Events in Virginia State Parks

Ever wondered what critters are crawling beneath the surface of a stream? Join us on a fun adventure as we search the stream for interesting, tiny critters: freshwater invertebrates.

Whether you prefer the writings of Henry David Thoreau or the classic rhyme scheme of Dr.

Keep an eye out around the campgrounds before the welcome campfire for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

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

Come join the party!

Do you enjoy roasting a marshmallow?

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

We'll be kicking off our 2026 season of music with a local favorite.

Join us for a gentle sunset walk designed for women who want to reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

Join your fellow campers to hear about all of the different trails and activities the park has to offer and discover the history of the park. This is a great chance to ask questions about the park, local activities in the area, and future events at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Join our rangers for a bit of fun around the campfire as we welcome you to the park.

Join us for a night of 'bat-tastic' fun at Twin Lakes State Park!

Come for the s’mores, stay for the fun!

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

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

Did you know that some plants and animals glow under UV light!?

As dusk draws near, lightning bugs appear!

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

Join our Let's Go!

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 life in the early 19th century with live music, blacksmiths, cooking, period camp, boats, and much more! Batteaux and Banjos is a living history program celebrating the history and heritage of the James River deep in the heart of the Old Dominion.

Explore historic Prince Edward Lake on this guided canoe tour led by rangers.

Experience the James River like never before on this ranger-guided canoe float between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing!

Help our rangers and volunteers keep our park clean! Westmoreland State Park beaches and waterways are full of marine wildlife, fossils, shells, birds, and more!

Take a hike with a park ranger and fellow nature-enthusiasts through the park's beautiful forests and meadows!

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

The Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Southside Chapter will be hosting a guided hike and workshop experience for all experience-levels to attend and enjoy.

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

Calling all young explorers and adventurers!

Let's make a craft with flowers!

Hosted by the Virginia Master Naturalist Bluebird Team, feel inspired as you learn about Eastern Bluebird conservation.

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

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

Join us in a relaxing and creative program by the horsehead cliffs that look out over the Potomac River!

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.

Join park staff, volunteers, and community partners for a series of events celebrating African-American culture, resilience, and joy.

Calling all budding detectives.

Join costumed interpreters for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen. .

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

Mason Neck would not be the park it is today without a dynamic history.

Virginia is home to only two venomous snakes.

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

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

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

Have you wondered about all of the bird houses around the park?  Have you caught a glimpse of beautiful blue feathers in the afternoon sunlight?

Join us for a free historical tour of the Cedar Crest Conference Center.

Come talk to the Kiptopeke Rangers at our educational booth at the entrance to North Beach.

Get hooked on creativity.

Producing textiles, basketry, pottery, woodworking and many more crafts and trades were vital to success in early America.

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

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

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!

Being Bear Aware in a park is very important.

Join us as we discover how Sailor’s Creek transformed from an American Civil War battlefield into a protected public landscape as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation!

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

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

Make a full course meal for birds!

Join a park ranger for a 1.5 mile hike along Eagle's Rest Trail at Hayfields State Park.

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

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.

Have you ever been walking along a trail and come across a pile of "meatballs"?

Ready to explore the forest in its full summer glory?

Set out on a relaxing ranger-guided tubing adventure as you float from Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing along the scenic James River! This approximately 2-mile trip generally takes around two hours, depending on river flow.

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.

Join costumed interpreters for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen. .

Do you want to learn how to identify the different species of dragonflies found at Mason Neck State Park?

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

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

Ever wanted to learn to crab?

What does fire mean to you?

This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources. There is no actual fishing during this game.

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

Beat the heat at our River Bend Discovery Center!

Are all snakes venomous?

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

Paddle the lower Potomac River on a fossil finding adventure! Millions of years ago, Virginia was covered in a shallow sea that was teeming with life, leaving behind prolific fossil beds.

Ever wondered what stories Douthat State Park holds?

When it comes to carrying survival materials with you on the trail, every little bit of space counts.

Come out to Chestnut Creek along the Cliffview Campground, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater!

Join a ranger in this interactive program to learn how to throw a cast net.

Meet two of our wildlife ambassadors, Henry and Sam, during Turtle Time!

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.

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.

Slither, crawl, and shellabrate with us as we dive into the wild world of reptiles.

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

Celebrate a century of conservation and connection with a special hands-on craft honoring the 100th anniversary of DCR!

Can you match the skull to its pelt?

Do you know North America's favorite marsupial?

Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!

Ever cared to create art outdoors?

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

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

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

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

Mark your calendars, music on the cliffs is back and we want you to join us for this amazing summer concert series overlooking the Potomac River! Music on the cliff is our parks outdoor concert series where you can unwind and experience great local music in a beautiful natural setting.  While you're here, grab a drink from General’s Ridge Vineyard and enjoy food from a local food truck. Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket!  This event is brought to you by the Friends of Westmoreland State Park.

Celebrate 100 years of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation with a ranger-led campfire!