As many of you may know, our CEO, Kevin Breen, is Irish so we love celebrating all things Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day! It’s almost here so pick out your best all-green outfits, grab some friends and make your weekend plans! Here are our picks for the best St. Patty’s Day events in the Fredericksburg region this weekend:
Bring your friends and family to Riverfront Park in beautiful downtown Fredericksburg for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Mar 17, 2018. The event includes music from three exciting bands, food trucks, local vendors, and of course, craft beer from local breweries.
The live music lineup features the Jack Dunlap Band playing traditional Irish music and local favorites Feathered Fish and Cabin Creek.
Participating breweries include Spencer Devon Brewing, Adventure Brewing, and 6 Bears and a Goat, Strangeways Brewing, Ono Brewing Company, Caboose Brewing, James River Brewing, and Right Proper Brewing.
The food truck lineup includes Jaun More Taco, Kool Zone Grille and UFO.
Field games like cornhole, disc golf and can jam will be set up throughout Riverfront Park.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Nondrinkers are free. Tickets include a free festival tasting glass, five six-ounce tasting tickets and an unbelievable concert lineup. Additional beer tickets will be available.
Visit https://www.universe.com/events/HJL92Q?embed=open&ref=universe_facebook_push&eventref=fb_oea for more information and to get tickets
The 16th Annual Jeff Fitzpatrick St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts off at NOON, includes fire trucks, classic cars, high school marching band, community organizations, Irish dancers, horses, military equipment and local pageant winners. The parade starts at Joseph Mills Dr and Main St in the Bowman’s Industrial Park. The parade ends at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, where we will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Festival including local vendors, live music and entertainment, family-friendly activities, food from local food trucks, and of course, plenty of beer. We will be collecting food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
Participating Food Trucks: Beverley’s Ribinator BBQ, 716 Slice, The UFO Truck, Outback Steak House
Music by: Whiskey Revival, Fat Stanley
Participating Vendors: Amy-Lou’s, Auntie Alice’s Kettle Corn, A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Daddy G’s Craft Salsas, Devilish Delights Desserts and Ice Cream, Greyt Hearts Service Dogs, The Lipchic Cafe, Strength & Honor Motorcycle Club, Stubborn Mule Rustic Designs, Twin Peaks Workshop, All About the Beverage, Rivah Southern, Tarica’s Adventures, Independent Damsel Pro Director, Hilary Pullen
Thank you to our Community Partners: Fredericksburg Brew Fest
Ample parking. This event is at the Spotsylvania County Business Park, a mile from downtown Fredericksburg.
Get ready to get sweaty with Fredericksburg’s homegrown street brass band! The Colonial Tavern is doing it up right for St. Patrick’s Day with music starting and noon and going deep into the night. Elby Brass hits the stage at 9 PM, be sure to be there with your dancing shoes on. $5 cover, 21+ only.
St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching! We’ll be celebrating the best way we know how…. with great craft beer, music, and food!
*We’ll be releasing our Irish Red: 5.6% ABV/23 IBU. An easy-drinking pint. Malt-focused with an initial sweetness and a roasted dryness in the finish. The perfect way to celebrate.
*Live music from two of our favorites: Marc Allred Music will be kicking things off from 4:30 – 6:30pm. Next, Karen Jonas Music plays from 7:30 – 10:00pm
*Our Pitmaster will also be serving up some amazingly tasty Corned Beef Sandwiches in addition to our regular menu. Nuff said!
Hogshead Cigar Lounge will also be here selling cigars with a lounge set up outside!
The First 100 people in the door get the chance to purchase a special edition St. Patrick’s Day themed pint glass!
Raise money for an awesome cause without even breaking a sweat at Adventure Brewing’s 0.5K Couch Potato Run. That’s right– unlike most races, there’s a ZERO and a DECIMAL before the “5”. So whether you’re a seasoned runner or a true couch spud, all are invited to run, walk, skip, jump, blade, or cartwheel down Main Street in your most festive St. Patrick’s Day duds.
$20 entry fee includes a post-race “Kegs and Eggs” breakfast buffet, a free pint glass, (1) complimentary fill of beer, and a generous donation to local volunteer fire and rescue squads.
$15 entry fee (under 21) includes the race and the “Kegs and Eggs” buffet only, with a generous portion of that fee also going to local fire and rescue.
Ages 5 and under are free
Superhero costumes, technicolor tutus, painted faces, pimped out wagons and strollers, and green on your EVERYTHING is highly encouraged! Prizes will be awarded for fastest time, best individual costume, and best group theme.
