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Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
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Pelican Party
Sunday, December 14, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 4:45 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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Purge the Privet
Monday, December 15, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater and help remove invasive privet to protect native habitats at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Learn to identify this harmful plant, then grab some gloves and…
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Eagle Tour
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 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…
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What's for Lunch
Tuesday, December 16, 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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Marsh Mystery
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
As the Arkansas River journeys through Lake Dardanelle, it continually shapes the land and creates opportunities for people like you. We have to be careful when enjoying these opportunities that we…
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Hidden Creatures
Tuesday, December 16, 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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Wild Women Wednesday Hiking Group
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Ladies, are you looking for someone to go hiking with? Join the Pinnacle Mountain Wild Women and a park interpreter for a hike on one of the Pinnacle Mountain State Park's gorgeous trails or a…
Heart Healthy
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Eagle Tour
Thursday, December 18, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 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…
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Cherokee Games
Thursday, December 18, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Have you ever wondered about the daily lives of the Cherokee who inhabited this area before removal, long before this area was a park? Meet a park interpreter in the grassy area across from the…
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Morning Bird Walk
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Join a park interpreter at the visitor center to take a walk through the area in search of our visiting birds. Even if you’ve never birded before, you can enjoy these creatures in a whole new way!
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Legacy of Mather Lodge
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 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.
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Catch of the Day
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 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 to…
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What's Up? A Deeper Look At Mount Magazine's Dark Skies
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mount Magazine State Park's very dark skies are quite an experience for both heart and mind. With the help of a park interpreter, take a deeper look into “the anatomy” of the vast space that is so…
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Legends of Petit Jean
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 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…
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Backyard Bird Cafe
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Winter is a beautiful time of year at Cane Creek State Park, and part of that beauty comes from the multitude of birds that migrate here in the cooler months. The best way to see these fascinating…
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Make a Snowflake
Friday, December 19, 2025
/ 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Relax and unwind as you learn about snow while making a fun and festive craft! Engage in a brief program with a park interpreter about the science of snow. Then enjoy crafting a beautiful snowflake…
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“Hands-On” Candle Making Workshop
Saturday, December 20, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us at Historic Washington State Park’s Candle Shop and
be part of a hands-on experience making candles and learning the history of
candle making. Not only will you make your own creations, but…
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Winter Workshop Series: Campfire Cooking Basics
Saturday, December 20, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater for a
class in campfire cooking basics. We will use multiple mechanisms to cook
outdoors – including cast iron over a campfire, Dutch ovens, and foil…
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Merry Makers Craft Day
Saturday, December 20, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Enjoy making charming crafts with your family while sipping hot cocoa or wassail and nibbling on holiday treats at Plantation Agriculture Museum's Merry Makers Craft Day. Create memories as well as…
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