Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days.  Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.

Join Twin Lakes State Park during our celebration of Virginia State Park History and Culture Day.

In observance of Virginia State Park's History and Culture Day on June 15, the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a Civil War Bus Tour.

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

Experience life in the early 19th century with live music, blacksmiths, cooking, period camp, boats, and much more. This event will focus on two important parts of history from this area that had a profound influence on transportation and music in America: “batteaux and banjos.” See what it was like to live in the middle of the 19th century.

Join False Cape staff and volunteers in helping keep our beaches pristine by picking up shoreline debris.

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

Visit the park’s discovery center (formerly known as The Spot, the interior portion of the concession stand) to check out the park’s new display celebrating its civil rights history.

Let's learn all about our friends, THE BEES!

Ride with a park guide as we experience Smith Mountain Lake from a boat.

All of the park's original facilities back in the 1930's were built by hand.

Journey to Martin’s Station and immerse yourself on Virginia’s frontier at the beginning of the American Revolution.

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

Calling all history (and kayak) lovers!   Celebrate Virginia State Park's 88th anniversary with us on a guided kayaking tour!

Explore plants, both native and introduced, with two Virginia Master Naturalists and Native Plant Society members.

The land that holds each Virginia State Park has its own story.

Belle Isle became a Virginia State Park in the1990s but this 892-acre property has a long history. Join a ranger on the grounds of the historic Belle Isle Manor House to hear the latest update on the house restoration project and stories of the people who lived and worked the land before it became Belle Isle.

How did Pocahontas State Park come to be? What are the "Original 6" State Parks?

Interested in the history of Westmoreland State Park?  Join a ranger to learn about the creation of Westmoreland State Park, and the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Celebrate the rich history and culture of Virginia's State Parks by diving into the archaeological work that has been done on Mason Neck.

 Celebrate Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day at Holliday Lake State Park!

Two chances to catch gold fever.

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

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Natural Bridge.

 What was a typical day like on the farm in the 1840’s.

Stop by the nature booth to borrow a Family Learning Adventures adventure pack for the day.

"Wood" You Like to Play?

How did African slavery begin in the Virginia Colony and did they seek freedom from their condition?  Did any European indentured servants and Native Americans resist their lot as well?  Walking with us you will discover stories of rebellious conspiracies and courageous runaways and how they overcame the challenging terrain of Tidewater Virginia to elude their oppressors. .

Embrace the history of the upper York River region this weekend from the colonial period to today.  Learn about plots for freedom by indentured servants and enslaved people with the Rebellion & Runaway Walk.  Discover the rise and continued heritage of independent waterfront communities with the Afro American Waterman's Display.  .

Join a Park Ranger at Clinch River State Park for a hike on scenic Sugar Hill.

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

What is the oldest way of cooking?

It's Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day!

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

The Children's Garden Workshops are a great way to get your little one up, moving, creating and learning.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail.

On the third Saturday of every June at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, the Wayne C.

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

June is National Pollinator Month!

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home or what those shells on the beach are called?

Ride with a park guide as we experience Smith Mountain Lake from a boat.

Learn about the fascinating history of our park, our lake, and the surrounding area.

Join a ranger to create something special from natural elements found in the park.

The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work showing off their skills.

Enjoy a scenic guided walk along the New River Trail. This easy one-mile round trip tour will take visitors outside one of the oldest mining operations in North America, the Austinville lead mines.

Travel through time during the 2024 Virginia State Parks History and Culture celebration at First Landing State Park.  Check out a replica artifact touch table, participate in games inspired by the indigenous cultures of Virginia Tribal Nations, and attend guided hikes all to do with the history of the park, CCC, and Cape Henry region.

Surviving as a colonist was drastically different and more complex than the 21st century, but we can still find similarities between them and us.

In 1860, nearly half of Fauquier County's 21,706 residents were enslaved, with fourteen enslaved individuals living at the Mount Bleak Farm.

