
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
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…
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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…
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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
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Wildlife Hike
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
You can explore nature at this park because Lake Dardanelle State Park’s diverse habitats sustain many living creatures. Meadowbrook Trail is home to many of these creatures. Join a park interpreter…
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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…
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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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Dutch Oven Cooking Demo: Pizza and Popcorn
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Exhausted the recipes of leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Join us at Cane Creek State Park for pizza and popcorn at Pavilion 2! Experience the rich flavor and hearty texture that only cast-iron cooking…
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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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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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A Walk amongst the Fish
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Join park staff for a walk through the visitor center and look at the aquariums. Learn how to identify the many fish living in Lake Dardanelle.
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Stories Told in the Dark
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Gather ‘round the glow of the campfire with a park interpreter for an evening of storytelling under the night sky. From tall tales to local legends, these stories come to life in the flicker of…
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Game Scene Investigation: GSI
Saturday, November 29, 2025
/ 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
When you walk around in nature and you see a track, do you take the track at face value as just a footprint, or do you look around to see what the big picture holds? Join a park interpreter in the…
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The 10 Essentials Look and Learn Table
Sunday, November 30, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Ever been caught unprepared on an outdoor adventure? Stop by the park interpreter's Look and Learn Table at the visitor center to learn about the ten essentials every adventurer should have. Discover…
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Pelican Party
Sunday, November 30, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter in the grassy area across from the visitor center for a celebration of one of Lake Dardanelle State Park's most surprising seasonal visitors - the American white pelican!…
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What's for Lunch
Tuesday, December 02, 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