
Discover Events

Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Park
Categories
Regions
Legacy of Mather Lodge
Friday, December 26, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a tour of this architectural park gem. Discover some secrets of the past and gain insight into the undergone changes of one of Arkansas’ most treasured landmarks.
Read more
Legends of Petit Jean
Friday, December 26, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Petit Jean, a strange and fascinating mountain with many natural wonders, but that isn’t all that is fascinating. Meet a park interpreter to discover some stories surrounding the naming of this…
Read more
DIY Fire Starter
Friday, December 26, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Having trouble getting your campfire started? Join a park interpreter to learn fire-building techniques and how to make your own fire starter from materials around your home. We promise this…
Read more
Woodland Wandering
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Meet a park interpreter at the Bear Cave trailhead for a woodland wandering along the Boy Scout Trail. We will hike along the Boy Scout Trail across the Wild Hog Crossing and explore the…
Read more
Let's Make a Deal: Arkansas River Edition
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
In the early 1800s, the Arkansas River connected diverse communities through trade and exchange. Goods carried stories, relationships shaped survival, and every deal mattered. Meet a park…
Read more
Merry Mountain Biking 101
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Cane Creek State Park is the destination in December for fun-filled, hands-on demonstration of cycling. Meet a park interpreter to discover the working parts of your bicycle, as well as safety tips…
Read more
Bear Cave Hike
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Join a park interpreter for an interesting walk among the giant sandstone boulders and slot canyons of the Bear Cave area. This is a relatively easy 1/4-mile hike that is great for the whole…
Read more
Nosey Nelly
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Learning not to use our eyes and rely on our other senses is difficult for some. It can be a very rewarding experience if we give it a chance. Join the park interpreter in the visitor center…
Read more
Eagle Watch Cruise
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Looking for an adventure? Join a park interpreter for a guided eagle-watching cruise on DeGray Lake. We will spend the hour searching for wintering bald eagles, ospreys, loons, herons, grebes, ducks,…
Read more
Dutch Oven Cooking Taste Test
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
For centuries, the Dutch oven has been a staple cooking utensil of the people of Arkansas. The unique flavor and texture of food cooked in a cast-iron oven is unique and delicious. Meet a park…
Read more
Hibernation Look & Learn Table
Saturday, December 27, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Some of Lake Dardanelle State Park’s inhabitants hibernate through the winter, while others adapt to the cooler temperatures and stay active. Stop by the park interpreter’s Look & Learn Table at…
Read more
10-Minute Petit Jean Skills
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Want to level up your campfire game? Stop inside the Historic Mather Lodge where you’ll learn essential outdoor skills in just 10 minutes at a time! Whether it’s building the perfect camp,…
Read more
Wearable Water Cycle
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
As the Arkansas River journeys through Lake Dardanelle it continually shapes the land and creates opportunities for people like you. Discover the many stops a drop of water makes on its journey…
Read more
Firelight Reflections
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
As the new year approaches, take a moment to pause,
reflect, and prepare for fresh beginnings at Petit Jean State Park. Join a park interpreter in the cozy Mather Lodge lobby for a morning of…
Read more
Preserving the Legacy
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 3 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…
Read more
History in a Bag
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Exploration, opportunity, and progress forged the culture you find here today. Meet a park interpreter in the visitor center Orientation Room to play a game that will take you on a journey through the…
Read more
Eagle Watch Cruise
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Looking for an adventure? Join a park interpreter for a guided eagle-watching cruise on DeGray Lake. We will spend the hour searching for wintering bald eagles, ospreys, loons, herons, grebes, ducks,…
Read more
Makin' Tracks
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tracks, tracks everywhere, but not an animal in sight. That's ok! The tracks of animals can tell us a lot about how they live, how they look, and most importantly, where they've been! Meet a park…
Read more
Animal Tracks Look & Learn Table
Sunday, December 28, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
How can you tell an animal has been in the area without having seen it yourself? You can often find hints left behind. Stop by the park interpreter’s Look & Learn Table at the visitor center to…
Read more
Eagle Tour
Monday, December 29, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Lake Dardanelle State Park is proud to offer free winter lake cruises for the best chance of seeing our national symbol, the American bald eagle (weather permitting). Many other spectacular birds will…
Read more