Potomac Overlook Regional Park

10/21/2026

Looking to get spooked? Do you get the heebie jeebies upon seeing slithery serpents? Come scare yourself silly at our Spooky Serpents event and get an up-close look at the amazing snakes that call the nature center home. You’ll even watch a Naturalist feed them some tasty mice! You’re bound to go hiss-terical at this program.

Program meets October 30th from 7-8:30pm. $7 per participant for ages 7 and up. To learn more and register, follow the link to our event page here: https://bit.ly/4yxJafq

10/17/2026

Our nature center auditorium is the perfect spot to host your loved one’s birthday party! Parties are Saturdays and Sundays with rental blocks of 10am-1pm and 1:30-4:30pm and include a hands-on animal talk led by a naturalist, three-hour use of the auditorium, and more. To learn more and book your party today, follow the link below:
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/potomac-overlook-regional-park/things-to-do/birthday-parties

10/13/2026

Meet live animals up-close this Halloween during our special “Not-so-Spooky” Animal Encounters event! Participants will get to learn about and interact with some of the “scary” animals that call the park home, and see if they’re really that scary after all. Stop by the nature center anytime between 1:30 and 3:30pm on October 25th, the Roving Naturalist and critters look forward to meeting you! Event is FREE and all ages welcome. No reservations needed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Event is FREE and all ages welcome. No reservations needed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

10/10/2026

Ever wonder which spooky local legends roam these woods after dark? At our Cryptids of the DMV program, you’ll join us for an after-hours nature walk exploring the DMV’s most haunting creatures, from the Clifton Bunny Man to the Maryland Snallygaster. Uncover the origins of these eerie tales, learn about the real animals that may have inspired them, and decide for yourself whether these cryptids could still be lurking nearby.

Program meets October 24th from 7-8:30pm. $10 per participant for ages 12 and up. To learn more and register, follow the link to our event page here: https://bit.ly/4gXiGOF

10/04/2026

Our picnic shelter is the perfect spot to host an outdoor gathering! This space is equipped with picnic tables, restrooms, a grill and even a playground. Shelter reservations include use of the space for up to 8 hours (9am-5:30pm) for as little as $135 total. To learn more and book your event today, follow the link below:
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/potomac-overlook-regional-park/things-to-do/picnic-shelter

10/03/2026

Potomac Overlook is thrilled to announce the arrival of a new avian friend!! This beautiful, non-releasable Broad-winged Hawk was transferred from the Raptor Education Group, Inc in Wisconsin to our facility and is settling in quite well to their new home. However, this lovely bird does not currently have a name, and we need your help! We have narrowed our name selections down to the following:

Mr. Peeps
Talon
Wingston
Ace
Chester
Zephyr

Please comment below with your vote no later than October 25th, and we will announce the winner the following day. Be sure to swing by the raptor enclosures at our park in the meantime to say hello to our newest bird of prey!

10/02/2026

Join us for our Learn to Letterbox: Halloween Edition program for some spooky fun! Letterboxing is a family-friendly scavenger hunt style adventure that takes you to interesting locations all over the world solving clues and searching for hidden treasures! Participants will learn where to find the clues, how to decipher them and receive hints on what to look for. Then off on an adventure around the park to find the boxes hidden here! Participants will also get a chance to carve their own personal stamp and receive an introductory logbook!

Program meets October 12th from 2-3:30pm. $12 per participant for ages 7 and up. To learn more and register, follow the link to our event page here: https://bit.ly/4rlvfHi

09/30/2026

We’re excited to have been voted the best park in Arlington by readers of ARLnow! Thank you very much to everyone who voted and recognized us. Whether you’re a first-time patron or have been coming for years, we hope you enjoy your visit and look forward to seeing you out here! To see the full list, follow the link to the ARLnow article here:

Arlington’s parks are one of its most popular assets, attracting visitors year-round to every corner of the county. Here are the top parks in Arlington, Virginia, as chosen by readers. Whether you’re after a quiet hike, a playground for the kids or a front-row seat to planes landing at National ...

09/28/2026

Capture the colors of the season in a nature art class just for adults! At the Fall Leaf Workshop of our Art in the Park series, participants will have the opportunity to learn a little more about the different types of hardwood trees that call Potomac Overlook home, then use some of their fallen leaves to create unique mono-prints using gel plates and acrylic paint.

Program meets October 5th from 4:30-6:30pm. $20 per participant for ages 18 and up. To learn more and register, follow the link to our event page here: https://bit.ly/4hwtDa4