
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Daybreak Diamond Tour
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Join a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center, lower level to walk through the search area and learn about the best places to search for diamonds. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of past…
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Art in the Park
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Memories are made here at Lake Catherine State Park! Join a park interpreter outside the nature cabin to discuss the natural beauty of Lake Catherine during this lakeside painting activity.
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Diamond Mining 101
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Meet a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center to learn the tricks of the trade at this demonstration of diamond searching methods!
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Tinkering for Tots
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Are you ready to
explore? Bring your young children to the Arkansas Museum of Natural
Resources for the monthly “Tinkering for Tots” program. This activity is
geared towards children ages 1-5. Through…
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Highpoint Hike
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Reaching the highpoint provides more than just bragging rights- it provides a sense of home and habitat! Join a park interpreter for a hike to the highest point in Arkansas. Seasonally appropriate…
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Snakes of Arkansas
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Snakes are an important resource here at Lake Catherine State Park. Meet Park Interpreter Jaden at the Nature Cabin to learn about the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes. Visitors…
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Owl's Last Supper
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
It's dissection time! Join a park interpreter at the nature cabin to discover the owls of Lake Catherine State Park and what makes them so special. We will be dissecting real owl pellets to take a…
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Finding Footprints Bingo
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Ever wonder who’s wandering through the woods when you’re not looking? Join a park interpreter to learn about Mount Magazine State Park’s wildlife by identifying their tracks and uncovering their…
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Daybreak Diamond Tour
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Join a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center, lower level to walk through the search area and learn about the best places to search for diamonds. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of past…
Heart Healthy
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Cane Pole Fishing
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Cane poles are an efficient and affordable tool for fishermen, both novice and expert. Join a park interpreter at the marina to tackle some fishing the old-fashioned way! Poles and bait will be…
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Lake Cruise
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Explore the wonders of Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River aboard the state park tour boat (weather permitting). Enjoy abundant wildlife, amazing history, and astounding views of the river valley…
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Burn Smart, Leave No Mark
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Campfires can warm the night and cook our meals, but they can also scar the land for years. Join a park interpreter for a guided activity about how to enjoy fire sustainably and responsibly. From…
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Diamond Mining 101
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Meet a park interpreter in the Diamond Discovery Center to learn the tricks of the trade at this demonstration of diamond searching methods!
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Arkansas Trivia
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
How much do you know about the Natural State? Join a park interpreter at the nature cabin for a fun game of Arkansas trivia. Put your knowledge to the test and compete for prizes!
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Oh, I am on a Mountain!: A Dripping Springs Trail Hike
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
While it’s great to immerse yourself in all the trees of Mount Magazine State Park, it can be easy to forget one is on Arkansas’ tallest mountain. A hike down Dripping Springs trail serves as one…
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Nifty Nests
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Just as humans live in different types of houses, birds live in different types of nests! Join a park interpreter to find out which birds live in what nests and how those nests compare to our own…
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Scenic Lake Tour
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lake Ouachita's immense size, pristine shoreline, and numerous islands offer breathtaking scenery that is unparalleled in the state. Enjoy a tour with a park interpreter as you explore the wildlife,…
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Nature Bookmarks
Thursday, September 18, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Do you like to read? Meet a park interpreter at the nature cabin to make a bookmark out of items found in nature.
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