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.

Virginia State Parks license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days.

Let's get ready to FISH!

Virginia State Park license plate owners will receive free parking on the following dates, as well as special discounts and offers provided throughout the year.

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.

Rise and shine!

Do you want your kids to learn how to kayak?

Celebrate Kids to Parks Day at Sailor’s Creek with a hands-on Junior Historian Scavenger Hunt!

Join us for a photography scavenger hunt with Samuels Public Library.  Using observational and photography skills to document nature, this session will focus on capturing images of the smaller details in our natural world.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail (0.81mi.).

May 16 through May 22 is Safe Boating Week and USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 33 will be available to give information, answer safe boating / kayaking questions and provide vessel safety exams.  Bring your vessel or just your curiosity to the Motorboat Launch or Canoe/Kayak launch Saturday 9 a.m. - Noon. .

Do you have what it takes to be a junior ranger? Join our rangers in fun programs and activities that will train you to become Westmoreland's new crew of Junior Rangers! Wear shoes you can hike in and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! Pack a lunch, water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide celebration connecting families with the beauty and wonder of our public lands.

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

Join a Ranger for a fun scavenger hunt in one of the most biologically diverse parks in Virginia!

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.

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

Join us for an all day affair of fun!

Can you spot a bald eagle?

When in doubt, kayak it out!

Join us in discovering the hidden wonders of these temporary seasonal wetlands.

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.

Bring your family and join us for National Kids to Parks Day!

Celebrate National Kids to Park Day by exploring activity stations along the Farmstead and Meadow View Trails!

Bring your family to Pocahontas State Park to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day.

Practice your casting and reeling in the grass.

Wonder and walk as Rangers guide you in exploring Leesylvania State Park.

Bark in the Park is coming to Smith Mountain Lake State Park for a tail-wagging day of fun, education, and community spirit!

Join a ranger on a walk around Oxbow Lake for National Kids to Parks Day!

Join in the fun of National Kid's to Parks Day by seeking live at the water's edge.  We'll begin with a hike to our Living Shoreline for some dip netting.  Our catch will be on display for all of our guests to see What's in the Water.  Be sure to visit the Discovery Room and learn more about aquatic life.

Join us for National Kids to Parks Day!  Celebrate the importance of pollinators with a fun, hands-on craft designed for kids of all ages.  Learn about bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while creating your own nature-inspired craft to take home.  Crafts will be set up at the Big Water Visitor Center from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Chippokes State Park!

The Green Arrow?

Fishing is Fun.

Kids and parks together mean discovery is at hand.

Join us on the public beach for the launch of our Lake Anna Landsharks Safety Challenge! Stop by the pop-up tent to learn how you can be a safe swimmer, boater, and beachgoer at Lake Anna. Complete all the challenges to claim your prize, then take the safety pledge to become a Lake Anna Landshark!  Open to guests of all ages. No pre-registration needed. Landshark Challenges will not involve swimming or boating. FREE. .

Today you can throw your ranger hat in the ring and see if you have what it takes to be a junior ranger!  Stop by the visitor center's Base Camp to test out your junior ranger skills.

Get ready to master the wild with tips and tricks for surviving in the wild when hunting or hiking off the beaten path.

Bring the whole family out for a full day of outdoor fun at the Kids Love Parks Fair!

Step into the Creation Station and let your imagination take the lead!

Cast into one of our most popular outdoor pastimes with Fishing Fundamentals, a hands-on introduction perfect for new anglers and curious kids.

You and your family are invited to stop by the Education Station to learn and explore with Ranger Megan!

What exactly is a pollinator - and are they all insects?

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Learn some unbe-leaf-able tree facts in this Dendrology 101 trail walk!

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

Explore the park with a leaf identification scavenger hunt.

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

What will we scoop up this time?

Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Sky Meadows for a day of play in our Picnic Area!

It's National Kids to Parks Day and we are celebrating with a Butterfly Safari! Are you quick enough to catch a butterfly?

Join us for our new series "Tales and Trails" with Samuels Public Library.

Come to Staunton River Battlefield State Park and learn the basics of archery! This class will teach you how to properly hold a bow, correct stance, how to aim, and most importantly, how to be safe while doing so.

Spark your curiosity at our Fire Building station!

Join a Ranger at the Visitor Center for story time!

Calling all budding detectives.

Learn basic campfire safety and make easy, customizable fire starters.

There are lots of ways to have adventures at New River Trail 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.

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.

Are you ready to become a ranger?

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

Join the majestic creatures of the sky and allow your creativity to soar at new heights.

Play classic Hide-and-Seek with a modern twist!

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Join a ranger for a fun scavenger hunt along the Oak Hickory Trail (1.1mi loop).  On our adventure we will look for different plants and animals that are found throughout the park.

Celebrating Kids to Parks Day with Nature Activities Bring the whole family for an exciting afternoon of nature-themed fun.

From antlions to zebra swallowtails, amazing insects are everywhere!

Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.

Parents are welcome to join their kids at this classic park activity.

Spend a day at the Bay during our Bay Blast adventure!

Kayak season is here!

Can you spot a bald eagle?

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.

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

Join a ranger on for some fishing fun, on dry land!

Take your first shot at Archery 101, a beginner-friendly workshop perfect for curious kids and families eager to try something new.

Ever wanted to hike on an Island in the Sky AND in a Boreal Forest?

Connect your family to nature with our special programming for Kids to Parks Day.

Join our rangers as we create owls with pinecones and other natural elements found in the park.

These creatures might give you the creeps, but they play crucial roles in our ecosystem.

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

So many adventures happen on the Bullpasture River, but what’s happening below the water surface?

Practice casting a fishing pole, no hooks required!

Take a closer look at the beauty that lies all around you.

A chance to make your very own leaf-bug craft while listening to a short story read by one of our rangers?

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Hop on over for a hands-on adventure into the world of frogs. Join park staff as we search for some of Virginia’s native frog species and their tadpoles.

Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!

What's under that rock?

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

Can you match the skull to its pelt?

The Catlett Islands are full of ghosts, but they aren’t what you think!

What do you know about our scaly friends?

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

Step into the hidden world of nocturnal insects as Fairy Stone State Park comes alive after dark.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

As the sun sets, the adventure shifts to the night sky - become a junior astronomer and uncover the mysteries above us.