
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
All about Turkey!
Sunday, November 23, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Learn all about the animal commonly associated with Thanksgiving: the turkey! Learn about this bird's habitat, diet, and behavior! Then, make a fun turkey-themed craft!
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Cotton Ginning Demonstration
Sunday, November 23, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
How many of us have heard of the cotton gin? You might even know the name of the man credited with inventing the machine. But do you actually know
what a cotton gin does and how it works? Join…
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Visitor Center Explorers
Sunday, November 23, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Escape the weather and visit a park interpreter at the visitor center! Explore our sensory station with furs of local animals, learn about reptiles and turtles, and experience many other wonders that…
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What's for Lunch
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
/ 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
We have 8,000 gallons of aquariums, filled with many of the fish species found in Lake Dardanelle. Join park staff in the visitor center as they feed the fish live food. See for yourself, what’s for…
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Hidden Creatures
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Humans wear camouflage to blend in while hunting and sometimes just for style, but animals have to use camouflage to survive in the wild. Meet a park interpreter in the visitor center Orientation Room…
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Feeding Frenzy
Thursday, November 27, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what our resident reptiles like to eat or how we prepare their meals? Join the park interpreter for a behind-the-scenes look at feeding time as we explore the unique diets and…
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Opt Outside Battlefield Tour
Friday, November 28, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Lives were forever changed here on December 7, 1862. Join us for a 1-mile walk along the ridgeline where the heaviest fighting occurred during the Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove. Meet at the Borden…
Heart Healthy
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Opt Outside Historic House Tour
Friday, November 28, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
The families who settled here long before the Civil War share many of the same values and traditions we hold today. Explore the similarities and differences between our ways of life on this guided…
Heart Healthy
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Opt Outside Battlefield Tour
Friday, November 28, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Lives were forever changed here on December 7, 1862. Join us for a 1-mile walk along the ridgeline where the heaviest fighting occurred during the Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove. Meet at the Borden…
Heart Healthy
Read more

Eco-Artistry: Leaf Printed Coasters
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Take time to enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds Camp Ouachita while creating a craft. At this program, you will learn the trees that are above us by looking at their leaves. Then, you will…
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Cotton Ginning Demonstration
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
How many of us have heard of the cotton gin? You might even know the name of the man credited with inventing the machine. But do you actually know
what a cotton gin does and how it works? Join…
Read more
Campground Wildlife Look & Learn Table
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The diverse habitats in and around Lake Dardanelle State Park create many opportunities to see unique wildlife. The wildlife you encounter while camping may be the most memorable part of your trip.…
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What's for Lunch
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
We have 8,000 gallons of aquariums, filled with many of the fish species found in Lake Dardanelle. Join park staff in the visitor center as they feed the fish live food. See for yourself, what’s for…
Read more
Catch of the Day
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Thanks to the healthy fishery of Lake Dardanelle, you can experience the thrill of nature and the success of the catch. Join a park interpreter in the grassy area across from the visitor center…
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Arkansas State Park Jeopardy
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Are you an Arkansas State Park fan? Test your knowledge about The Natural State and the parks inside with this nature-themed jeopardy! Bring your family and see who can get the most points in this…
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Survival Sips
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
What would you do if your only water source was a muddy puddle? Join a park interpreter in the grassy area between the visitor center and the weigh-in pavilion to explore how clean water…
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Cotton Ginning Demonstration
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
How many of us have heard of the cotton gin? You might even know the name of the man credited with inventing the machine. But do you actually know
what a cotton gin does and how it works? Join…
Read more
Great Migration Challenge
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Each year, over 350 bird species travel hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles to find the food they need to survive. Lake Dardanelle State Park makes a perfect place for them to find this food and…
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