Winter in the Park – 2025 - The Parks Podcast

Are you looking for fun ways to celebrate the holidays outdoors? Our parks and public lands have a lot to offer, many of them host guided winter programs.

I’ve compiled activities from parks around the country so that you can find a great outdoor winter activity near you. I hope that it sparks ideas for activities to do with your friends and family this holiday season.

California

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Dec 6 (3pm – 6pm) – Christmas at the Beach

Columbia State Historic Park

Dec 20 & 21 (12 noon – 3pm) – Miners Christmas

Empire Mine State Historic Park

Dec 6 (11am – 4pm) – Holidays at Empire Mine

Hearst Castle

Nov 25 – Dec 30 – Holiday Twilight Tour

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

Dec 13 – 14 (10am – 4pm) – Christmas in Coloma

Shasta State Historic Park

Dec 6 (11am – 3pm) – Old-Time Holiday Celebration

Sonoma State Historic Park

Dec 13 (5pm – 8pm) – Holidays on the Northern Frontier

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park

Dec 20 & 21 (12 noon – 3pm) – Miners Christmas

Keep an eye out for First Day Hikes taking place in California State Parks

Indiana

Lieber State Recreation Area

Dec 5-7 and 12-14 (6pm – 9pm) – Lieber Winter Lights

Mounds State Park

Nov 28 – Dec 28 (6pm – 9pm, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) – Nights of Lights

Ouabache State Park

Nov 28 – Dec 26 (6pm – 9pm) – Wonderland of Lights

Spring Mill State Park

Dec 5-7 (6pm – 9:30pm) – Holiday in the Village

Versailles State Park

Dec 5 (5pm – 9pm) – Santa’s Lighted Forest

Massachusetts

Belle Isle Marsh

Nov 28 (10am – 11:15am) – Gratitude after Gravy

Massasoit State Park

Nov 28 (1pm – 3pm) – Gratitude after Gravy

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Nov 28 (12 noon – 2pm) – Gratitude after Gravy

Great Falls Discovery Center

Nov 28 (1pm – 2:30pm) – Gratitude after Gravy

Mount Holyoke Range State Park

Nov 28 (1pm – 3pm) – Gratitude after Gravy

Harold Parker State Forest

Nov 28 (10am – 12 noon) – Gratitude after Gravy

Wachusett Reservoir

Nov 28 & Nov 30 (1oam – 12 noon) – Gratitude after Gravy

Michigan

Maybury State Park

Dec 6 – 6pm (7:30pm) – Owl Prowl

Jan 1 – First Day Hikes

Minnesota

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Jan 1 – First Day Hike – Candlelight Hike

Itasca State Park

Dec 16 (8am – 4:30pm) – Itasca State Park Winter Bird Count

Lake Carlos State Park

Dec 28 (7:30am – 5pm) – Christmas Bird Count

Missouri

Arrow Rock State Historic Site

Dec 6 (5pm – 7pm) – Old-Fashioned Christmas

Bennett Spring State Park

Dec 13 – Geminid meteor shower viewing

Crowder State Park

Dec 14 (2pm – 4pm) – Old-Fashioned Christmas

Deutschheim State Historic Site

Dec 6-7 (10am – 4pm) – Weihnachtsfest

Dec 13-14 (10am – 4pm) Weihnachtsfest

Echo Bluff State Park

Dec 5 (7pm) – Tree Lighting and Salem Chamber Choir Performance

Elephant Rocks State Park

Dec 13 (5pm – midnight) – Geminid Meteor Shower viewing

Felix Vallé House State Historic Site

Dec 4-28 – Winter Traditions: An Exploration

Dec 6 (1pm – 8pm) – Le Réveillon

First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site

Dec 7 (4:30pm – 7pm) – Candlelight Christmas Concerts

Dec 13 (12 noon – 8pm) – A Very Peck Christmas: An Old-Time Shopping Experience

Dec 14 (12 noon – 5pm) – A Very Peck Christmas: An Old-Time Shopping Experience

Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site

Dec 13 (5pm – 7pm) – Christmas Open House

Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Dec 12 & Dec 13 (5:30pm – 8:30pm) – Candlelight Open House

Johnson’s Shut-ins State Park

Dec 5-7 – Frozen Chosin Challenge

Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site

Dec 6 (2pm – 6pm) – Ozark Christmas Traditions

Prairie State Park

Dec 6 (1pm) – Guided Bison Saunter

Roaring River State Park