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Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
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Watercolor by the Water's Edge
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a lakeside painting session where water meets color! Whether you're a seasoned artist or picking up a brush for the first time, this program is for all skill levels.…
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Light It Up
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
The power of the Arkansas River lights up your world and life in the river valley every day. Meet a park interpreter in the grassy area across from the visitor center to learn how the Arkansas River…
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Bird Island Tour
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Lake Ouachita State Park provides remarkable habitat for migrating birds. Join us aboard our tour boat as we venture out to Bird Island. Here we are treated to a Lake Ouachita State Park sunset as we…
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Birding 101
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Interested in birding but not sure where to start? Join a park interpreter for an introduction to birding basics at the visitor center breezeway. We will take an easy walk around the visitor center…
Heart Healthy
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Owl Prowl Adventure Cruise
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 7:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Join us for this nocturnal adventure across the lake. We will journey by boat to a remote cove where we will try and call up some owls and listen to the other sounds of the night.…
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Campfire Trivia and Stories
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 8 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater for an
evening of Petit Jean State Park trivia. While we enjoy the mountain air, we will be sharing
some legends of the mountain and a good old-fashioned…
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Pathfinders: Pioneers of the Pedal
Sunday, July 27, 2025
/ 8:30 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.
Mountain biking has a
rich history, with its early roots dating back to the late 19th
century in Ft Missoula, Montana, and evolving into a thriving contemporary
scene. Join Assistant Superintendent…
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Cedar Falls Hike
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
To know Petit Jean State Park, you must know Cedar Falls. Join a park interpreter to hike down to the foot of Arkansas’s most iconic waterfall! The Cedar Falls Hike is 2-miles round trip,…
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Wake Up with SUP - (Stand Up Paddleboarding for Beginners)
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Seeking a little serenity? Find your sense of calm while standing above the beautiful, clear waters of DeGray Lake. Stand up paddleboarding is one of the fastest-growing recreational sports. Join a…
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Ridge Exploration Hike
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Discover the unique habitat of Crowley's Ridge as we hike through the forest and see how the plant life changes from cottonwoods and sycamores near the creek beds at the bottom of the ridge to more…
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Highpoint Hike
Monday, July 28, 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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Diamond Mining 101
Monday, July 28, 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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Birding from Shepherd Springs Road
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Sometimes the best birding comes from pulling over on the side of the road in an area of prime habitat. Join a park interpreter for a carpool road trip down Shepherd Springs Road to bird from the…
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Woolly Cabin Tour
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Love history? Join a park interpreter to learn more about our local history while touring the 143-year-old Woolly Cabin! The inside of the cabin can only be viewed during tours, so don’t…
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Dragonfly Flyby
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
What is there to know about these tiny aerial acrobats? Meet a park interpreter and discover it yourself! Be sure to wear clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty. We will provide nets…
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Clouds: Friend or Foe? Tabletop
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Clouds are part of our atmosphere and have a big
impact, whether for good or bad, on us and our environment. Discover more about
these “puffballs” in the sky and other weather-related phenomena from a…
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Name that Fish
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
How familiar are you with the fish that live in the lakes and rivers of Mississippi River State Park? Stop by to test your skills at identifying some of the fish that are found in these bodies of…
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Boy Scout Trail Adventure
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a hike to one of the most scenic and hidden overlooks in the park. Along the way we will explore a rock glade, identify different plants, and admire the beauty of Cedar…
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Let's Go Birding!
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lake Fort Smith State Park is home to many kinds of birds from vultures to warblers. Meet a park interpreter to go on a birding stroll to look for the many birds in the park. Binoculars are provided.…
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DIY Wire Wrap Rock Picture Holder
Monday, July 28, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Ever wonder what to do with the rocks you take home from the Crater of Diamonds State Park search area? Join a park interpreter to make your very own rock picture holder using your finds from the…
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