Historic Area.

Get your hands dirty this special volunteer day in our historic garden! Our historic kitchen garden is an important tool for both education and fundraising at Sky Meadow’s State Park. This year we are redesigning and improving the garden to better allow for more interpretive and environmental activities in the space. Join us as part of April 2024’s “Let’s Volunteer Days” as we work to prep the garden for a new season! We’ll be moving compost and mulch into the garden, as well as removing sod from around the garden, fixing gates and fencing, and removing debris. No experience is needed. Work gloves and tools will be provided. Water, hat, sunscreen, and lunch/snack are encouraged. We need volunteers who are ready for manual labor with an incredible payoff! By the end of the day, you’ll witness the complete transformation of the space.

For additional details, please email [email protected].

Workday will be held rain or shine. In event of severe weather (heavy rain, lightning, etc.) we will step inside to let weather pass. If absolutely necessary, we will reschedule the event for the following weekend.

Parking fee waived.

More info:  540-592-3556, [email protected]

Picnic Area.

The appearance of frogs and salamanders is a sure sign of spring. Vernal pools, which are shallow pools of water that dry in the summer heat, provide a place for some very special amphibians to lay their eggs before returning to the land for the remainder of the year. Join a Virginia Master Naturalist on a visit to a vernal pool as we search for signs of these unique species. This guided three-tenths of a mile gentle walk will meet at the Sensory Explorers’ Trail in the picnic area and will last approximately one hour.

For more information on the Virginia Master Naturalists, please visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/ .

The Sensory Explorers’ Trail is open for self-guided walks daily for people of all ages and has adaptations for the blind and visually impaired. To learn more about this feature, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows#recreation .

$10/car parking fee.

More info: 540-592-3556, [email protected]

Join us for a Taste of Ovoka Farm Tour! Explore the farm and delve into its rich history, get to know our herd up-close, and experience what makes our F1 Wagyu cattle so special. Come walk and talk with us, learn about our farming practices, and get to know the team behind our Virginia-raised Wagyu beef.  Plus, enjoy a taste of our Ovoka F1 Wagyu Beef paired with local Virginia spirits!

Turn it into a true getaway and extend your visit with a farm stay at Ovoka Farm. Snuggle up in our cozy cabin or revel in historic luxury in the Manor Home and wake up to breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can learn more about our farm stays here. To book a single room in the Manor Home with a special tasting tour rate, select add-on ticket at checkout.

Tickets are limited.

Farm Tour Guidelines:

Dress Code: Please wear farm-appropriate clothing. Close toed shoes, layers, and sun protection are recommended. Our tours operate rain or shine, so dress accordingly to the forecast.
Farm Safety: Our facility is a fully operational, working farm. Please respect all posted signs indicating parking areas, designated pathways, and restricted zones. Your safety, as well as the safety of our animals and staff are very important to us. No pets. All ticket sales are final, no refunds.

Please review ALL info regarding your visit during the checkout process. We appreciate your cooperation in making your farm tour a fun, educational, and delicious experience for everyone.

Enjoy an intimate culinary experience at the Piedmont Club as we highlight the “Brand of Excellence” featuring Chef Pete Smith, Chef James Lockley, and Barrel Oak Winery!

Chef Pete Smith was a 2023 recipient of Root to Table’s Brand of Excellence. Chef Pete earned this distinction by making a huge impact on our community. He was instrumental in the success of our 2022 Winter Soup Program and has served faithfully as a member of our first Chef Advisory Board, where he helped coordinate the first-ever Salute to Women event and the Taste of Excellence series in July of 2023.

Enjoy a unique culinary experience where you’ll get to experience exceptional farm-to-table fare paired with award-winning wines!

Disclaimer: Please book soon, limited space available.

Overview: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation is pleased to host this unique opportunity for practicing artists to visit and paint, draw or create other works inspired by the beauty found within the formal walled garden of Rachel “Bunny” Mellon.

This event is designed for practicing artists, such as plein air painters or botanical illustrators, or other artists who work outdoors and who are able to bring their own supplies and materials. We are, therefore, requesting that only artists who are comfortable working independently register for this event.

This event does not include a formal site tour and artists will not have access to the Oak Spring Library or any other location outside of the formal walled garden.

What to Bring:

• Any and all necessary art supplies and materials
• An easel (if desired)
• A stool or folding chair to sit on
• Hat and/or sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Weather appropriate clothing
• Water bottle
• Snacks (if desired)

Overview: The Oak Spring landscape is full of hidden history – in the trees, the rocks, the rock walls, and the arrangement of forest and field. On this one-day program we will explore the countryside of Oak Spring and Rokeby and learn to see the landscape through a lens of history, and of contemporary ecology and the ways each one leads to the other. We’ll start with tree identification and build up from there as we get up close with the landscape.

What to Expect: This program is for anyone wanting to read more deeply into the local landscape. No prior experience in ecology is required. However, please expect several hours of moderate walking across hilly fields and similar uneven terrain (about 4 miles in total). Participants should arrive with proper footwear, sufficient water, and dress appropriately for the weather, rain or shine. Binoculars and digital cameras encouraged.

Complimentary Items: A boxed lunch will be provided. When purchasing ticket(s) for lunch, you will select either:

1) A turkey sandwich

Or

2) A gluten-free, vegan option

Exact menus will be determined closer to the date of the event. All lunches will include a small side such as a fruit salad, or chips. Please note that unfortunately, we can not accommodate specific dietary needs. If you have dietary restrictions and are unable to eat the provided lunch, please plan to pack a sack lunch.