Get your tickets here: https://squareup.com/store/adventure-brewing-company
We will be giving out prizes!!! 1st place- $25 GC, Best Costume- $25 GC, Best Group- $50 GC
It’s the famous St. Patricks Day party at Hardtimes with the Worx. So come early, dress up in green and have some green drinks to go with the outfit. Party starts at 6:30 with the Jerry Wimmer Trio until 9 and 9:30 until 1:30 am with the Worx on the big stage.
It’s the spookiest time of year in the Burg! Grab your favorite ghouls and gals and plan your Halloween with our comprehensive list of Halloween parties, festivals and events! We’ve sorted them out into: “Super Scary” which are best for adults and teens, “Not-So-Scary” for kids and families and “Running Scared” which are 5Ks and running events!
Super Scary
Meet the Ghosts- Oct 27-29 and 30-31
From its Colonial past to the horrors of four major Civil War battles, Fredericksburg is one of the MOST haunted cities in America! Let the costumed guide navigate you through the paranormal combining the past with stories and folklore of the still lurking dead! Call 540-226-8378 to schedule a tour.
Fredericksburg Visitor Center Parking Lot, 706 Caroline St.
Belle Grove Plantation Paranormal Spooktacular- Oct 28
Paranormal Investigation with a paranormal team. Special All Hallows Eve Investigation on Halloween.
Belle Grove Plantation. 9221 Belle Grove Drive, King George, Virginia 22485. 540-621-7340. www.bellegroveplantation.com
Carriage Ghost Tour- Nightly in October
Fredericksburg, “America’s Most Historic City,” is also considered to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Join us to see if you can find any undead on one of our 60 minute carriage Ghost Tours through historic downtown Fredericksburg. This tour is appropriate for all ages, so bring the entire family to search for those who still walk the streets after death!
Halloween Haunt at KD- through Oct 29, starting at 7pm
Features ghastly creatures emerging from the darkness, highly-intense and bone-chilling attractions and some of the most hair-raising rides on the planet like the Intimidator 305 and Dominator roller coasters! NEW attractions this year! This event is not recommended for kids.
www.kingsdominion.com/play/haunt
Not-So-Scary
Fright Night in the Burg- Oct 26 5-7pm
Celebrate Halloween w/ a fun filled carnival and costume contests at the Dorothy Hart Community Ctr. Ages 3 – 5 will compete for most original and cutest while ages 6 – 8 and 9 – 11 will compete for most original and funniest! A family costume contest will take place and only one will be crowned “Best in the ‘Burg!” Judging will start at 6:15 pm, so be on time! Pre-registration recommended. Cost: $6. One adult is free w/ each paying child. $2 for each additional adult. www.fredericksburgva.gov/parksandrec
Belvedere Plantation Fall Harvest Festival–Oct 28-29
Get lost in the Maize Maze or just take pictures at the Pumpkin Patch! There’s plenty of fun and barnyard games to keep everyone in the family occupied! There’s also wagon rides and roaring campfires to wind the day down! Open Weekends Sep-Nov 4 and Tues-Fri during the week!
Treats in the Streets Downtown Fredericksburg-Oct 28 11-2pm
Trick-or-treating at downtown shops, and lots of fun at Riverfront Park! Learn safety tips for trick-or-treating and enjoy fun activities! Free!
Riverfront Park & Downtown Fredericksburg
4th Annual Fall Festival and Halloween Golf Cart Parade- Oct 28-29. 10 am – 5
The Colonial Beach Fall Festival includes craft and food vendors, pony and hay rides, games, inflatables, crafts, fire pit and ends with the Halloween Golf Cart Parade. Free!
Town Hill, Colonial Beach
F’burg Fall Family Festival- Oct 29 3 – 6 pm.
From hay rides to inflatables and carnival games, it’s fun for the entire family!
Spotsy Towne Centre. Free!
Spooky Stories- Oct 30 7pm
Listen if you dare to tales that will chill and thrill you, appropriate for grades K-6.
Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion- through Oct 29
Kings Dominion is not all scary in the fall. It’s all fun and no fear. Our daytime Halloween-themed events on select Saturdays and Sundays are geared towards children and families. Your favorite rides are also open during the day in Planet Snoopy. Kids Costumes are encouraged!
www.kingsdominion.com/play/great-pumpkin-fest
Creepy Crawly Carnival at Massad YMCA
Halloween festivities will once again be at the Massad Y! Games, haunted house, wicked fairy tales haunted trail ride, obstacle course, hay maze, pumpkin carving & more! Carnival area with crafts, games, treats and dancing.
Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Cost: $12/Adult & $6/Child. Buy tickets at www.mountvernon.org
Running Scared
Scare Away Dravet 5K -Oct 28 9a-noon
Let’s find a cure for this catastrophic form of Epilpesy and put Dravet Syndrome to rest. Dress up for trick or treating as there will be a costume contest and many other family friendly Halloween activities to be announced soon.
Grab your running gear, and prepare to run for your life. Chose to either be a survivor or a zombie as you navigate 5 kilometers of forest trails and roads, while negotiating obstacles. Zombies and survivors run on separate clocks, as the survivors get a 30 second head start and try to out run the living dead. Each runner will have a life belt, and the zombies will try to take flags from it. Each flag taken adds 5 seconds to the survivors time, and takes 5 seconds from the zombies time. Registration is $25 for both survivors and zombies. All proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. For more information contact Caledon State Park, or Justyn Cox the race director at 540-205-5300 or howlincoyote10k@hotmail.com
Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George
Halloween 5K & Monster Mile- Oct 28. 7:30 – 10 am. Get EXCITED because the most spooktacular race in the Stafford area is back with a new course this year! Prizes for the top finishers and best costumes! Put on your favorite costume, lace up your running shoes, and join us for our 2nd Annual Halloween 5K and Monster Mile!
Once you’ve ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the National Christmas Tree and driven past the White House all decked out in holiday finery, make like a Northern Virginia native and check these classic Christmas activities off your list!
Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink
Grab a hot cocoa and some friends for a spin around the rink at the Sculpture Garden, surrounded by huge contemporary sculptures and twinkle lights! If it gets a little too cold, you can hop off the rink and head to the Pavilion Cafe for a snack. Even though the Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed on December 25, this would be a really fun pre-Christmas activity to do with the whole family!
Christmas at a Historic Mansion
Virginia is chock-full of historic mansions but there are two that deserve special recognition for their Christmas decorations! Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, takes the cake for their themed decorations (including 12 Christmas trees), historical chocolate-making demonstrations, and 18th-century dancing. Mount Vernon is amazing all year round, but is truly magical at Christmas-time—definitely a must-do for history buffs!
Oatlands Plantation is a little out of the way but so worth the drive! The historic plantation is all decked out for Christmas and the formally terraced garden with boxwood alleys and reflecting pool is gorgeous in every season! Architecture lovers will appreciate the original 19th-century walls and the second oldest greenhouse in the country. Stop by their Carriage House to sample their traditional holiday teas! Admission is free but Oatlands is closed on Dec 24 & 25!
Jingle Bell Carriage Rides!
Experience one of the “most magical Christmas towns in Virginia” for yourself from the backseat of a horse-drawn carriage! Our historic Downtown’s twinkling Christmas lights illuminate the decorated shop windows and festive wreaths, and there are plenty of cute coffee shops and locally-owned restaurants where you can stop in after your romantic carriage ride to warm up!
Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibit
After you’ve visited the venerable Mount Vernon, take a trip down to George Washington’s boyhood home at Ferry Farm! For 26 years, they’ve hosted a Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibit at Christmas where you can admire the gingerbread creations or try your hand at making your own! They’re closed on December 24 & 25 but this would be a great way to keep your out-of-town visitors busy in the meantime!
Bull Run Festival of Lights
One of the warmest ways to enjoy the holiday season—pile into the car and admire the sparkling lights and music! They’re open during Christmas if you need something to do while waiting for Old Saint Nick!
ZooLights
One of my personal favorite Christmas activities, Zoolights, is fun for all ages! The National Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland at night with over 500,000 LED lights! See the imaginative light displays all around the Zoo and enjoy live music and holiday treats!
US Botanical Garden Christmas Display
The Botanical Garden is home to one of the largest indoor decorated trees in DC, a beautiful showcase of poinsettias and an extremely detailed toy train display in the East Gallery! Another popular display is the miniature re-creations of DC landmarks made out of plants in the Garden Court!
Christmas Day Organ Recital
If you’ve been singing Christmas songs since Halloween, this one’s for you! Make sure to show up early for the Christmas Day Organ Recital at the National Cathedral! This is a truly awe-inspiring event and definitely a DC bucket list item!
Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
“This year, we at Coldwell Banker are celebrating Halloween at home through the lens of one woman’s memory of Halloweens past and how it shapes her home today. From graveyards in front yards to chaos in the hallways and an overactive doorbell, there are elements that I’m sure each of us can relate to from our own memories of home.”
Halloween is a special day at home. The house is filled with fun and laughter which is the best treat you can ask for. This is where traditions are born. This is home.