Get up close and personal with your wild neighbors and learn about their natural history.

Tree cookies might sound like a scrumptious new flavor, but unless you're a termite, please don't eat these cookies.

Did you know the park's lakes were built by humans?

One of the original 6, Westmoreland State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); a New Deal era program intended to help restore morale during the Great Depression.

Have you ever seen a World War II Concrete Ship?  Why is Kiptopeke State Park home to 9 of them?   Join us as we travel through the history of the Concrete Fleet.

Flutter on over to meet with Master Naturalist Kim Manion to discuss all things butterflies.

Spend History and Culture Day at Natural Tunnel State Park and tour a replica of the Anderson Blockhouse as rangers provide information about the history of the building and area.

Spend History and Culture Day with us by stepping back in time to participate in games played in the 18th century.

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 travel to the site.

Who pooped in the park?

Watch and learn about our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they feed on a frozen mouse! .

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 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.

Experience the wonders of the Tutelo trail with our park interpreter.

During this one-mile trek, a ranger will guide you through this journey through time on Goodwin Lake Trail. Goodwin Lake Trail is rated easy but does have a few areas that may make the trail unsuitable for those with moderate to severe mobility issues.

This Father's Day, explore some of the lineage of the two most famous Civil War generals: Lee and Grant.

Head on over to the park to meet Ranger Parker Redfox, the Virginia State Parks mascot.

Come learn about Palmer Hayden, a renowned Widewater artist who is known for his paintings of everyday life in African-American communities.

From the Colonial Era thru today, black watermen have been a part of the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry in all levels.  Discover the communities built on harvesting fish and shellfish giving African Americans financial freedom even in the Jim Crow years.  Even today, we can help improve the bay so that everyone can enjoy it’s beauty and bounty.

The are many different wildlife that call Leesylvania State Park their home.

What is the oldest way of cooking?

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

Come join us at Lebanon Farmers Market for a fun learning program all about native animals to the Clinch River State Park.

A new way to find treasure at your own pace.  Geocaching makes use of the Global Positioning System to help you find caches of park information and small gifts.  We will supply you with a GPS unit and the ranger will point you to the path of a unique discovery. .

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

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

Join a ranger to learn how our beautiful lake came to be and the fascinating history of the lake's past inhabitants.

What is a gundalow?  A gundalow was a long wooden flatboat that was used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

Once the smoke cleared, Johnny Reb and Billy Yank would often collapse from exhaustion and set up camp for the night. What did a military camp look like? Was it dangerous to be in camp? Come out for an interactive experience with our rangers as we walk you through the lives of the soldiers from both North and South.

Celebrate the anniversary of Virginia State Parks with a scenic guided walk along the New River.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

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

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

Historically, trees have provided us with shelter as we've used them to make various structures and enjoyed the warmth they provide as we've built fires from them.

Frogs, turtles, and fish, oh my! Explore the life that exists in the pond while learning about the abundance of animals that call this ecosystem home.

Paddle the lower Potomac River on a fossil finding adventure as we scour the shoreline for clues to the past.

Boulder in the scenic mountains and boulder fields of Grayson Highlands State Park.

Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Take a short walk with a ranger and explore the history of Douthat State Park.

The survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

Poles and bait will be provided.

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

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

Participants who are interested in the Prowl the Powell nature series should meet volunteers and park staff at the front gate of the museum.

Join us for a short hike full of puns and other nature related dad jokes.

The York River is one of our nation's most historic waterways.  Discover Native American, Colonial, Civil War, and recent history by canoe or kayak.  Cost.

What's that big net used for?  Join us as we teach you how to use a seine net and see what we can discover below the surface of the Chesapeake Bay.  We will meet at the Wood Warbler Boardwalk, across from the Camp Store, and enjoy a short walk out to the beach.  Great for all ages! .

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Did you know that Shenandoah County wasn't always called Shenandoah County?