
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
The Story of the Jackson Guards
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Made up of the best young men of Jackson County, the Jackson Guards, Company G, left Jacksonport with great fanfare May 5th, 1861, the day before Arkansas seceded from the Union. Young and…
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Animal Signs Hike
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Sometimes we don't see the animals that live at Lake Poinsett State Park because they're nocturnal or good at hiding. How else can we see signs of these critters at the park? Join a park interpreter…
Heart Healthy
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There's Something Fishy Going On
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join us to explore the anatomy of fish and the unique species found in Lake Frierson. Learn about where these fish live, how their features help them survive, and discover the diverse aquatic world…
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What is That?
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join the park interpreter for a game of furs and riddles and see if you can answer one of Lake Frierson State Park's most exciting questions: "What is that?"
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What's that Smell?
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Visit with a park interpreter to learn about the beautiful, but smelly striped skunks that call Arkansas home. What do they eat? How long do they live? Other than their odor, what makes them special?…
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Who Flooded the Lake?
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
What is pollution? How does it affect our waterways? Join a park interpreter for an interactive demo of what can happen when we dump things into waterways and lakes. How can we keep the fish in Lake…
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Guess That Critter!
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
How much do you know, or think you know, about the critters that make Jacksonport State Park their home? From mammals to birds to reptiles, this is a chance to hone your cognitive skills with other…
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Mr. Whitney’s Cotton Gin
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Cotton plants grow fluffy white bolls, but you can’t just pick them and turn them into cloth. Join a park interpreter to learn how one important machine built an entire industry in the past…
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Mammals of Lake Charles
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Join the park interpreter to learn about some of the local furbearing residents that call the park home. You will have the opportunity to feel the furs of various mammals as we discuss their…
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White Gold: Cotton in Jackson County
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Step into the past of Jackson County and discover the economic power of King Cotton. This white gold was the economic backbone of the south during the 19th century and allowed the people of Jackson…
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Go Outside and Play!
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Ball and cup, buzz saw, graces, and rolling hoops are just some of the toys that were used by pioneer children. Try your hand with these toys and learn about the life of a pioneer child. Even…
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Nature Journaling
Saturday, October 04, 2025
/ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Nature journaling isn't just about drawing! Join a park interpreter to learn a few different ways to nature journal and start your own journal about your time at Lake Poinsett State Park. Materials…
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Big Ben Trail Guided Hike
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Meet a park interpreter to learn about Village Creek State Park's history, listen to the stories behind the name of Ben, and acknowledge the power your actions can have here. This is a 0.5-mile…
Heart Healthy
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Early Birder Hike
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
It's early, but the birds are already up. Join a park interpreter for this leisurely hike down the Great Blue Heron Trail to try and spot some local birds and other wildlife. Bring binoculars if you…
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State Park Explorers: Discover, Protect, and Connect
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Join the park interpreter on a fun-filled adventure to become a State Park Explorer! This interactive program is designed for kids ages 6–14 to explore what state parks are, learn how to stay safe,…
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Talk Like A Sailor 101
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Have you ever wondered where some of the phrases we use came from? Surprisingly, many originated from steamboat lingo. Join a park interpreter and learn how these phrases may or may not have changed…
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Bug Out! - A Game of Bug Bingo
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join us for a fun, hands-on bug bingo adventure where kids and families learn to identify local insects and arthropods. Discover the important roles bugs play in the park’s ecosystem while exploring…
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Grab Bag Adventures
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Are you brave enough to stick your hand into the unknown depths of the nature grab bag and try to guess what's inside? Meet the park interpreter for this hilarious audience participation adventure…
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The Colors of History
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Before the invention of the synthetic dyes we use now, people used the plants, minerals, and sometimes the animals around them to color their clothes. Join a park interpreter to learn more about how…
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Preserving the Legacy
Sunday, October 05, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a special 2-hour open self-guided tour of the 1872 Courthouse Museum! Learn how Jacksonport became the county seat, what the building was used for after the county seat…
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