible.

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

Ever wonder where rainwater goes after it hits the ground?

Meteorological Winter is upon us which means the holidays are right around the corner!

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.

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

Join a ranger for a 1.5-mile guided hike through fields and marsh to a splendid beach view of the Rappahannock River.

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

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

"Wisdom from the Wild" is a monthly series that will lead you on wonder-filled journey to recovering your sense of belonging and finding your truest self, rooted in the rhythms and raptures of nature.

There is no better place to capture the season than the beautiful Natural Bridge State Park.

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

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

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

Do you have a passion for nature, environmental education, and wish to make a difference?

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

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

The Geminids meteor shower is considered by many to be the best of the year, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

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 December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Winter Birding Walks from November 2026 thru March 2027!  Join our experienced birder and volunteer, Lisa, on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

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

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

This December, homeschoolers will learn about forces of nature.

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

Watch the biggest meteor shower of the year with our park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park.

The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour.

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

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Join the rangers to give back a bit of your time and help maintain the beauty of York River.

During the Festival of Trees, local organizations are asked to decorate a holiday tree to represent themselves in the community.

Bundle up and join us for a peaceful winter walk as we explore the James River State Park in search of its seasonal birdlife!

Join a ranger on this one-mile trek and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a water bottle if possible.

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

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

Slow down and take in the beauty of the James River and its vibrant landscapes!

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

So you wanna be a BARK Ranger?

Join a ranger and explore the world of our bushy-tailed friends, from their fascinating life cycle to their clever winter behaviors.

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

Join us at the Karlan Mansion for a magical and festive celebration of one of the season’s most treasured holidays.

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park presents Lights at the Lake. Entrance is a cash or toy donation to benefit the Cumberland Christmas Mother.

Visit James River for a chance to view one of the richest meteor showers of the year!

 As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

Winter’s Embrace Wellness Series: Bundle Up & Turn Within A seasonal women’s wellness series inviting us to slow down, turn inward, nurture what matters, and gently awaken with the changing seasons.

During the Festival of Trees, local organizations are asked to decorate a holiday tree to represent themselves in the community.