The holiday season is a great time to explore our parks. From light shows to night hikes, ranger demonstrations to campouts, you’ll find something for everyone this holiday season.
I’ve compiled activities from parks around the country. 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
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
Luc que Parle State Park
Jan 3 (6pm – 8pm) – Lac que Parle State Park Candlelight Hike
Luce Line State Trail
Jan 2 (5pm – 8pm) – Luce Line State Trail Candlelight Walk
Whitewater State Park
Jan 1 (8am – 12 noon) – Whitewater River Valley Annual Christmas Bird Count
New Jersey
Bass River State Forest
Nov 29 (10am) – The Post Gobble Wobble
Liberty State Park
Dec 6 (11am) – Holiday Pomanders Workshop
Dec 28 (11am) – Evergreen Walk and Craft
Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Site
Dec 6 (11am) – Hessians on St. Nicholas Day: 4th Annual Reenactment of the Arrest of Derrick Van Veghten, 1776
Dec 31 (2pm) – « Je me souviens » The Last Day of the First Year of the Revolutionary War
Washington Crossing State Park
Dec 25 (12:30pm) – Christmas Day Crossing Reenactment
Whitesbog Village
Dec 13, 14 (10am) – YULE! Viking and Winter Holiday Traditions