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Hey neighbor,
If you're free tonight, Stafford holds its public hearing on a new business tax at 6:30 pm, worth knowing about no matter which way you lean. Looking ahead, mark your calendars for Revolution on the Rappahannock, two days of reenactments, blacksmiths, and bagpipes at Pratt Park October 10 and 11, and Riverfest's 36th anniversary crab feast this Saturday on the water. We also mapped out where to catch peak fall color without leaving the area, plus a new shopping center headed to Stafford's I-95 corridor and a chance to make new friends over dinner.
Let's get into it.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Two Days of Reenactments, Blacksmiths and Bagpipes on the Rappahannock
The iron works along the Rappahannock near Falmouth was once called the "greatest Iron Works on the Continent." James Hunter's Rappahannock Forge made the muskets and tools that helped win American independence, and history books mostly skip it. The Freedom Forge Foundation is fixing that with Revolution on the Rappahannock: Hunter's Iron Works and American Independence, a two-day Stafford VA250 Commemoration Event at Pratt Park, 120 River Rd, Falmouth.
Saturday, October 10
Symposium, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, with six historians and collectors on Hunter, his guns, and self-emancipation at the iron works
Main event, 1 to 5 PM: military reenactments featuring the Commander-in-Chief's Guard Company (The Old Guard), living history, blacksmithing and forging, military honors, and bagpipes, recorders, fife and drums
Kid's Corner on the River, with colonial games, crafts, animals, historic relics, and the ghost of James Hunter
Heritage tours of Falmouth Historic Cemetery and Union Church at 3 PM (meet at the Ray Grizzle Activities Center, 60 Butler Rd, or walk the 1.5-mile trail from Pratt Park)
Sunday, October 11
Plaid to the Bone 10K at 8 AM, celebrating Scottish heritage with Clan Hunter joining this year, donuts and cider at the finish
Heritage tours resume at 11 AM
Free and open to the public with advance registration requested. A donation of $10 or more at signup helps cover costs and preserve the Hunter's Iron Works site.
From Government Island to Lake Anna, here is where to find the season's best views without leaving home.
Everybody talks about driving out to Shenandoah. Meanwhile the maples on your own street are putting on a show, and so is a stone quarry in Stafford, a Potomac overlook in King George, and 3,000 acres of lakefront in Spotsylvania. The color has a short run here. Cool nights and sunny days do the work, which usually lands the peak in the first two weeks of October, so the window is real but it is not long.
Stafford — Government Island turns an old quarry into a mirror, with two miles of trail and reflections that photographers chase every October. Embrey Mill's high ground gives you the whole canopy at once, and Curtis Memorial stacks woods, meadows, and lake views into one stop
King George — Caledon State Park is the headliner, with Potomac overlooks along Boyd's Hole and River Trail. The Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail does something different, closing overhead into a tunnel of color that rewards anyone on two wheels
Spotsylvania — Lake Anna State Park brings 10 miles of lake frontage and 15 miles of trails. The battlefields at Chancellorsville and Wilderness offer something quieter, where the color sits on ground that carries its own weight
Make a day of it — go early, when the light comes off the water. Pack a picnic, layer up, and run the loop through all three counties before circling back downtown for dinner
One good windy night can strip a canopy, so check recent photos before you commit to the drive.
36 Years of Crabs and Cocktails: Riverfest Returns to the Rappahannock
Friends of the Rappahannock is marking 36 years of Riverfest, the crab feast fundraiser that keeps the organization's river work funded and running. Expect Billikens BBQ, live music, an open bar, an auction, and a raffle, all on the water at the McDaniel property next to Fredericksburg's City Dock. It's also a green event: FOR eliminates single-use plastic, composting dishes and food scraps and offering reusable cups.
Saturday, September 19, 3 to 8 pm
McDaniel Property, adjacent to Fredericksburg City Dock
Crab feast, open bar, live music, auction, and raffle, all included with your ticket
Bring your ID (checked at the door); kids aren't encouraged and pets aren't allowed except service animals
Free parking at the VRE G & H Lot, with continuous shuttles to the event, or grab a rideshare
Get your ticket and see full details at riverfriends.org/riverfest.
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Locally Owned, Community Driven: Window World of Fredericksburg Does More Than Windows
Your home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. Katie Duvall and the team at Window World of Fredericksburg have spent over two decades making sure it looks and performs like it, specializing in replacement windows, doors, roofing, siding, and gutters. No high-pressure sales tactics, no gimmicks, just honest conversations, quality craftsmanship, and a promise that's never changed: superior products, professionally installed, at a guaranteed low price, backed by one of the strongest warranties in the industry.
They also give back to the community that's supported them from the start, including the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Hub of Hope, the Fredericksburg SPCA, and Micah Ministries.
🪟 Windows, doors, roofing, siding, and gutters
🪟 Guaranteed low price, professional installation, strong warranty
Ready to fall in love with your home again? Start with a free estimate at windowworldfredericksburg.com, or call (540) 834-4244.
FXBG’s Got It
Highlighting a few things worth knowing around town:
New Shopping Center Coming to Stafford's I-95 Corridor
A new shopping center called The Market at Austin Ridge is planned for 962 Courthouse Rd in Stafford, across from the planned Buc-ee's, and will include an Aldi, Texas Roadhouse, Sheetz, and Flagship Carwash. The project just received final approval and plans to break ground soon, though no construction or completion dates have been announced yet.
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, matching six strangers for dinner at a great downtown restaurant on Wednesday, September 30 at 6 pm. No name tags, no icebreakers, just a quick personality quiz and a reservation already handled for you. Grab your seat, or sign up for a future dinner, at fxbgneighbors.dnnr.io.
Stafford's BPOL Tax Goes to a Public Hearing Tonight
Stafford County, the largest locality in Virginia without a BPOL tax, holds a public hearing tonight, September 15 at 6:30 pm, on bringing one back. The proposal would tax gross receipts, not profit, above a $2 million threshold. Supporters cite budget pressure; the Realtors association and Regional Chamber both oppose it. Have your say at the Stafford Government Center, 1300 Courthouse Road.
House Hunch FXBG
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 5 bd, 5 ba, around 4,700 sqft. on around 3 acres.
This listing is brought to you by:
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Quality, Tested CBD – and Why It Matters
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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.
Wednesday, September 16
Pacheca Port Wine Class | 7:00PM
Location: City Vino, 100 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Step inside the world of Port with a behind-the-scenes look through exclusive videos from the estate, followed by a guided exploration of what makes Port unique.
Location: Curio Wine Bar & Tasting Room, 209 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: You’ll taste everything from Bordeaux blends to Napa Valley standouts and beyond, learning how terroir, climate, and winemaking techniques influence this noble grape.
Thursday, September 17
The 39 Steps at UMW Theatre | 7:30PM (through September 27)
Location: Klein Theatre, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Quick-fire costume changes, razor-sharp dialogue, ingenious staging, and a surprise romance round out.
Friday, September 18
Location: City Vino, 100, Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Ddescription: Expect laughter, surprises, and the soft shimmer of the impossible, all carried along by sips perfectly chosen to match the mood.
Always Flavored is turning 6 | 4:0PM (through September 20)
Location: Always Flavored 619, Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join us for a full weekend of celebrating, specials, community, and plenty of flavor.
