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Hey neighbor,
We're kicking things off with a free festival that's happening right here this Saturday, with Dungeons and Dragons, face painting, seminars, vendors, and yes, plenty of pie, all under one roof and all for a great local cause. From there, we're heading Beyond the Burg with two day trips worth a tank of gas: a wizarding weekend in Staunton and a wildly colorful slime playground up in Tysons. And as always, we've rounded up the best events happening in and around town.
Grab your coffee. Let's dive in.
Dori
Featured Event
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The Last PIES of Summer Festival Is This Saturday
FREE ADMISSION • INDOORS • FAMILY-FRIENDLY • ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Saturday, August 29, 10 am to 5 pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg
25 Chalice Circle, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
The Knowledge Exchange is hosting its Last PIES of Summer Festival, a free, family-friendly indoor community festival with something for everyone. Come for one activity or stay for the whole day, there's Dungeons & Dragons, face painting, sound meditation, seminars, vendors, games, pies, and raffles, all under one roof.
Free Activities All Day
Dungeons & Dragons blocks for new and experienced players
Free face painting
Sound meditation
A nutrition and movement seminar
Sessions on youth IDs, life insurance, and planning for the future
Advance directives and living wills
Youth budgeting and savings
Vendors and community resources
Paint a Pie in a Windowsill, a special art experience from 2 to 3 pm
Sell Pies to Build PIES™
Every slice sold helps fund PIES™, so dessert doubles as a donation. Slices are $5 each, with apple, key lime, apple crumb, and cherry on the menu, all generously provided by Wegmans (apple and cherry are vegan). Kickshaws is also bringing a limited-availability gluten-free and vegan apple pie for guests with dietary needs.
Raffle Prizes Worth Winning
Register ahead of time and you'll earn a free raffle ticket at check-in, with more tickets available throughout the day just for attending sessions and activities. A few of the prizes already confirmed:
A gift basket from Snip & Trim Hair Studio, supporting The Knowledge Exchange for the second summer in a row
A basket from Highmark Brewery, under new ownership, featuring a one-year Mug Club membership
Original artwork created by one of the festival's own Dungeons & Dragons players
More raffle prizes will be added as the festival approaches.
A Sneak Peek at What's Next
The Knowledge Exchange will also be sharing a special announcement during the festival about what's next for PIES™, the Portable Interactive Enrichment Stations bringing hands-on learning, tabletop gaming, and creative exploration into spaces throughout the region, and how this community-supported project is growing.
The Details
When: Saturday, August 29, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, 25 Chalice Circle, Fredericksburg
Cost: Free admission
Register ahead of time for your free raffle ticket, and mark yourself "Going" on Facebook so your friends and family know to come too.
Register: bit.ly/PIESFESTIVALFXBG26
Facebook event: facebook.com/share/1DVRjKT1KX
Beyond the Burg
Adventures a short drive from Fredericksburg
Calling All Harry Potter Fans: A Wizarding Festival Comes to Staunton
Witches, wizards, and Muggles alike, one of Virginia's most magical weekends is happening September 26 and 27, when downtown Staunton transforms into Queen City Mischief & Magic, a free, family-friendly celebration of all things wizarding.
The drive: About 2 to 2.5 hours from Fredericksburg, perfect for a fall day trip or cozy weekend getaway.
Think cobblestone streets full of costumed characters, potions classes, magical vendors, live performances, and shop windows decked out in enchantment. The whole historic town leans in, so it truly feels like stepping into your favorite story. Wear your house colors and don't forget your wand.
Plan your visit at queencitymagic.com. The magic is free, but some experiences require tickets, so check ahead!
Dive Into a World of Slime at Sloomoo Institute
Calling all kids, teens, and the young at heart, if your crew loves slime, this one's for you. Sloomoo Institute at Tysons is a wildly colorful, hands-on sensory playground where you can make your own slime, dig into slime pits, and even brave the famous slime waterfall.
The drive: About 1 to 1.5 hours from Fredericksburg, an easy day trip up I-95.
Part science lab, part art studio, part pure sensory fun, Sloomoo is bursting with color, texture, and photo-worthy moments around every corner. It's a hit with kids, a fun surprise for teens, and honestly a stress-melting good time for the grown-ups too. Come ready to get a little messy and leave with your own custom slime to take home.
Plan your visit at sloomooinstitute.com. Book tickets ahead, since time slots fill up fast!
A Vegas-Style Sphere Could Be Coming to National Harbor
Imagine a massive, glowing LED sphere just up the road, showing concerts, immersive experiences, and cinematic events, the DMV's own version of the famous Las Vegas Sphere. That's the actual proposal for National Harbor: a 6,000-seat venue with a price tag topping $1 billion.
Supporters say it could create 7,000 jobs and generate $1 billion in annual economic impact, though not everyone is sold, especially with National Harbor traffic already a challenge since MGM opened in 2016. The project still needs county and state approvals, so nothing's set in stone.
But if it happens? National Harbor, about an hour and a half from Fredericksburg, could become one of the region's biggest entertainment destinations, no flight to Vegas required.
We'll keep you posted as this one develops!
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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.
Thursday, August 27
Downtown Summer Nights | 5:00PM
Location: Fredericksburg Main Street , 601 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Stroll Downtown, shop late, grab dinner, sip something good, and enjoy some incredible street performers.
Trailing and Climbing Class | 6:00PM
Location: Green Eyed Vines, 720 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Learn about different types of trailing and climbing plants and how to use moss poles, trellis and totems for maximum growth.
Banned Book Club | 6:00PM
Location: Tales & Tails, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We are reading Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Friday, August 28
Last Friday Silent Book Club | 5:00PM
Location: Tales & Tails Book Cafe, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Plenty of options for silent reading space and a room reserved for book discussion.
Breaking Lines Poetry Night | 8:00PM
Location: Original Grinds, 615 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Writers and enjoyers alike are welcome to attend this night of spoken word, expression, and art.
Location: Reclaim Arcade, 2324 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Bryce Bowyn + Shelley Star at Reclaim Arcade — high-energy pop, 80s synths, cosmic hooks.
Saturday, August 29
5th Annual Reggae Day | 1:00PM
Location: 1781 Brewing Company, 11109 Plank Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Description: Join us for a full day of live music, vendors, food trucks, games, craft beer, and Virginia wine.
World of Warcraft Trivia | 7:00PM
Location: Adventure Brewing Company, 33 Perchwood Dr, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Prepare your party, sharpen your lore knowledge, and ready your mana potions.
Location: Strangeways Brewing Fredericksburg, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Expect a night packed with powerful vocals, blistering guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and the kind of songs that keep the crowd moving from the first note to the final encore.
Sunday, August 30
Sunday Hikes | 7:45AM
Location: Old Dominion Humane Society, 3602 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Hike three to five miles paired with a furry buddy and enjoy the fresh air.
Archaeological Presentation | 2:00PM
Location: St. George's Episcopal Church, 905 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Overview of the archaeological investigation, key discoveries, historical context, artifact findings, and more!
Location: Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg VA
Description: A five piece ensemble that adds a great new energy to their eclectic mix of pop, folk, rock, and original music.
