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Hey neighbor,
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so Friday and Saturday are packed with costume strolls, trunk-or-treats, ghost tours, and a few grown-up parties. Whether you’re dressing up the kids or heading out after bedtime, our weekend guide below has you covered, including a Fly-In where candy drops from the sky. I also have news to share: Jennifer C. and Madison V. won our Eve’s Haunted Soirée giveaway. Elsewhere in this issue, a new Drew Middle School is on the way in Stafford, and Habitat for Humanity is looking for buyers for six new Mayfield homes.
Let's get into it.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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🎃 Halloween Weekend Around Fredericksburg
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so Friday and Saturday are packed with costume strolls, trunk-or-treats, ghost tours and haunted attractions, plus a few grown-up parties. Here’s what’s happening across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania and Caroline this week. The full guide has every event with times, addresses and links.
Friday, Oct. 30
Halloween Celebration for adults, 1:30 p.m. The Fredericksburg Branch library hosts Halloween crafts and activities for adults, and costumes are encouraged.
Ink Cave Tattoo trunk-or-treat, 6 to 9 p.m. Decorated mini trucks, candy and a moon bounce in Falmouth.
Drunk History at Cheeky’s, 6:15 p.m. History Walks FXBG pairs drinks with local stories of crime, punishment and witches ($65 plus tax, 21+).
Halls of Hysteria, evenings. The indoor haunted attraction at the Fredericksburg Convention Center runs Friday and Saturday ($25, ages 13 and up suggested).
Halloween ghost tours, 7:30 p.m. History Walks’ Halloween season tour includes time inside Masonic Lodge No. 4 ($32, with two flights of stairs).
Scary Music for Organ, 7:30 p.m. A free concert of haunting organ music at St. George’s Episcopal Church, and costumes are welcome.
Veronica’s Room, 8 p.m. Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble’s Ira Levin thriller plays Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Family Costume Stroll and Treats on the Streets. Line up at 8:30 a.m. at VRE Lot B on Caroline Street, stroll at 9:30, then trick-or-treat at downtown businesses from 10 a.m. to noon (free).
Halloween at the Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farmers market in Hurkamp Park adds Halloween fun and local artists and crafters.
Halloween Open House at the Fredericksburg Area Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A free, family-friendly open house at the museum on Market Square, where the costume stroll ends.
Harvest Festival Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shannon Airport hosts a haunted hangar tour, aviation-style trick-or-treating and candy drops from the sky.
Angels vs Devils 5K, 5:30 p.m. Pick a side and run from Pratt Park or St. Clair Brooks Park in Stafford.
Fredericksburg Church of Christ trunk-or-treat, 5:30 p.m. Free candy and lawn games on Riverside Drive.
For grown-ups: a 21+ Spooky Sip n’ Spin pottery class at LibertyTown Arts Workshop at 6 p.m. ($50), Emo Night at Reclaim Arcade at 8 p.m. ($15 with free play), Fun Land After Hours starting at 10 p.m. ($30 plus tax, adults only) and Roswell 1947, a Martian-themed Halloween weekend at Happy Endings on Friday and Saturday.
All week
Scarecrow Fest and Duck & Seek. Vote for your favorite scarecrows along Caroline Street and hunt for 13 rubber ducks in shop windows (hunt sheets at the Visitor Center) through Oct. 31.
Upcycled Ghost Art Show. See local artists' ghostly makeovers of secondhand art at the Visitor Center through Nov. 1 (free).
Pumpkin patches. Snead's Farm in Caroline County is open daily through Nov. 1, and Belvedere Plantation in Spotsylvania is open Thursday to Sunday through Nov. 7. Miller Farms Market in Locust Grove has its corn maze all week and pick-your-own pumpkins with free hayrides on Saturday, and Round Hill Farm in Culpeper is open Friday through Sunday.
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Locally Owned, Community Driven: Window World of Fredericksburg Does More Than Windows
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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.
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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:
📸Credit: Stafford County Public Schools
A New Drew Middle School Is Officially on the Way
Shovels are in the ground for the new Edward E. Drew, Jr. Middle School in Stafford. Stafford County Public Schools held a groundbreaking earlier this month at the Oak Knoll Farm site near Clift Farm Road and Leeland Road, with remarks from Principal Amy Ivory and Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith and a performance by Drew band and chorus students. The new school will serve about 1,100 students, a big step up from the 650-student capacity of the current building, which dates to 1951. Plans include athletic fields, and the school is scheduled to open in August 2028. Middle school boundaries are being redrawn ahead of the opening, so families should watch for updates from the division.
Premium Coworking Space Venture X Is Coming to Aquia Town Center
Stafford is getting a new place to work. Venture X, an award-winning flexible workspace provider, will open at 475 Aquia Towne Center Drive in the second quarter of 2027, filling the entire fifth floor with 20,000 square feet of space. Plans include more than 90 private offices, four meeting rooms, a large training room, a community café area, and virtual office plans with address and mail service. Franchise owners Richie and Charissa Parsons are investing $3 million in the project, their sixth Venture X location, and hope to begin construction in January. It’s good news for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and remote workers looking for options close to home.
