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This issue has something for everyone. A food truck that just won first place and earned its own made-up word, a farm fest in King George worth the drive, a high school cook-off where the stakes were deliciously real, and a Saturday night swing dance that might just become your new favorite thing. Oh, and Fredericksburg made a national ranking. Find out where we landed.
Grab your coffee and let's dive in.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
"Smanch" and a Dream: How Smashed Life Went from Food Truck to FXBG Neighbors' Choice Award Winner
James Wine manages facilities for a living. His wife Catie coaches travel soccer. Neither one had a background in food when they launched Smashed Life out of a truck and started pressing burgers in front of Fredericksburg. Turns out, heart travels. The community showed up, kept coming back, and just voted them first place in the Best Food Truck category of the FXBG Neighbors' Choice Awards. with wings, pub favorites, and the same house-made sauces that gave birth to a fan-invented word. (Ask a regular about "smanch." They will explain.)
Follow Smashed Life for Ten Tuesdays deals and dollar fry Wednesdays, and find them at smashed-life.com. First place is just the beginning.
Summer Starts Saturday: A Free Community Festival Is Taking Over Old Mill Park
Summer is not waiting for June. This Saturday, May 30, Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg comes alive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Welcome to Summer Community Festival. Local vendors, food trucks, music, raffle giveaways, and a whole lot of good energy make up the day. The heart of it is simple: a safe, welcoming space where families connect and young people feel seen. Admission is free.
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 33,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
Seven Global Awards. 27 States. One Fredericksburg Agency Doing It All.
If your business needs marketing that actually moves the needle, FLAIR Communication is worth knowing. Founded by Debby Girvan, the Fredericksburg-based agency brings 30-plus years of marketing expertise to businesses that are ready to grow. FLAIR has delivered full websites in five days, secured state contracts, and built strategies for clients in 27 states and four countries, all backed by seven global website design awards. Whether you need a digital overhaul, a faster turnaround than you thought possible, or a partner who takes the time to understand your goals before building a plan, FLAIR delivers. Girvan and her team specialize in making local businesses look and compete like national brands, and the results speak for themselves.
Debby Girvan, Founder and CEO, Flair Communication
"It comes down to relationships. We understand what a client wants to achieve, and we build the right strategy to help them get there.”
Ready to think bigger? Learn more about FLAIR Communication at flaircommunication.com.
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Community Digest
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U.S. News Just Ranked the Best Places to Live in Virginia. Here's Where Fredericksburg Landed.
U.S. News & World Report just released its 2026-2027 Best Places to Live rankings, evaluating communities on affordability, quality of life, job market, and desirability. Virginia had 23 cities ranked this year, and Fredericksburg made the list. Whether you already knew this place was special or you need the data to prove it to someone still on the fence about moving here, the ranking is worth a look.
Curious where Fredericksburg landed? See the full Virginia rankings.
These High School Students Cooked. The Judges Tasted. Stafford High Swept the Culinary Cup.
The Culinary Cup brought culinary students from Brooke Point, Mountain View, and Stafford High Schools together for a cook-off with real stakes. Each team created a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian dish, judged by student government representatives and nutrition staff. The winning recipes earn a spot on next year's school lunch menu. Stafford High didn't just win one category. They swept both.
Congratulations to every student who competed and every teacher who pushed them to get there.
Fresh, Local, and Worth the Drive: Gardening Gays Farm Is Hosting Farm Fest This Saturday and Sunday
Sunscreen, an empty tote bag, and a little bit of nowhere-to-be energy. That is all you need to show up to Gardening Gays Farm in King George this weekend. Farm Fest: Summer Edition takes over the property Saturday and Sunday with local vendors, artisans, food trucks, fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, plants, flowers, baked goods, jams, and handmade goods spilling out across the farm from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The kind of weekend that makes you remember why you love living here.
Gates open at 10. Admission is free. Parking is on site. And nobody has ever left a farm fest with an empty tote. Get yourself to 15267 James Madison Pkwy in King George, May 30 and 31. Learn more and plan your day here.
Every Saturday Night in Fredericksburg, Someone Is Learning to Swing Dance. It Could Be You.
Dance FXBG has been keeping Fredericksburg on its feet with the only weekly East Coast Swing dance in the area, every Saturday night at 902 Caroline Street. For $10, you walk in, catch a free intro jitterbug lesson from 7:30 to 8 p.m., and then dance until 11. No partner required, all ages welcome. Whether you have never swing danced in your life or you just need somewhere to go on a Saturday, this is it.
Show up this Saturday. Tickets are $10 at the door and the lesson is included. Find details and the full calendar at dancefxbg.com
House Hunch FXBG
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Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 4 bd, 5 ba, around 4,100 sqft. on around 1 acre.
This listing is brought to you by:
Want to feature your listing in House Hunch FXBG? Respond to this email for info!
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, May 29
Abner B's Ice Cream 7th Anniversary Downtown | 1:00PM (through May 31)
Location: Abner B's Ice Cream Fredericksburg, 821 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Served over a quarter million guests nearly 500 unique signature flavors with lots more in the barrel yet to come!
Ladies Night | 5:00PM
Location: 109 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join us for an evening of exclusive sales, giveaways, and complimentary drinks and appetizers as we transition into summer!
Carnivourous Bog Workshop | 7:30PM
Location: 720 Caroline St., 720 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come join us for a fun and hands-on in-person workshop all about carnivorous plants and create your very own bog habitat!
Must Love Dogs, Singles Night | 7:00PM
Location: The Barking Barley, 1515 Olde William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Built for people looking for love, friendship, or just good company outside the loud-and-wild bar scene.
00s Hip Hop/R&B Music Bingo | 6:30PM
Location: Laudenbach Brewing, 45 Centreport Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We'll have an evening of Hip Hop/R&B hits that are sure to bring y'all back to the 2000's! 3 rounds, classic bingo rules, all ages.
Rocky Guttman | 7:00PM
Location: 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, 1140 International Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Rocky is a solo acoustic guitarist and singer with over a thousand covers from the '40s through 90's including classic rock, folk, country, and Irish tunes!
Friday Night Music Series | 6:30PM
Location: Potomac Point Winery Bistro, 275 Decatur Rd., Stafford, VA
Description: Experience the magic of live music paired with our award-winning wines and seasonal cuisine.
Saturday, May 30
Location: 12150 Gordon Road, Fredericksburg, VA
2nd Annual Metaphysical Market | 12:00PM
Location: Whole Greens Of VA, 7309 Patriot Highway, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Description: Join us for a day filled with enchanting experiences, where you can explore a variety of metaphysical products, from apothecaries to crystals to tarot cards.
Location: Corgi Clay Art Center, 25 Tech Pkwy, Stafford, VA
Description: Join our fun and interactive family-style clay class and dive into the fascinating world of pottery.
Movie Night | 4:00PM
Location: Victory Church of God, 125 Olde Greenwich Drive, Suite 120, Fredericksburg, VA
Comedy Crave Live | 7:00PM
Location: Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District, 620 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Two shows, one night. Professionally produced stand-up comedy at the Courtyard Marriott.
Sunday, May 31
Long Family Markets Stafford | 8:00AM
Location: 6975 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA
Childhelp Spring Fundraiser | 2:00PM
Location: Eden Try Winery, 6818 River Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
