|
Summer is in full swing, and Spotsylvania is calling!
Don't let the season slip away without a summer adventure in Spotsylvania County! There is still plenty of time to cross everything off your warm-weather bucket list. From waterfront thrills to historic trails, the perfect stay is waiting for you in Spotsy:
Beyond our convenient hotels and unique lodging, Spotsylvania offers endless ways to fill your days. Discover the history that helped shape a nation at our fascinating museums and scenic battlefields. When the sun goes down, savor the local flavors. From mouthwatering restaurants to our award-winning wineries and breweries, there is a table waiting for you.
Make your first stop the Spotsylvania County Visitors Center for itinerary help, local maps and the perfect souvenirs to remember your getaway. See you soon!
| | |
Fireworks and festivities: Spotsylvania’s Stars & Stripes Spectacular draws thousands
Thousands flocked to the Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic District on Saturday, June 27, for a grand patriotic party. This year's Stars & Stripes Spectacular marked a double milestone: 20 years of the county’s premier event and 250 years of American independence. Despite the threat of showers, the skies remained clear for an afternoon of warm and festive fun.
The celebration spanned the historic district. DJ Charlee kept the energy high at Spotsylvania Courthouse Village, where families enjoyed Fire & EMS demonstrations, activities and games. Next door at Spotsylvania Elementary, children packed the moon bounces while music lovers caught live sets from the Cactus Jack Band and the Kings of Swing on the main stage.
Over at the Holbert Building, the aroma of fairground favorites drifted from an array of food trucks, with dozens of other vendors set up nearby. Guests on the front lawn enjoyed the Schuyler Bluegrass Band and the Mark Templeton Band, alongside high-energy performances by the Bull Run Cloggers.
Across the street, history met modern entertainment. Spotsylvania County Museum and Tourism staff led tours of the Historic Courthouse and Old Jail, with many tourgoers greeted by costumed interpreters from the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society. On the Children's Stage, Revolutionary-era music from Colonial Faire set the mood before magician Jonathan Austin delighted youngsters with his stunts and illusions. More fun nearby included a mechanical bull, face painting and Sheriff’s Office demonstrations.
The unforgettable evening culminated in a breathtaking fireworks display, sponsored by Vakos Companies and synchronized to a custom patriotic soundtrack by 93.3 WFLS.
As the county’s hallmark Independence Day celebration, the Stars & Stripes Spectacular is typically held the Saturday before the Fourth of July. Mark your calendars to celebrate with us next year!
| | |
Saturday, July 18, 2026
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spotsy Towne Centre
Beat the heat and enjoy the summer vibes inside at Spotsylvania Towne Centre during Cheers Festivals' Summer Wine Festival, starting at 11 a.m. July 18. Attendees will taste a variety of wines from Virginia vineyards as they sip and stroll through Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Click here for tickets and info.
| | JEEP Takeover Night at the Races | |
Saturday, July 25, 2026
5-11 p.m.
Dominion Raceway
Bring your Jeep to Dominion Raceway for the ultimate Jeep Crawl! Enjoy a Jeep-only pre-race show before the green flag drops for the NASCAR Weekly Series. Gates open at 5 p.m., and racing starts at 7. Tickets are $20 for adults, and kids 15 and younger get in free with a paid adult admission. Click here for tickets and info.
| | Summer Fest at A. Smith Bowman | |
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bowman Distillery
Fredericksburg Roller Derby and A. Smith Bowman Distillery invite you to their fourth annual SummerFest on Aug. 1. Attendees can sip on frozen daiquiris, beer or cocktails; explore vendors and food trucks; tour Virginia’s oldest distillery; and enjoy complimentary tastings. Free admission and parking. Click here for details.
| | Information is subject to change. Please confirm details before making your plans. | | |
Experience the Genesis of Flight, coming soon to Shannon Air Museum
Let's take a look back at a monumental milestone in aviation and Spotsylvania County history. Fifty years ago, on July 10, 1976, the Shannon Air Museum opened its doors, boasting one of the rarest private collections of antique aircraft in the world.
The museum’s roots date to 1950, when aviation entrepreneur and pilot Sidney Shannon Jr. broke ground on Shannon Airport to honor his father, an Eastern Air Lines co-founder who had established the area's first airfield on his family farm decades prior. Shannon Airport quickly became known for community events, fly-ins and airshows. Later, Shannon Jr. founded the museum to house an extraordinary lineup of vintage aircraft.
The collection was relocated to Richmond after Shannon Jr.’s death in 1981. However, in 2017, the museum reopened, bringing the historic aircraft back to Spotsylvania County. Today, visitors can fly in, drive or walk to marvel at one-of-a-kind survivors of the skies.
Now, as the museum honors its legacy, it's looking toward the future of aviation storytelling. Construction is underway on the Genesis of Flight Experience, an immersive new attraction that will celebrate the creativity, scientific discovery and innovation behind early human flight.