Rama Catering Rolls Out a Second Food Truck
You may know them as the mint green Shawarma Rama truck, and now Senna and Robbie Al-Safari have a second one. The brand-new truck brings a fresh concept that pairs infused Mediterranean dishes with BBQ favorites, built on fresh herbs, hearty proteins, and sides that leave you feeling good rather than weighed down. The original truck is known for its trio plate of chicken, steak, and falafel with spicy garlic and dill sauces, so expect that same focus on flavor and freshness. The new truck is available to book for corporate events, community gatherings, parties, and celebrations. Book the new truck: ramafxbg.com
Six New Habitat Homes Are Going Up in Mayfield, and Buyers Are Wanted
Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity is building six homes on Davies Street in the Mayfield neighborhood, its first new construction since 2022, and it is looking for families to buy them. Each home is about 1,232 square feet. These homes aren’t free: buyers take on an affordable mortgage, complete volunteer “sweat equity” hours, and finish a financial education course. The program is aimed at working households that still struggle to afford a home, including teachers, school staff, first responders, and first-time buyers. The first step is a virtual interest meeting, held one Wednesday each month at 2, 4, and 6 PM. Learn more: fredhab.org/programs/homeownership
Local Business Owners: Get Your Free Spot in the Holiday Gift Guide
Every gift bought from a neighbor pays a local paycheck and keeps the places we love open, and the new Fredericksburg Area Local Gift Guide makes shopping local the easy option. It launches Tuesday, November 10 and runs through Small Business Saturday, reaching 73,400 neighbors across Stafford, Spotsylvania, the City of Fredericksburg, Caroline, and King George through our newsletter, social media, and December magazines. Listings are free for any business serving our area, from shops and restaurants to salons, classes, and experiences (national chains excluded). Sign up by Friday, November 6 to be included on launch day, and consider a featured spot if you want extra visibility. Not a business owner? Forward this to a local favorite. Count me in: fxbgneighborsconnect.com
The Cards Have Spoken: Meet the Winners of Eve’s Table 🔮
Congratulations to Jennifer C. and Madison V., the two winners of our Eve’s Haunted Soirée giveaway at Eden Try Winery! Thank you to everyone who entered and shared what they hope the tarot reader will tell them. Jennifer and Madison, watch your inbox for your details, because you’ll be taking your seats on Friday, October 30 for a candlelit dinner in the Great Hall with a winetail, a tarot reading, four courses paired with Eden Try wines, and a live string ensemble. Friday is sold out, but there’s still a seat at Eve’s table on Thursday, October 29, and I’ll be there. Reserve yours: edentrywinery.com/eveshauntedsoiree
Zynda Apothecary Says Goodbye to Downtown Fredericksburg
Zynda Apothecary has closed its downtown Fredericksburg shop at 1009 Princess Anne Street and is relocating to Annapolis Mall. The modern apothecary, rooted in mind, body, and soul, is known for natural blends, essential oils, and signature scent-creating options. If you picked up a favorite blend downtown, now’s the time to follow along with their next chapter. We wish the Zynda team all the best in their new home.
Fitness:1440 Fredericksburg Is on the Move
Fitness:1440 Fredericksburg has closed its doors at 570 Celebrate Virginia Parkway in the Celebrate Virginia North Shopping Center. Management shared on social media that they are preparing to move to a new facility, though a new location has not been confirmed yet. If you’re a member, follow Fitness:1440 on social media for updates on where they land next.
Spotsylvania School Staff Are Getting Bonuses
The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors has approved $2,619,540 in bonuses for school employees. The money comes from state budget amendments added in December 2025 that included a 2 percent bonus for school staff statewide. Because Spotsylvania already paid employees enough to meet the state’s waiver requirements, the county did not need to match the funds. Some supervisors had hoped to put the money toward capital projects, but the board backed the bonuses after hearing that teachers had been promised them. Full-time employees who worked as of April 1 and returned this year will receive $625, part-time employees $300, and those working fewer than 10 hours a week $150. Read the staff report: spotsylvaniacova.portal.civicclerk.com
Market Square’s Alley Is Getting a Makeover
We now know what a $17,000 state grant will do for downtown. Fredericksburg VA Main Street, Inc. will use the funding to redo the alley that connects Caroline Street to Market Square, with three new murals, updated banner flags, and better lighting, plus more to come. A $5,000 grant from the Dominion Energy Foundation adds to the project, which is one piece of the Market Square small-area plan developed over the past two years. The state money is part of $615,000 awarded to 22 Virginia Main Street projects. Learn more about Main Street: fredericksburgmainstreet.org
House Hunch FXBG
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing in Stafford County based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 5 bd, 4 ba, around 3,800 sqft. On around 10 acres with an in-ground pool, greenhouse, and three-stall barn.
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.
Wednesday 10/28
MYTHBUSTERS: Plant Edition Class - Learn evidence-based facts behind common plant-care myths at Green Eyed Vines Propagation Station.
Wild Mushroom Wine Dinner - Savor a multi-course wild mushroom menu paired with wines from Italy, France, and Germany at Cork and Table.
Open Mic Wednesdays - Share or enjoy performances across genres, from acoustic to hip hop, at Original Grinds.
Thursday 10/29
Costume Party - Axe Throwing - Wear a costume and receive $10 off axe throwing at FXBG Axes.
Trunk Or Treat at Barley Naked Brewing Co. - Families can enjoy costumes, face painting, character photos, treats, and a costume contest at Barley Naked Brewing Company.
Social Mahjongg - Meet fellow players, sharpen your skills, and enjoy casual tile play at the Upper Level Fredericksburg Wegmans.
Friday 10/30
Meet the Author: The Food Detectives' Rainbow of Clues - Running Friday 10/30 through Saturday 10/31, this family-friendly book launch features a read-along, author meet-and-greet, signing, and sensory activity at Fredericksburg Food Co-op.
Drunk History at Cheeky's - Explore bizarre Colonial-era crimes, punishments, and witch stories over craft cocktails at Cheekys.
Fifth Friday Karaoke: Dead Poets Society - Take the stage with songs by departed or long-gone artists at City Vino.
Halloween Eve: A SOUND OF THUNDER with special guest METALLIFUN - Celebrate with live heavy metal, bluegrass metal covers, arcade games, and a full bar and dinner menu at Reclaim Arcade.
