In partnership with
Hey neighbor,
Happy Labor Day weekend! If you're looking for something to do tonight, there's a hidden dance hall in downtown Fredericksburg you need to know about, Joel Webber's Dance FXBG has been teaching Lindy Hop and swing through a speakeasy-style back alley entrance for almost 15 years. We also have your guide to apple picking season, which kicks into gear later this month.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
Photo credit: Karen Presecan Photography
Triple-Step Into Swing: Meet Joel Webber of Dance FXBG
Every Saturday night, a door in a back alley off George Street opens onto a staircase most passersby never notice. Climb it, and you land in a room with stone and brick walls and original oak floorboards, worn smooth by decades of jitterbugs and Lindy Hops. This is Dance FXBG, and Joel Webber, the man who built it, calls the route "the speakeasy entrance."
The floor fills every Saturday from 7:30 to 11 pm, with a beginner lesson included, and Sunday group lessons run in seven-week series teaching the jitterbug, Lindy Hop, and Charleston. The soundtrack ranges from big band to the Beatles to country and Latin, with a live band at least once a month.
Webber says what keeps people coming back isn't just the music, it's the welcome. "Everyone helps each other out and you get a chance to dance with everyone throughout the night," he says. Dance FXBG is nearly 15 years old, one more chapter for a man who's also a 20-year Navy veteran, a longtime home inspector and contractor, and now a published author.
Saturdays, 7:30 to 11 pm, beginner lesson included
Sundays, group lessons by skill level, 6 and 7 pm
Entrance via the rear alley off George Street, downtown Fredericksburg
Sweet Spots: A Guide to Apple Picking Near Fredericksburg
Peak apple picking in Virginia runs mid-September through October, when the widest variety of eating apples ripens and fall festivals are in full swing. We've rounded up local orchards worth the drive, from Hartland Orchard and Stribling Orchard in Markham to Hollin Farms in Delaplane, and Carter Mountain and Fruit Hill Orchards near Charlottesville, each with their own scenery, farm animals, and family activities.
Read the full guide, Sweet Spots: A Guide to Apple Picking Near Fredericksburg.
Put On Your Pink and Help Build a House at This Black & Pink Tie Gala
Heels & Hammers: The Power to Build is an elegant fundraising event hosted by Women Build to benefit Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, bringing together community leaders, local businesses, and supporters for an evening focused on empowerment and building stronger futures for families in our region.
The event takes place September 26 at 5:30 pm at The Silk Mill in Fredericksburg. Guests are invited to wear black and/or pink tie attire for an evening that includes a silent auction, a guest-judged hard hat decorating contest, community connection, and a plated meal with beer and wine.
Saturday, September 26, 5:30 pm
The Silk Mill, Fredericksburg
Black and/or pink tie attire
Tickets: $129, plated meal, beer and wine included
Tickets are limited; reserve yours at fredhab.org
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 48,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
Meet DuroSec: Fredericksburg's Fractional CFO for Small Business
Helping small business owners bridge the gap between "I have transactions" and "I understand my financials"
Most small businesses reach a point where a bookkeeper isn't enough, but a full-time finance team is too much. That gap is where DuroSec comes in, offering reconciliations, reporting, and CFO-level insight for small businesses that want accurate financials and smart strategy without the overhead.
Founded by Katelyn Duron, DuroSec was built around a problem she kept seeing: talented owners know their craft, but often lack the systems to turn their numbers into strategy. If you've ever felt intimidated by a profit and loss statement, or DIY-ed your books late at night after a full day with customers, DuroSec was made for you. Think clean bookkeeping, management reporting, and practical planning that helps you make smarter calls on pricing, payroll, and growth.
Ready to understand your numbers? Reach out to Katelyn at durosec.com
FXBG’s Got It
Highlighting a few things worth knowing around town:
.
A Former Gas Station and Meadery Is Becoming Dog Krazy's New HQ
The former gas station and meadery at 1600 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg will become the corporate headquarters of Dog Krazy Inc., leasing the building from JMJ Property Management. There won't be a Dog Krazy retail store at this location.
