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Hey neighbor,
October is in full swing, and our calendar is packed! Whether you're lacing up your running shoes, grabbing your golf clubs, or heading out for funnel cake, there's something for everyone.
The Halloween 5K and Monster Mile is back, and if you want that long-sleeve race shirt, the deadline is this Saturday. We're also sharing a golf tournament that's helping feed local families this holiday season, and the Spotsylvania County Fair kicks off Thursday with rides, fair food, and live music.
Plus, Stafford teachers just won 24 grants for creative classroom projects, Pumpkin Spice Crawl tickets are going fast, and yes, you can go trick-or-treating on horseback this year.
Let's get into it.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Grab Your Costume and Lace Up: The Halloween 5K and Monster Mile Is Back! 🎃👟
It's a Stafford Halloween tradition! On Saturday, October 24, runners, walkers, and little monsters of all ages will take over Embrey Mill Park for the 11th Annual Halloween 5K and Monster Mile, hosted by Arsenal Events.
Whether you're chasing a personal best or just out for a fun morning with the family, this is one race where the costumes are half the fun. Prizes go to the best costumes, so start planning your look now!
Two races, one spooky morning
The Monster Mile is a one-mile kids' run for little ghouls and goblins 12 and under, with awards for the top finishers in each age group. Parents can cheer them on from the path along Mine Road, which runs right alongside the course.
The Halloween 5K is open to runners and walkers of every pace, and strollers are welcome (just start toward the back). The top three male and female finishers take home cash prizes.
Race day schedule
Saturday, October 24 | Embrey Mill Park, 1600 Mine Road, Stafford
8:00 AM: Monster Mile starts
8:30 AM: Halloween 5K starts
9:15 AM: Awards and costume contest
Don't miss these deadlines!
👕 Register by October 10 to get a long-sleeve race shirt and a custom finisher's medal.
💰 Sign up by October 15 to lock in the current price. The 5K is $38 now, and the price goes up on October 16.
📸 Bonus: Race photos are free for every participant, so you'll have plenty of pictures of your crew in costume.
Running for a cause: The race supports Project Lifesaver with the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, a search and rescue program that helps quickly locate children and adults who may wander due to a cognitive condition. Every registration helps keep our neighbors safe.
Packet pickup
Thursday, October 22, 3:30 to 6:30 PM at DICK'S Sporting Goods, Spotsylvania Towne Centre, Spotsylvania Mall Drive, Fredericksburg
Friday, October 23, 4:00 to 6:30 PM at the Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center, 1600 Mine Road, Stafford
Registration is online only.
👉 Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Stafford/Halloween5KandMonsterMile
A Tee Time That Fills Holiday Tables
Every October, the Hub of Hope starts planning how to feed hundreds of local families through the holidays, and this year they're doing it with a golf club in hand. Swinging for HOPE, the first Knights of Pythias Memorial Tournament, tees off Friday, October 9 at Pendleton Golf Course, with every dollar raised going straight toward Hope for the Holiday Giveaways and the fight against food insecurity across the Greater Fredericksburg region.
The tournament doubles as a tribute. Knights of Pythias Lodge 22 is co-hosting in honor of the Lodge Brothers who spent decades showing up for charity golf days just like this one, so a foursome here is also a nod to the guys who built the tradition.
Friday, October 9, registration at 8 AM, shotgun start at 9 AM
Pendleton Golf Course, 6383 Declaration Drive, Ruther Glen
Best ball format, $500 per team of four or $125 per individual, includes green fees, cart, range balls, and lunch
Sponsorships from $250 to $1,000 with hole, contest, beverage cart, 50/50 Challenge, and t-shirt options
Lunch and awards wrap the day at 2 PM at Hope Heroes Southern Kitchen
Register your team or find sponsorship info at hubofhopeusa.com/golf.
The Spotsylvania County Fair Is Back! 🎡
Enjoy midway rides, classic fair food, and live music, from line dancing to Memories of Elvis.
October 8 to 11
Thursday and Friday, 5 to 10 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 10 PM
Spotsylvania Courthouse Village
$10 admission, free for ages 5 and under
👉 Learn more: https://www.thespotsyfair.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]
FXBG’s Got It
Highlighting a few things worth knowing around town:
Stafford Teachers Win 24 Innovative Teaching Grants 🍎
Stafford County teachers are bringing creative, hands-on learning to every grade level! The Stafford Education Foundation just awarded 24 Innovative Teaching Grants to local educators, funded by a $100,000 investment from Amazon.
