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Happy First Friday! Downtown is full of art, music, and special activities today, and Goolrick’s kicks off its first weekend of breakfast this morning. Out in King George, the 21st annual Caledon State Park Art and Wine Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, with online wine tasting tickets available until midnight tonight.
Looking ahead, Loisann’s Hope House is hosting Trees of Hope at the Fredericksburg Country Club November 17 through 19, and the silent auction opens online November 16, so you can take part from home. We also have news of oyster harvesting returning to King George waters, plus a Fredericksburg business that grew from a Cricut on a kitchen table.
Grab your coffee and let’s dive in. 🌊
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Trees of Hope Returns to the Fredericksburg Country Club 🎄
Loisann’s Hope House is celebrating the season with Trees of Hope, which the nonprofit calls Fredericksburg’s largest annual fundraiser to end family homelessness. Three days of festivities at the Fredericksburg Country Club give you plenty of ways to celebrate while supporting local families:
Open House, Tuesday, November 17, 10 AM to 6 PM: kick off the celebration
Merriment Luncheon, Wednesday, November 18, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM: shop with Novel, POUR, Laurel McLeod, and Still Meadows Boutique, hear from one of the Hope House moms, and join in recognizing 2026 Illuminator Award recipient Cassie Payne
A Magical Night of Giving, Thursday, November 19, 6:30 to 9:30 PM: dinner, drinks, a live auction, and a special tribute honoring Ken Kroko
Can’t make it in person? The silent auction opens online on the afternoon of Monday, November 16, so you can bid from home and still help families in our community. Their motto says it best: Everyone Deserves HOPE.
Get tickets and preview the silent auction: event.auctria.com
📸Credit: Caledon State Park Art and Wine Festival
Celebrate 21 Years of Art and Wine at Caledon State Park 🍷
The 21st annual Caledon State Park Art and Wine Festival takes over the park in King George this weekend, with artisans, wineries, ciderworks, meaderies, food trucks, live music, local nonprofits, state park programs, and activities for kids. Ticket sales help Friends of Caledon protect local forests, wildlife, and trails.
When: Saturday, November 7, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, November 8, 10 AM to 4 PM (rain or shine)
Where: Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Road, King George
Wine tasting tickets are $30 online ($35 at the gate) and include an event wine glass and unlimited tastings. Online sales were extended until midnight tonight.
Just coming to browse? Admission is free if you’re not tasting, and children attend free.
Parking is $5 per vehicle, or use your Virginia State Park pass.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less.
Learn more: dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/caledon
House Hunch FXBG
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo in Stafford County? Here’s a hint: 5 bd, 5 ba, around 6,100 sqft. on around 3 acres.
Want to feature your listing in House Hunch FXBG? Respond to this email for info!
FXBG’s Got It
Highlighting a few things worth knowing around town:
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Downtown’s Rebellion Is Changing Hands
Hertenstein Investment Group is under contract to buy Rebellion Bourbon Bar and Kitchen, the restaurant and bar at 309 William Street, from a group of local investors, with the sale set for the end of November, according to the Fredericksburg Free Press. Until then, the company has taken over operations and management. The group also owns Stockyards Restaurant & Bar in downtown Fredericksburg and Sandbar Seafood Restaurant (formerly Tim’s II) in Fairview Beach. Read more: fredericksburgfreepress.com
Oysters Are Back in King George Waters 🦪
Oyster harvesting hasn’t been allowed around the Governor Nice Memorial/Senator Middleton Bridge since the 1990s, but the Potomac River Fisheries Commission has now opened those grounds just off the King George shoreline for the winter season, King George Economic Development shared in its November 5 Business Between the Rivers newsletter. The change gives a lift to working waterfront businesses like Machodoc Creek Marina and Café (17088 Ferry Dock Road), where fresh oysters will soon be on the menu. Marina owner Jeff Stonehill says oystering is a big part of the area’s watermen history, going back to the Oyster Wars of the early 1900s, and he sees the return of harvesting as a sign of a promising future for oysters and a cleaner river. Learn more: visitkinggeorge.com
Goolrick’s Is Now Serving Breakfast 🥞
Starting today, Goolrick’s (901 Caroline Street) is serving breakfast from 7 to 10:30 AM on two weekends: November 6 to 8 and November 13 to 15. The menu features French toast that Goolrick’s says is so good you won’t need syrup, plus house-made fried apples with a fresh apple crunch in every bite. Today is also First Friday, so stop by for chili dogs, chili bowls, apple cider margaritas, and whiskey lemonade while you explore downtown. Alcohol is for guests 21 and older. Learn more: goolricksfxbg.com
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 52,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
From a Kitchen Table Cricut to a Custom Apparel Shop: Meet Amanda Randall 👕
Amanda Randall’s business started with a single Cricut on her kitchen table. Today, Impact Apparel by Amanda is a Fredericksburg shop offering custom and wholesale apparel for teams, businesses, events, and fundraisers, from sports apparel for baseball, softball, football, and soccer to Christmas apparel and keychains. You can shop ready-to-ship apparel on sale right now.
