Chippokes State Park Events – June

Chippokes State Park Events for February

Chippokes is one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. A working farm since 1619, the park offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era. Visitors tour the historic area with its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens, and view antique equipment at the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. They have a campground and four overnight cabins allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds. The park has a visitor center with a gift shop. It also provides opportunities to bike, hike, ride horseback and picnic.

If you are coming from the Williamsburg side of the James River just hop on the free Jamestown Ferry. The ferry ride is part of the fun! Keep reading for the programming this month…

🐟 Seining & Aquatic Exploration

• Seining on the James
  📅 June 13 & 28 | ⏰ 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
  📍 College Run Trail Beach Access
  Come explore aquatic life in the James River! Net creatures and learn about local ecosystems.

🏛️ Historic House Tours & Demos

• Jones–Stewart Mansion Tours
  📅 June 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 | ⏰ 12:30 PM–3:30 PM
  📍 Jones–Stewart Mansion
  Dive into rich history: architecture, ornate décor, furnishings, and the personal stories behind the walls.
• River House Tour
  📅 June 15 | ⏰ 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
  📍 River House
  Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore the oldest dwelling on the grounds.
  What do the remnants of this building tell us of a time much different than today? What do we know about this particular dwelling? Participants will discover how specific architectural details and designs of the River House reveal glimpses into the lives of those who worked and lived here at Chippokes over its lifetime as a working Farm and Plantation. 
  Please note the tour requires careful navigation through several sets of old staircases. This is a historical building and we hope to continue to share it for many more years, children should be close-by and with their adult counterparts at all times, please be mindful and respectful, and stay with your interpretive tour guide.
• Brick Kitchen / Hearth Cooking Demonstrations
  📅 June 21 | ⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM & 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
  📍 Jones–Stewart Mansion Brick Kitchen
  Watch costumed interpreters recreate colonial cooking techniques using the original brick kitchen.

⛳ Guided Walks & History Treks

• Walking Tour: Lives of Quarter Lane
  📅 June 19 | ⏰ 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
  📍 Farm & Forestry Museum
  Ranger-led journey along Quarter Lane, exploring stories of enslaved and tenant farmer families.
• Chippoax Trace Trail Trek
  📅 June 22 & 27 | ⏰ 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
  📍 Chippoax Trace Trailhead
  Explore remnants of a historic roadway—learn about early paths, native people, myths, and natural history.

🦴 Fossil Fun

• Messages From Fossils
  📅 June 20 | ⏰ 1:00 PM–1:30 PM
  📍 Quayle Classroom
  Discover local prehistoric history through real fossils found right on our beaches.
• Excursion: Fossils of the James
  📅 June 20 | ⏰ 1:30 PM–3:00 PM & June 29 | ⏰ 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
  📍 College Run Trail Beach Access
  Explore the fossil beds—imagine when Chippokes and the Tidewaters lay beneath the ancient Claremont Manor Sea.

🔥 Evening Fun & Releases

• Welcome Campfire
  📅 June 21 | ⏰ 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
  📍 Campground
  Campers: join the ranger-led evening campfire for s’mores, stories, and relaxation in the great outdoors