Picnic Area.

Learn about birds of the woods and fields and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting. Join a Virginia Master Naturalist to discover our role and our impact on bird conservation. The featured species will be Wood Thrush, Red Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow. We hope to see these and many more! This guided three-tenths of a mile gentle walk will meet at the Sensory Explorers’ Trail in the picnic area and will last approximately one hour.

For more information on the Virginia Master Naturalists, please visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/ .

The Sensory Explorers’ Trail is open for self-guided walks daily for people of all ages and has adaptations for the blind and visually impaired. To learn more about this feature, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows#recreation .

$10/car parking fee.

Additional date: July 6, 2024. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

More info:  540-592-3556, [email protected]

Historic Area.

The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work showing off their skills. Members of the Blacksmiths’ Guild of the Potomac have set up shop in the forge, located behind the Dairy Barn in the Historic Area. See them fashion iron into helpful tools and kitchen items used around the farm. Purchase handmade goods made right on site. To learn more about the guild, visit https://bgop.org/ .

$10/car parking fee.

More info:  540-592-3556, [email protected]

Log Cabin in the Historic Area.

Follow your nose to the Log Cabin to see what is cooking on the hearth. Explore history through food and how it connects us to past generations. Explore farming practices of Virginians in the Crooked Run Valley and the influences of cooking traditions. Learn about the cooking methods of early European settlers and the African people who were enslaved here and were a part of life on this historic farm.

$10/car parking fee.

More info: 540-592-3556, [email protected]

Overview: Please join us this Mother’s Day weekend to celebrate the mother, grandmother or special woman in your life while enjoying the beauty of Mrs. Mellon’s spring garden. As muscicians play, indulge in a selection of fine teas and a variety of sweet and savory offerings prepared by our Chef Jason Neve. Garden party attire is recommended and guests should be prepared to walk .25 miles to and from the Formal garden across uneven surfaces and gravel. Please be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Tickets are extremely limited for this first time special event.

Please note: while this event is hosted in the Formal Garden, it does not include a guided tour of the property, Library, or landscape

Historic Area.

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park! Our evenings begin with a half-hour children’s “Junior Astronomer” program, followed by a discussion about the importance of dark skies and light conservation. Then join NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) Ambassadors for a presentation on the latest news in space research. Finish the evening by relaxing and enjoying the night’s beauty with the members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) as they open their telescopes to public observation. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and/or blankets. Feel free to bring your telescope or binoculars for your own exploration. To learn more about NOVAC and other local astronomy offerings, please visit https://www.novac.com/wp/observing/ .

To expedite your payment process, we encourage you to pay ahead online at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/daily-pass . The confirmation code must be presented at the gate. To learn more about the Virginia State Park Annual Pass, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/passes .

Entrance gates close one hour prior to the program end time. Exit gates remain open.

$10/car parking fee.

More info: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows, 540-592-3556, [email protected]

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a three course brunch by Provender Garden Kitchen with wine pairings by Slater Run.

 Ultimate Monte Cristo Sandwich
 Fried Chicken & Waffles
 Auntie’s Breakfast Bowl
 Gourmet BLT Sammich

+ Jackleg Pizza specials
Thick Crust, Pears, Gorgonzola, Honey
Veggie Pizza w/ White Sauce

Enjoy a lovely afternoon with Mom at our beautifully wooded winery. Arterra Wines is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Join us for a 12:00 or a 12:30 seating! Rain or Shine!! Choose from a Spinach and Cheese Quiche or Quiche Lorraine (bacon and cheese) along with a spring salad with lemon poppy seed dressing. Indulge in a lovely Dessert of Mixed fruit tart. Enjoy all of this with your choice of Arterra Wines. Tastings, glasses or bottles are available. Raise a glass to Mom! Cheers!

Overview: Join the Biodiversity Conservation Team for a biodiversity walk across the forests and meadows at OSGF. The morning will consist of a walking tour across parts of the 700-acre property to highlight spring flora and fauna as well as conservation land management practices implemented here at the foundation. Novice and seasoned wildlife watchers welcome.

The Oak Spring estate, protected by Paul and Bunny Mellon as part of a conservation easement, features a rich mixture of fields, meadows, woods, streams, and wetlands. OSGF is actively stewarding the land to protect and foster wildlife communities on the estate. In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, OSGF’s Biodiversity Conservation Team is actively working to inventory the diversity of plants and animals on site, cultivate their habitats, and share these biotic treasures with the public.

What to Expect:

Please expect several hours of moderate walking across hilly fields and similar uneven terrain. Participants should arrive with proper footwear, sufficient water, and dress appropriately for the weather, rain or shine. Binoculars and digital cameras encouraged.

Photo Release Statement: By attending this event, you consent to your likeness and image being used for ongoing promotional and marketing efforts.

Availability: This Biodiversity Walk will be capped at 15 participants. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis through Eventbrite until full.

Picnic Area.

Explore the rich natural history of trees guided by a Virginia Master Naturalist. Discover the tips and tricks of basic tree identification and the tree-mendous roles trees play in our environment. Discover the traditional uses and folklore of these wooden wonders. This guided three-tenths of a mile gentle walk will meet at the Sensory Explorers’ Trail in the Picnic Area and will last approximately one hour.

For more information on the Virginia Master Naturalists, please visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/ .

The Sensory Explorers’ Trail is open for self-guided walks daily for people of all ages and has adaptations for the blind and visually impaired. To learn more about this feature, visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows#recreation .

$10/car parking fee.

More info:  540-592-3556