Fredericksburg Is in the Running for "Top Adventure Town"
Fredericksburg is in the running for Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine's 2026 Top Adventure Towns contest, and public voting is now underway to decide the winners. Cast your vote at blueridgeoutdoors.com/toptowns.
Help Put Diaper Need on the Map in Our Community
A local Ph.D. candidate is studying how families across the Rappahannock Area Health District access diapers, and needs at least 100 parents and caregivers to complete a brief, anonymous survey by September 30. We really need your help getting the word out, you don't need to be experiencing diaper need to take part, every family's experience matters. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey in English or Spanish at bit.ly/4dHTKct.
Featured Events
This Isn't Just a Gala. It's a Movement Starting Right Here.
Embers & Evermore, the inaugural gala for Ars Moriendi Services, comes to 718 on Caroline Street on September 12, with live music, a grazing table from Burg Charcutierie, wine and beer, and a silent auction stacked with prizes like a Kalahari Resort stay. Every ticket funds end-of-life education, grief support, and the region's first social model hospice house.
Grab your ticket, or share this with someone who needs to know about Ars Moriendi. Tickets at givebutter.com/c/Embers-and-Evermore.
An Evening of Beauty, Inside and Out, at Eden Try Winery
Local women-owned businesses are teaming up for Beauty 360: Beauty Inside & Out, an interactive evening on Thursday, September 10 from 6 to 9 pm at Eden Try Winery. Instead of a vendor fair or sit-and-listen presentations, guests move through small-group experiences on presence, home and work spaces, skincare, and whole-person wellness, all with food, wine, and dessert included.
Proceeds after expenses benefit Purple Runway, supporting women who've participated in its programs.
Thursday, September 10, 6 to 9 pm
Eden Try Winery, 6818 River Road, Fredericksburg
$65 plus Eventbrite fees, space is limited
Get your ticket on Eventbrite.
Meeting New People in FXBG Just Got a Lot Easier
What if making new friends was as easy as showing up hungry? That's the idea behind the FXBG Neighbors Dinner Club, back with a new date. On Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 pm, six strangers will gather around one table at a great downtown restaurant for good food and better company. No name tags, no icebreakers, just a quick personality quiz, a reservation we handle for you, and a seat at the table.
Grab your seat, or sign up for a future dinner, at fxbgneighbors.dnnr.io.
200+ Proven Ways to Make Money With AI in 2026
The next wave of millionaires will be people who figured out how to make AI work for them.
The window to get ahead is still open. But not for long.
Here are 200+ proven ways to make money with AI in 2026.
Sign up for Superhuman AI, the free daily newsletter read by 1M+ professionals, and get instant access to all 200+ ways to profit from AI this year.
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.
Saturday, September 5
Location: Faith Baptist Church, 4105 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Anyone is invited to come plant a flag in honor of someone who perished on September 11, 2001.
Location: Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Visitors are encouraged to converse with the reenactors or partake in programs led by park rangers.
The Reckless Brigade | 7:00PM
Location: 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, 1140 International Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA
Description: A 4 Peace bluegrass band playing traditional, contemporary, progressive, and jam grass , served with a side of good old country music .
Sunday, September 6
Long Family Markets Stafford | 8:00AM
Location: Long Family Markets Stafford, 610 Slug Lot, Staffordboro Blvd
Stafford, VADescription: Discover a lively, family-friendly market experience featuring fresh, locally grown foods, handcrafted artisan goods and more!
Wilderness Fall Festival | 11:00AM
Location: Wilderness Presidential Resort, 9220 Plank Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Description: Expect great company, cool activities, and a chance to soak in the beautiful autumn scenery.
Monday, September 7
Labor Day Pig Roast & Ice Cream Party | 11:00AM
Location: Wild Waylon’s BBQ, 43 Town and Country suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy smoked whole hog, glazed ribs, special sides, and sweet treats from Pearlie’s Swirlies.
Labor Day Ultimate Flipout 2026 | 11:00AM
Location: Reclaim Arcade, 2324 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: All day of competitive pinball, free-play games, cash prizes, trophies, and plenty of arcade fun.