The winning projects range from adaptive beverage carts and ESOL culinary labs to peer mental health Hope Squads. Together, they'll bring new STEM, literacy, sustainability, and adaptive learning opportunities to about 13,000 Stafford students.
Congratulations to all of the winning teachers!
👉 Learn more: https://www.thestaffordeducationfoundation.com
FXBG Pumpkin Spice Crawl 🎃
Grab your friends and your coziest fall outfit! Visit 16 downtown shops for free gifts, treats, and exclusive discounts.
Saturday, October 24, 3 to 7 PM
Downtown Fredericksburg
Tickets: $60 plus fee
Tickets are limited!
👉 Get tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/pumpkin-spice-crawl-2026-tickets-290356
Snooker Arena Is Coming to FXBG! 🎱
A new pool and billiards hall is opening soon on Emancipation Highway, with premium snooker tables, friendly competition, and a great place to play with friends. Stay tuned for the grand opening!
515-A Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg
👉 Learn more: https://snookerarenaclub.com/
Trick-or-Treat on Horseback! 🐴🎃
Bring your treat bags for a one-hour trick-or-treat trail ride at Recovery Equestrian Facility. All ages are welcome, and staff lead little ones by hand.
October 10, 11, 18, 25, 31, and November 1
9429 Secretariat Way, Spotsylvania
Spots fill fast! 👉 Text to book: (540) 419-9481
Art, Crafts, and a Side of Oktoberfest 🎨🍺
Shop handmade gifts from more than a dozen local artists and makers at Corgi Clay Art Center's first fall Art & Craft Market. It runs alongside Barley Naked Brewing's annual Oktoberfest next door.
Saturday, October 10, noon to 6 PM
15 Tech Parkway, Stafford
Reenactments, Blacksmiths, and Bagpipes on the Rappahannock 🥁
James Hunter's iron works near Falmouth made the muskets that helped win American independence. The Freedom Forge Foundation is celebrating its story with a free, two-day Stafford VA250 event at Pratt Park, 120 River Rd, Falmouth.
Saturday, October 10: A history symposium from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, then reenactments with The Old Guard, blacksmithing, bagpipes, fife and drums, and a Kid's Corner from 1 to 5 PM.
Sunday, October 11: The Plaid to the Bone 10K at 8 AM, plus heritage tours at 11 AM.
Admission is free, and advance registration is requested.
👉 Learn more and register: https://www.freedomforgefoundation.org/revolution-on-the-rappahannock
Neighbors of Courthouse Magazine
The October edition of Neighbors of Courthouse Magazine 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 Neighbors of Courthouse 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.
Wednesday, October 7
Rosemont of Virginia Wine Dinner | 6:30PM
Location: Cork and Table, 909 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy a five-course dinner featuring scallops, smoked duck risotto, beef tenderloin, and decadent dessert, thoughtfully paired with wines.
Puzzle Night | 6:30PM
Location: Laudenbach Brewing, 45 Centreport Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come on out and challenge your brain with a 300 piece puzzle!
Location: Reclaim Arcade, 2324 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: An evening of fine bourbon, premium cigars, and great company.
Thursday, October 8
Barks & Recreation | 6:00PM
Location: Fredericksburg Dog Park, 1448 Kenmore Ave, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: A recurring dog-friendly social event at the Fredericksburg Dog Park, offering a chance for dogs and their owners to meet and play.
Night Witch: Paint Party | 6:15PM
Location: Wilderness Run Vineyards, 11113 Plank Rd, Spotsylvania, VA
Description: Paint your own Night Witch canvas while enjoying a relaxed evening of art, laughs, and wine with friends.
Disc Golf | 3:00PM
Location: Cannon Ridge Disc Golf Course, 6309 Cannon Ridge CT, Fredericksburg, VA
Desription: Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee! FABA joins professional players for a day of fun!
Friday, October 9
00s Hard Rock Music Bingo | 6:30PM
Location: Laudenbach Brewing, 45 Centreport Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join us for an evening of those Alt Rock station classics we all loved growing up!
Location: New Life in Christ Church, 11925 Burgess Lane, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: An evening cabaret by a community chorus, featuring Americana songs with finger foods and desserts.
Highmark Brewery FIRST Fundraiser | 5:00PM
Location: Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: The money collected will be helping families in need for the holidays!
