Last week, my 8-year-old daughter, Jillian, and I spent an afternoon wandering downtown Fredericksburg with a specific and creative purpose. Our mission? To find Freddy, the friendly, googly-eyed, paint brush mascot of Fredericksburg Arts Commission’s new scavenger hunt.
Our search began simply enough, but evolved into an afternoon of discovery, connection and an unplanned lesson in the arts.
Before the hung could begin, we had to visit the Fredericksburg Visitor Center to get our dossier. We received a piece of paper that listed the eight participating locations. On the back we could list three galleries we intended to visit and then later record Freddy’s “color” at each.
Next, we headed to the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, a place I was embarrassed to admit I had never visited before. Jillian found Freddy hiding in the back room, but I encouraged her to pause and explore the art on display. She was especially taken with the intricate paper quill work, something she remembered from an art class at Hugh Mercer. We left with plans to try quilling together at home.
Our third and final stop was LibertyTown Arts, a place we’ve been many times before. This stop was where the scavenger hunt really shone for Jillian. We knew it might be a more challenging place to find Freddy, as the space is much larger than the others. Jillian really lit up as she talked to artists, watching one artist working on Halloween pottery and then talking to artist Elizabeth Seaver about the animals Jillian would like to make someday. The hunt took a new turn when we met weaver Fran Slaterbeck, who encouraged Jillian to find Freddy and then return to try her hand at weaving on the loom. After a few hints, we discovered Freddy cleverly camouflaged in a hallway display
Jillian returned to the weaving room, and Fran immediately had her sit down at the loom. For the next 20 minutes, Jillian worked under Fran’s patient guidance, learning about weaving while creating her very own coaster. She left LibertyTown proudly holding her finished piece, buzzing with excitement and eager to return for another lesson and talk with Fran.
While we found Freddy at each stop, the real prize was the chance to connect with artists and experience art in action. The Find Freddy Downtown Art Scavenger Hunt isn’t just a fun way to explore the city; it’s an invitation for families to connect with the local arts community in a meaningful way. I highly recommend it for any parent looking for a no-cost, high-reward activity that gets kids into the heart of Fredericksburg’s creative scene.
