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Hey neighbors!

Fredericksburg just made history. Plus food trucks, bourbon, live music, and a formal dress drive for military families. Here is what is inside today:

  • Fredericksburg was just named the Best Main Street in the South by Garden & Gun Magazine

  • Shoutout to Union Home Mortgage for winning Best Mortgage Company

  • Operation Deploy Your Dress needs your formal gowns by April 25th

  • The Fredericksburg Food Truck Festival is coming April 26th

  • Bourbon on the Half Shell at A. Smith Bowman Distillery on April 18th

  • Live music and dancing with the Kyle Lacy Band on April 16th

Let's get into it!

Dori

Local Pulse: FXBG Edition

Fredericksburg Was Just Named the Best Main Street in the South

Garden & Gun Magazine officially named Caroline Street the Best Main Street in the South, beating out fifteen contenders from across the region in the closest final matchup in the history of their annual bracket challenge. It came down to the very last vote and our community showed up in a massive way. Local shops, local organizations, and neighbors rallied on social media right up until the deadline. Mayor Kerry Devine even had crowds vote at a UMW basketball game and during the seventh inning stretch at a FredNats game.

This is what happens when a community shows up for itself. Congratulations, neighbors. You did this. Read the full story here

🏆 Neighbor's Choice Awards Shoutout

Congratulations to Union Home Mortgage for taking home the top honor in this year's FXBG Neighbors' Choice Awards!

🥇 Winner, Best Mortgage Company

Thank you for serving our community with excellence. This recognition is well earned, and your clients clearly agree!

🌐 uhm.com/jreid 📞 540-842-1484 📧 [email protected]

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Did your business win, place, or finish as a finalist in this year's Neighbors' Choice Awards? We are shouting out one business per newsletter! Reach out to Dori at [email protected] to be featured. Click here for the full list of winners.

Have a Formal Dress Collecting Dust? This is a Great Way to Put it to Good Use. Operation Deploy Your Dress.

Operation Deploy Your Dress is a nonprofit organization that collects new and gently used formal gowns and accessories to give to military families at no cost, helping offset the expense of attending formal military events. Over the past ten years they have deployed more than 35,000 gowns and saved military families an estimated $3.5 million.

Donations are needed by April 25th and there are two drop-off locations right here in our area:

  • Guaranteed Rate | 385 Garrisonville Rd #117, Stafford, VA

  • Long and Foster Realty | 1910 William St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

They are accepting formal dresses in all sizes, tuxedos, and formal accessories, including jewelry, shawls, and purses.

Learn more and find additional drop-off locations here

Put Your Stretchy Pants On: The Fredericksburg Food Truck Festival is Coming April 26th

If you are looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday with the family, this one has it all. The Fredericksburg Food Truck Festival is happening on April 26th from 11am to 4pm at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds and it is going to be a great time. Here is what to expect:

  • A whole lot of local food trucks to choose from

  • Kids activities, a moon bounce, and a mechanical bull

  • Local vendors, a DJ, and adult beverages

  • $10 entry fee, kids 6 and under are free

Bring the whole crew, come hungry, and plan to stay a while.

Get all the details here

A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 24,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]

Join Us for an Unforgettable Small Group Journey Across Ireland 

Romantic castles, rolling green hills in every shade of emerald, Irish whiskey, spectacular cliffs, and natural wonders. The Emerald Isle has all of this and more.

The Journey

The adventure begins in Dublin, then travels to the medieval city of Kilkenny, and onward to Waterford, Ireland's oldest city and home to the world-famous Waterford Crystal. Next it's on to County Cork and Blarney Castle, where the evening fills with Irish dancing, fiddle music, and iconic food. The following day brings one of Ireland's most breathtaking drives around the Ring of Kerry.

From there, we head to Adare, Ireland's prettiest village, before taking in the towering Cliffs of Moher on our way to Galway for an evening food walking tour. We then journey through the wild beauty of Connemara, visiting Kylemore Abbey and ending the night with a traditional music and step dancing performance at Trad on the Prom.

Heading north, we stop in Belleek, famous for its delicate handcrafted porcelain, before arriving in Derry-Londonderry, a remarkably preserved 17th-century walled city. The following day features the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway and Belfast's award-winning Titanic Museum. That night, we stay at the dramatic Ballygally Castle along the rugged Northern Ireland coast.

Our journey home winds back through Malahide Castle with time to shop in the charming village before a farewell dinner with our Travel Director in Dublin.

This itinerary is well paced with plenty of time for memory making.

Trip Details

  • Dates: September 18–28, 2026

  • Small group, custom-designed

  • Spaces are limited

Ready to Reserve Your Spot? Contact Sam de Jager at [email protected] for pricing and more information.

Community Digest

Oysters, Bourbon, and Live Music at A. Smith Bowman Distillery Next Saturday

Mark your calendar because this one is happening next Saturday, April 18th, and tickets are going fast. A. Smith Bowman Distillery is hosting the 2nd Annual Bourbon on the Half Shell from 5pm to 9pm right here in Fredericksburg, and for $150 per person, you get a lot:

  • Unlimited oysters three ways: half shell, Rockefeller, and fried

  • Unlimited BBQ, sides, cocktails, and cider

  • Live music from Wicked Sycamore

  • Distillery tours and A. Smith Bowman product tastings

Best of all, proceeds benefit Friends of the Rappahannock, the organization working every day to protect and restore the river we all love.

Learn more and grab your tickets here

Live Music, Dancing, and a New Album Drop at DanceFXBG on April 16th

Mark your calendar because DanceFXBG and Picker's Supply are bringing the Kyle Lacy Band to town for a night of live music and dancing. The Kyle Lacy Band is celebrating the release of their third studio album, The Record Hop, and they are bringing the party to Fredericksburg. Here is what the evening looks like:

  • Dance lesson at 7:30pm to get you warmed up

  • Live music from 8:00pm to 10:30pm with the Kyle Lacy Band

  • $15 per person

A great night out whether you are a seasoned dancer or just looking for a fun reason to get out of the house.

Get all the details here

The April Edition of Stafford Living is Here

Want to get your business in front of thousands of locals? Stafford Living, Spotsylvania Living, and Neighbors of Courthouse Magazine land directly in local mailboxes as well as this newsletter every single month. Reach out to [email protected] to learn about sponsorship opportunities!

What’s Happening In & Around the ‘Burg

Here are some of the top events happening soon. Always check with the venue for the latest details. Got an event coming up? Add it to our calendar.

Friday, April 10

  • DJ Tre Justice | 9:00PM

    • Location: Spirits Bar, 816 Caroline Street (upstairs) , Fredericksburg, VA

  • 2nd Friday Latin Night | 8:00PM

    • Location: Picker's Supply, 902 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA

Saturday, April 11

Sunday, April 12

See More Events

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[email protected] | www.FXBGneighborsConnect.com | 540.288.7928