In partnership with
Patricia Grant Agency - Farmers Insurance
Hey neighbor,
Happy Thursday! We've got a good one for you today. There's a wine bar and courtyard hiding beneath Whitby's on Caroline Street that feels part speakeasy, part secret garden, and we finally got the full story. We've also put together your complete guide to fall festivals, with everything from Snead's Farm right here in Fredericksburg to a weekend trip out to wine country. And this weekend, Strangeways Brewing is hosting a free family carnival for 3-year-old Cora, who's been fighting pediatric cancer since 2023, with all proceeds going to local families facing the same fight.
Let's get into it.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Your Fall Festival Guide Starts Right Here in FXBG
Fall festival season kicks off soon, and you won't have to leave the area to find it. From pumpkin patches to apple orchards, here's what's happening close to home, plus a look at what's worth the drive.
Snead's Farm, Fredericksburg, September 26 through November 1, hayrides, sunflowers, slides, and farm animals
Belvedere Plantation, Spotsylvania, September 12 through November 7, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and 30-plus attractions
Braehead Farm, Fredericksburg, a family playground, farm animals, and an October harvest festival
Round Hill Farm, Culpeper, September 19 through November 8, hayrides, a petting zoo, and a corn maze
Messick's Farm Market, Bealeton, September 19 through October 25, weekends plus Columbus Day, corn maze, petting zoo, and the famous Candy Cannon show
Graves' Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, Syria, the first three weekends in October, hayrides, apple butter, and bluegrass music
Beyond our area, we've also rounded up 25-plus festivals across the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, and Richmond, from Cox Farms and Vienna Oktoberfest to wine festivals in Amherst and Powhatan.
Carnival for Cora: A Family Afternoon With Heart at Strangeways Brewing
This Sunday, August 30, Strangeways Brewing hosts Carnival for Cora's Cause, a free family carnival honoring 3-year-old Cora, who has been bravely battling pediatric cancer since 2023. As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month begins, Cora and her family are turning their journey into hope for others, with all proceeds supporting local FGP families facing pediatric cancer. Bring the whole family for a joyful afternoon that makes a real difference.
What to expect:
A dunk tank, bounce house, face painting, and carnival tattoos for the kids
Stilt-walking, magic, and balloon animals from Crickett
Live music from Big Day Productions
Food, drinks, and plenty of fun for the grown-ups too
Free admission, with game tickets available to support the cause
Join the fun Sunday, August 30, from 12 to 3pm at Strangeways Brewing. Admission is free, and you can grab game tickets at fgpinfo.org/cora. Come raise a little joy for Cora and support families in our community!
Part Speakeasy, Part Secret Garden: Meet Fredericksburg's New Wine Bar
Tucked beneath Whitby's on Caroline Street, Burg Charcuterie is the kind of place you stumble into and immediately start texting friends about. Dark, moody Art Deco decor gives the indoor space a private cocktail lounge feel, while the outdoor courtyard, strung with hanging lights, leans more secret garden than speakeasy. Either way, it's the rare spot that manages both at once.
The wine bar and patio serve wine, charcuterie, and sweet surprises like fresh macarons, an extension of owner Jennifer Peyton's larger business: Burg Charcuterie, a luxury charcuterie and catering company she founded in 2021. Jennifer and her team specialize in meticulously curated meat and cheese boards, grazing tables, and custom spreads for everything from intimate date nights to large celebrations.
"Our goal is not just to create food, but an experience," Jennifer says. "We bring a touch of elegance to any gathering, from intimate date nights to large celebrations." She and her team are known around town for being just as warm as the space itself.
📍 703 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
🌐 burgcharcuterie.com
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 44,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
More Than a Policy: How Patricia Grant Built an Insurance Agency on Relationships
Patricia Grant didn't plan on a career in insurance, it started with a receptionist job at Chubb Insurance and grew into more than three decades in the industry, including her own agency, Patricia Grant Agency, LLC, affiliated with Farmers Insurance, opened in 2020.
She covers homes, life, business, and toys like RVs, ATVs, and boats, but what sets her apart is her focus on education and relationships. "It's always good to have a local agent where you can sit down, talk with them, and build lasting relationships," she says.
Ready to talk through your coverage? Reach out to Patricia Grant, licensed in VA, MD, NJ, and PA.
📍 306 Garrisonville Rd Ste 303, Stafford, VA 22554
📞 540-318-8622
🌐 farmersagent.com/pgrant1
Featured Events
The Last PIES of Summer Festival Is Just Days Away
The Knowledge Exchange hosts its free, indoor Last PIES of Summer Festival on Saturday, August 29, 10 am to 5 pm at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, with Dungeons & Dragons, face painting, sound meditation, seminars, $5 pie slices, and raffle prizes like a Highmark Brewery Mug Club membership. Registering ahead earns a free raffle ticket at check-in.
Free admission, indoors, activities all day. Register at bit.ly/PIESFESTIVALFXBG26, and mark yourself "Going" on Facebook to share it with friends and family.
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.
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, August 28
Jurassic Quest | 1:00PM
Location: Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Get ready for the ULTIMATE day of discovery, play, and imagination!
Live Music: Danny Kensy | 6:00PM
Location: Folklore Rooftop Bar (Locavore Virginia), 314 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy their performance along with your favorite Southern-inspired food and drink. It's sure to be great time!
Last Friday Silent Book | 5:00PM
Location: Tales & Tails Book Cafe, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Descriptione: Plenty of options for silent reading space and a room reserved for book discussion.
90s Grunge Music Bingo | 6:30PM
Location: Laudenbach Brewing, 45 Centreport Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We've got a great playlist to rock out to for 90s Grunge night.
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join us for a high-energy night of line dancing led by Instructor Devyn, with DJ Delo spinning all your favorite tracks.
Ryan French Live Music | 6:00PM
Location: Full Distance Brewing, 650 Corporate Drive, Suite 101, Stafford, VA
Description: Grab a beer, settle in, and kick off the weekend with some great live music.
Saturday, August 29
Location: Pearlescent Candle Co., 809 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Discover over 15 seasonal autumn & Halloween scents, new candle holders, new colognes & perfumes, and so much more!
Reggae Day | 1:00PM
Location: Wilderness Run Vineyards, 11109 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA
Description: Feature a farmfull of open-air music, good food, cold drinks, vendors, games and rhythm.
Community Day | 7:00PM
Location: Hurkamp Park, 500 William Street, redericksburg, VA
Description: Celebrate community at our FXBG Farmer's Market!
Paint Pawty | 2:30PM
Location: Old Dominion Humane Society, 3602 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: The fun, creative event lets people turn a favorite photo of their pet—any type of animal, into a personalized painting.
Sunday, August 30
2nd Annual Carnival for Cora’s Cause | 12:00PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Bring the whole family and enjoy an afternoon of fun, games, food, and entertainment, all while making a big impact in our community!
Sunday Supper Club | 6:30PM
Location: Folklore Rooftop Bar (Locavore Virginia), 314 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Dine communally and enjoy food and wine prepared for our finest farms and producers in Virginia.
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!
