Paint a Pet Rock at Long Hunter State Park

Low stakes, high reward. Meet a ranger at Long Hunter State Park on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, pick a rock, and paint it into whatever it wants to be.

There is no wrong way to do this one, which is exactly why it works for a mixed-age group. Toddlers smear colour around happily; older kids get competitive about detail; adults quietly discover they are enjoying themselves.

Bringing kids? An hour is about the right length before small hands are done. Paint gets on clothes — dress accordingly. Rocks need a little time to dry before they ride home, so leave a few minutes at the end rather than sprinting for the car.

When: Sunday, September 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Long Hunter State Park, 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage
Cost: Free.

Worth knowing before you plan the whole day around the water: the boat house and fishing pier are closed until further notice for safety reasons. The trails, picnic areas and Couchville Lake loop are all open as normal.