July 2015 Community Calendar. Click the hyperlinks for more information.
History at Sunset
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is again hosting the popular Friday evening History at Sunset series.
July 10, 7 p.m.
Mayhem and Missed Opportunities: Chancellorsville’s Battle for the Bullock Road
Start at Chancellorsville Visitor Center, 9001 Plank Rd, Spotsylvania
Presentation by Frank O’Reilly and Beth Parnicza
July 17, 7 p.m.
Unleash the Thunder: Artillery Marye’s Heights
Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, 1013 Lafayette Blvd., Fredericksburg, Presentation by Frank O’Reilly and Peter Maugle. Includes firing demonstration.
July 24, 7 p.m.
History Interactive: The Legacy of War. Meet at the Bloody Angle
Tour Stop 3 at the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield, 9550 Grant Dr., Spotsylvania
Presentation by Beth Parnicza and John Hennessy
July 31, 7 p.m.
Belle Plain: Gateway to War
Meet at Belle Plains Boat Club, 984 Belle Plains Rd., Fredericksburg
Presentation by John Hennessy and Noel Harrison. Bring a lawn chair.
Caroline County Agricultural Fair
July 8 – 11
Caroline County Fairgrounds, 8332 County Fair Lane, Ruther Glen
Carnival rides, Circus Stella, live music, entertainment, food and fun.
Admission is $5. Free admission for kids 10 and under.
12th Annual Family Fun Festival- Ron Rosner Family YMCA
Saturday, July 11, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ron Rosner Family YMCA, 5700 Smith Station Rd., Fredericksburg
This is a FREE community event that has activities for the entire family. There will be carnival games with prizes, a moon bounce, face painting, vendors, crafts, family style aerobics, bike rodeo, community yard sale, and open swim. Too hot or raining, most of our activities are indoors. Bring your swimsuit and get ready for lots of family fun.
Mineral Bluegrass Festival
July 16 – 19, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Walton Park, 81 Louisa Ave., Mineral, Va.
All you need to bring is a lawn chair. There will be food, beverages and music.
Advance sale tickets (through July 9) are $25. At the gate, tickets are $30. There are three-day passes and camping passes available.
Capital Ale House National Beer Expo
July 16 – 18 in Richmond
Taste 200+ craft beers from Virginia and the U.S., and mix and mingle with local and national brewery owners, brew masters and representatives.
The Walk-Around Grand Tasting is the best opportunity to taste artisan-made American craft beer. The tasting will be held indoors at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. There will also be brewery parties, a culinary walking tour of Church Hill, educational seminars and more. Tickets prices vary.
Historicon – Historical Miniatures Gaming Society Annual Convention
July 16 – 19, 8 a.m. through the “wee hours”
Fredericksburg Expo Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg
This year’s theme: End of empires throughout history.
Each year HISTORICON draws more than 3,500 people from around the world and around 100 vendors offering everything you need to recreate military battles from across history or alternate battles drawn from your own imagination. There are tournaments, seminars and a Hobby University of painting classes and events.
Belle Grove Plantation Amazing Race 2015
Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Belle Grove Plantation at Port Conway, 9221 Belle Grove Dr., King George
The birthplace of James Madison is now an historic site, B&B, and special events venue.
Teams of two to four will travel to King George, Caroline and Westmoreland counties to earn points completing location challenges.
The Finish Line Celebration and Award Ceremony is open to the public, with food, fun and music.
Teams are still forming. $25 per team member. Complete the form by Sunday, July 12, at the website.
Proceeds go toward preservation of the historic out buildings on the plantation.
Colonial Games and Puzzles at the Rising Sun Tavern
July 18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Rising Sun Tavern, 1304 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg
Staff of the Rising Sun Tavern, one of the properties owned and managed by Washington Heritage Museums, will interact with visitors of all ages in playing games and working/making puzzles that were popular in the early days of America. Free.
Stafford Songfest Sunday
Sunday, July 19, 3 – 5 p.m.
Darkwater Redemption will perform classic country favorites on Celebration Stage at John Lee Pratt Memorial Park in Stafford. Admission is $10 per car. Bring a picnic or purchase food from the concessions will be available. Concerts will be held rain or shine.
Lake Anna Sunset Concert
Saturday, July 25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Lake Anna Point Marina, 13703 Anna Point Lane, Mineral, Va.
Live music and the great views of Lake Anna’s famed sunsets. Food, wine and beer are available for purchase. Come by boat or land. Fun for the whole family.
Free admission.
Old Fashioned Peach Festival
July 25 – 26
Carter Mountain Orchard, 1435 Carter Mountain Trail, Charlottesville
A weekend of old-fashioned fun! Games and activities for children, hayrides, Carter Mountain Orchard Peach Princess contest, pie eating contests, food, wine tastings, and more. Free admission and parking, activities by fee.
Virginia Freefly Skydiving Festival
Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Orange County Airport, 11339 Bloomsbury Rd., Orange
Come watch Free-fly and Tandem skydiving, Wingsuit pilots, free-fall formation skydiving, skydiving certification course and wing suit school students, and Skydive Orange skydiving professionals.
Watch for free.
You can also skydive. Skydive Orange will be offering their Easy Tandem First Time Skydives from 13,500 feet.
Shakespeare in the Park
Thursday July 30, and Friday, July 31, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.
Spotsylvania Courthouse Village, 9010 Old Battlefield Blvd., Spotsylvania
Performed by Stage Door Productions
Food sales are available on site.
Free.
Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair: Sites, Sounds and Tastes of Summer
July 31 – August 9
Founded in 1738, Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair is the oldest fair in the United States. Celebrate traditional fair events, contests, entertainment, food and fun for the whole family. Monster Truck Show on opening night.
General admission:
Age three and under are free.
Ages 4 to 59, admission is $8.
Ages 60 and older, admission is $6.
Saturday, Aug. 1, is “Military Appreciation Day.” One (1) complimentary daily admission ticket on August 1, with a valid military ID.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, is “Half Off Tuesday.” All general admission tickets are $4.
More Events
UMW Summer Events 2015
First Friday History Trivia Nights
Spotsylvania Courthouse Village Summer Performances 2015
Music on the Steps 2015 Schedule
The Majesty of America in Music: Fredericksburg Community Concert Band 2015 Performances
Summer Concert Series to Continue Despite Museum’s Financial Woes Includes Concert Schedule
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