Spotsylvania County will celebrate two major milestones this summer when the 20th annual Stars & Stripes Spectacular returns to the historic Courthouse District on June 27.
The free event, held from 4–10 p.m., will mark both the 20th anniversary of the county’s signature Independence Day celebration and the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. As many as 15,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which stretches across Spotsylvania Courthouse, the Holbert building, Spotsylvania Elementary School and Spotsylvania Courthouse Village.
“As our country reflects on its 250-year history, Spotsylvania is proud to mark 20 years of our own premier patriotic tradition,” said Spotsylvania County Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Brooks. “We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with our community.”
The celebration will feature four stages of live music and entertainment, living history interpreters and nearly 50 food and business vendors, as well as a variety of children’s activities, including a mechanical bull, face painting and inflatables.
Spotsylvania County Museum staff, dressed in Colonial-era attire, will share county history from the Revolutionary-era and beyond during their free tours of the Historic Courthouse and the 1855 Jail.
Musical ensemble Colonial Faire will take to the Children’s Stage to perform songs of Colonial America from 4:30-5 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m. Members will roam the Courthouse lawn after their performance.
Attendees will have a chance to learn about Revolutionary culture and history via interpreter Dennis Loba, who will portray Brigadier-General Alexander Spotswood, the grandson of Spotsylvania County’s founder and namesake.
The Bull Run Cloggers will take the Bluegrass Stage from 6 to 6:30 p.m., bringing their energetic Appalachian clogging traditions to the audience. Dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Appalachian clogging, the group has been entertaining and educating audiences for decades.
Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society members will be on hand in Colonial dress to greet attendees.
Visit Spotsy will sell commemorative Spotsylvania County VA250 T-shirts and other keepsakes at its booth on the Historic Courthouse lawn. At 6 p.m., Visit Spotsy will announce the winner(s) of the Journey Through Spotsylvania VA250 Virtual Scavenger Hunt.
The evening will conclude with a fireworks display synchronized to a musical soundtrack, which audience members will be able to tune into at 93.3 WFLS.
Lt. Col. Delbert Myrick with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office has been involved with the Stars & Stripes Spectacular since its first year in 2005 and has watched the event grow in popularity as more people learn about it and more people move into the county.
“When I first started, the whole area where they’re doing the fireworks was a vacant lot,” he said. “[Now] you’re dealing with a lot larger population attending this event.”
That growth has brought new challenges for public safety planning. Myrick said approximately 80 deputies work the event, handling site security, traffic control and transportation.
In addition to providing security, the sheriff’s office assists with planning and public safety coordination alongside Spotsylvania Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management. The agencies will provide equipment displays and demonstrations during the first portion of the event before transitioning to operational duties.
For Myrick, the annual celebration remains one of Spotsylvania’s signature events. He said that highlighting small businesses and bringing people from different corners of the county together are what makes the annual tradition special.
“It’s a positive environment where you get to experience not just the fireworks, but also different aspects of Spotsylvania County,” he said. “It’s the one time of the year where we all come together and celebrate.”
For many Spotsylvania residents, the Stars & Stripes Spectacular is a summer tradition. Linda Catullo remembers taking her sons to the festival several times when they were younger and said the environment was always enjoyable.
“It was a lot of families gathering with their chairs and blankets and doing various things together for good family fun,” Catullo said. “It’s a great community event that’s wholesome and fun for kids.”
Catullo added that her favorite part of the Stars & Stripes Spectacular was watching her sons run around and play in the grass while waiting for the fireworks to start, as well as the fireworks display itself.
“What an amazing show,” she said. “I would highly recommend the event, especially [for families] with younger children.”
Free parking and shuttle service to the festival will be available at Courtland High School and Courtland Elementary School, and limited additional parking will be available at the county Public Safety Building, as well as in a nearby field for donation of $5 to benefit a local nonprofit. The rain date for the event is June 28.
