Events in Virginia State Parks

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

The Eta Aquarids is an above average meteor shower capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak.

For the month of May, homeschool students will learn about invasive species in our area, how to identify them, the damage they do to our native ecosystem, and how to properly remove them.  There are no homeschool programs on May 13th, 18th, or 20th.

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.

Venom?

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.

The Friends group is a dedicated volunteer organization made up of community members who actively support the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park.

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

Join a ranger for a guided hike through Laurel loop and explore the native and invasive trees to Hayfields State Park.

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.

Spring is a fantastic 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.

Join us at Douthat State Park for Homeschool Naturalists, a monthly outdoor education series designed for homeschool students of all ages.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

For the month of May, homeschool students will learn about invasive species in our area, how to identify them, the damage they do to our native ecosystem, and how to properly remove them.  There are no homeschool programs on May 13th, 18th, or 20th.

Come explore nature's amazing spring happenings through the Powhatan Library's new educational series: Nature Days!

"Beavers:  Nature's Engineers" examines the characteristics and habits of North America's largest rodent.  Learn about how beavers alter the environment more than any other creature except humans.  Find out how beavers contributed to the westward expansion as settlers arrived in the New World.  Various items, including a beaver skull, pelt, and examples of wood cuttings, will be displayed.  A special gift will be given to all children who attend the program.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Explore the hidden hamlet of Wash Woods and see the various coastal habitats of False Cape.

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

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.

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

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is thrilled to announce the spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program!

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!

By the spring of 1776, the rumbling of revolution can be felt across the American colonies and into the far corners of the wilderness.

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park!

Have you ever heard the sound of a pack of coyotes howling in the middle of the night?

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.

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.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Look up and learn about tree diversity in the park!

Have you ever wanted to identify the different birds in your yard or even start bird watching as a hobby?  If so, this program is for you.  We'll go over the basics of finding and identifying birds, the basic equipment you might need, as well as some tips to help you make the most of your birding adventures!

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

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

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

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.

Fly through the gardens of Twins Lakes State Park on your quest to find resources and claim your flower before it's gone! Join us for this "musical chairs" based program competing to keep your resources before habitat loss ensues.

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Dive into the history of the Occaneechi Tribe that once called Occoneechee State Park home.

Join our rangers for a look at the skins and skulls of animals you can find in Hayfields.

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

With warmer wetter weather comes springtime fungi; some are gourmet, some are deadly, and some even glow in the dark!

What is the perfect sized walking stick for you?

Expand your survival skills by learning how to build a fire!

Play with clay and find out how you can connect with Virginia's Indigenous cultures through pottery.

Join Leesylvania State Park rangers at Bushey Point Trailhead for a guided hike and discussion on wetlands, their ecology, and their vital importance in maintaining a balanced, healthy ecosystem.  Meet at the entrance to Bushey Point Trail on the south side of Boat Launch Parking Lot 1 for the approximately 1.5 mile hike. This trail is rated as easy in skill level; please dress for the weather, wear sturdy closed-toe footwear, and consider bringing water.  For questions, contact the Visitor Center at leesylvaniavc@dcr.virginia.gov or 703-583-6904.  Register Here.

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 Fairy Stone State Park.

Who-who-whoooo's calling?

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

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

Come join the party!

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

What is a BioBlitz? A BioBlitz is a communal effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.

Take a relaxing stroll along our lake shore as you visit several lights that have been placed in or along the lake to attract critters of all sizes.

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

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

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

Join us in supporting out parks ecosystem by helping remove unwanted weeds from our pollinator garden and more! This garden plays an important role in providing food and habitat for both resident and migratory pollinators, we need your help to keep it thriving!   We will provide gloves, tools and some snacks, but please feel free to bring your own tools, gear or anything that helps you with garden work.  .

Give Mom a real treat this Mother's Day. Ride with a ranger on our 30-foot pontoon boat and learn the history of how the lake was created and the origin of the state park. Keep a lookout for an abundance of wildlife which makes Smith Mountain Lake its home. Watch to see the ospreys that have returned to the lake from their winter home in the Caribbean.

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.

From Indigenous connections to modern conservation, the bald eagle’s journey reflects the link between people and nature and how protecting natural resources preserves both cultural heritage and wildlife.

By the spring of 1776, the rumbling of revolution can be felt across the American colonies and into the far corners of the wilderness.

Like all of the Timberneck Open Houses you can tour the stately 1790's Timberneck house and see the stories held in its walls.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Learn about some of the species of birds of the woods and fields, and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.  Join a Virginia Master Naturalist to discover our role and our impact on bird conservation.  The featured species will be Wood Thrush, Red Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, and Tree Swallows.  We hope to see these and many more!

Immerse yourself in the calming embrace of nature as you unwind and de-stress.

Get ready to learn all the navigation tricks for surviving outdoor adventures, like back country hiking and hunting, from professionals at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources!

Discover how to identify common trees in our forest while uncovering the hidden strategies they use to compete for sunlight each spring.  As temperatures warm competition heats up for the most important thing in the forest - sunlight!

Love birds?

Discover how water helped families and communities survive in the past and how we care for and protect these vital resources today.

Think opossums are just pesky critters?

For ages, native plants of this area have had a rich and giving relationship with humans from different cultural backgrounds.

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

Mom has always done so much for you—now it’s your chance to do something special for her.

Looking for that perfect selfie spot?

Leave No Trace principles not only apply to you, but also your dog.

Celebrate one of Virginia's most iconic native blooms with a special program dedicated to mountain laurel at its peak.

Want to learn how to go geocaching?

"Love is like wildflowers; it's often found in the most unlikely places." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson Just as there are thousands of flowers in the world, there are as many ways to be shown love by a mother, grandmother, stepparent, and other caregivers. This Mother's Day weekend, come on a hike to discover the variety of wildflowers that can be found around Widewater State Park.

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the interactions between a predator population of coyotes and a prey population of deer in a forest. This program is suitable for all ages.

Join us in paying homage to 70,000 years of history and human tradition as we learn the sport of Archery.

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

Whether you're fascinated or a little rattled, snakes are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, and they’re not as scary as they seem.

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

Spoil Mom with a delightful cup of tea.

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.

Do you know what's living in our lake?

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.

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will honor mothers and families during the Civil War through a special Mother’s Day program centered on letters written between soldiers and home.

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

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Bring Mom out for a Wildflower Walk to uncover some of Virginia's prettiest, yet often overlooked, treasures.

Join us for a special pollinator program celebrating the remarkable honeybee, led by Master Gardener Joe Guirreri.

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.

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?