Amanda Randall
Her shop also carries merchandise for Patches the Cat, the Virginia cat who went viral for his weight-loss journey. According to her website, proceeds from Patches merchandise benefit Purring Hearts VA.
Have something specific in mind? Use the contact form on her website to send Amanda the details. The shop lists its current turnaround at about three weeks, so order early for the holidays.
Learn more: impactapparelbyamanda.com
Stafford Living Magazine
The November edition of Stafford Living is here, packed with the neighbors, stories, and local businesses that make our community shine.
Click below to read the full issue!
A heartfelt thank you to our writers, photographers, advertisers, sponsors, and local businesses who make Stafford Living possible each month. Your support allows us to continue sharing the stories, people, and organizations that make our community stronger. 💙
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 11/6
First Friday Happy Hour: Fall Walk in Love - Enjoy fall painting, two beverages, and a choice of single-canvas or date-night style at Wine & Design.
History after Hours: A Revolutionary Evening - Meet historian Mark Maloy for a Revolutionary War discussion and book signing at Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop.
First Friday - Explore art galleries, artists, music, restaurants, shops, and special activities throughout Downtown Fredericksburg.
Mom & Daughter Pajama Party - Wear your PJs for games, crafts, dinner, and a movie at Dorothy Hart Community Center.
Saturday 11/7
Photos With Santa - Take a festive family or pet photo with Santa and possibly ODHS puppies at Old Dominion Humane Society.
Hops & Hardbacks -FXBG - Browse books and bookish vendors while connecting with local authors and readers at Strangeways Brewing FXBG.
Hips, Hops & Hope Toys for Tots Toy Drive - Donate a new unwrapped toy, enjoy food and prizes, and meet roller derby skaters at Maltese Brewing Company.
Concert In Lights Kick-off with Santa's Arrival and Tree Lighting - Celebrate the season with Santa’s arrival, tree lighting, ice skating, entertainment, and family activities at Spotsylvania Towne Centre.
Fall FXBG Train Bridge - Paint & Sip - Paint a fall-inspired Fredericksburg landmark with guided instruction at Wine & Design.
Sunday 11/8
Rappahannock Model Railroaders at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre Mall - Watch O-Gauge and N-Gauge trains in operation and speak with club members at Spotsylvania Towne Centre Mall.
Grimoire Studios: The Gothic Market - Explore vendors and themed experiences centered on gothic, folklore, witchcraft, horror, and supernatural interests at Fredericksburg Convention Center.
Pumpkin + Succulent Garden Party - Create a pumpkin succulent centerpiece with wine and charcuterie at Burg Charcuterie.
David Hunter Debuts - Enjoy acoustic classic alternative rock from the 1980s and 1990s at Strangeways Brewing Fredericksburg.
Monday 11/9
Spicy Bingo Night - Play adults-only bingo for prizes, bites, and laughs at Burg Charcuterie.
Monday Bingo Night - Play free bingo for cash prizes alongside food and drink specials at Spirits Bar.