The expansion will shine a special spotlight on the brilliance and determination of aviation pioneers, most notably the Wright brothers. Visitors will get an up-close look at original Wright artifacts alongside exact reproductions.
The new exhibit will feature replicas of aircraft that represent critical advancements in aviation. Guests will trace how rapid engineering innovations transformed a daring dream into reliable, world-changing technology.
Fifty years after its original debut, the Shannon Air Museum is ready to inspire a whole new generation of dreamers. Keep an eye out for the unveiling of the Genesis of Flight Experience, and come celebrate a golden era of aviation history!
| | |
Step back in time at Spotsylvania County Museum | |
Discover the unique history of Spotsylvania County from before its establishment in 1721 through the modern age. Located next to the American Battlefield Trust's First Day of Chancellorsville Battlefield, the Spotsylvania County Museum offers a glimpse at centuries of the county's history in a historically beautiful setting. Admission and parking are free. Visit us at 6159 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. We're open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To stay up to date, follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram for compelling facts and stories about the county's people and places.
| | | | |
History at Sunset series returns to local parks, sites
The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park's popular History at Sunset program is back for the summer! This annual series invites visitors to step off the beaten path and discover rarely visited park areas, untold stories and familiar landscapes seen through a fresh lens. Led by park rangers, these 90-minute evening programs are free and take place every other Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Two upcoming programs are taking place in Spotsylvania County this season:
-
Saturday, July 11 – "Jackson’s Flank Attack in History and Memory": Dive deep into the strategy and legacy behind this Civil War assault and discover why it holds such an exalted place in history. Grab a lawn chair and meet at Chancellorsville Battlefield Tour Stop 8 at 6:30 p.m.
-
Saturday, Aug. 8 – "The Bullock House Site": Take a scenic, 1-mile guided walk along a wooded trail to explore the intense May 3, 1863, fighting around the home of Oscar and Catherine Bullock. Learn how the clash changed the course of the battle and how the Bullock family contended with the war's aftermath. Meet at Chancellorsville Battlefield Tour Stop 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Please note: Rangers recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and bringing water and bug spray.
| | |
Sip on history this summer at 1781 Brewing Company | |
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Spotsylvania County’s 1781 Brewing Company and its sister property, Wilderness Run Vineyards, has stepped up as an official VA250 Commemorative Partner to host Virginia By The Glass, a free, public history speaker series. To mark the occasion, the brewery has crafted three commemorative beers: the Lafayette Saison, Von Steuben Kölsch and Red Coat English Golden Pub Ale.
The events kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a social meet-and-greet, followed by the featured historian's presentation at 7:30 p.m., and a Q&A at 8:15 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is first-come, first-served. RSVP to claim your spot!
Here's the lineup:
- July 9: "Quips & Sips: Ben Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, and More" featuring presidential historian and author Jane Hampton Cook
- July 16: "The Governor, the Germans, and the Story of Germanna" featuring Historic Germanna educator Shannon Doherty
- Aug. 27: "Tsenacommacah and the World the English Entered" featuring Indigenous cultural preservationist Christopher Lee Custalow
- Sept. 10: "From Pulpit to Battlefield: Peter Muhlenberg and the 8th Virginia" featuring Revolutionary era historian Gabriel Neville
| | | | What's new in Spotsylvania County | | |
FALL FUN AHEAD: It's already shaping up to be an autumn full of adventures and good times in Spotsylvania County! Dates are set for some of the county's most beloved annual events. Save these dates:
- Sept. 12-Nov. 7, 2026: Belvedere Plantation's Harvest Festival features a giant corn maze, pumpkin patches, seasonal eats and dozens of family-friendly attractions.
- Sept. 26-27, 2026: Immerse yourself in Greek culture at the Fredericksburg Greek Festival, offering authentic food, traditional music and dancing, local artisans and church tours.
- Sept. 26, 2026: Fredericksburg Dog Mart, America’s oldest dog event, features a dog show, unique demonstrations, youth activities and local vendors.
- Oct. 31, 2026: Shannon Airport's Harvest Festival Fly-in offers high-flying autumn fun with aviation-style trick-or-treating, candy drops, a haunted hangar tour, and a close-up look at rare vintage aircraft.
| AN EPIC CELEBRATION: Battlefield Country Store, a beloved attraction that has gained a loyal following for its stacked sandwiches, dazzling ice cream and milkshake concoctions, and old-fashioned general store vibe, is celebrating 10 years of business this year. To mark this major milestone, Battlefield will host a Highland Games celebration on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come out to celebrate a local favorite with an afternoon of kilts, caber-tossing and incredible spectacles! To stay up to date, follow Battlefield Country Store (6150 Plank Road) on Facebook or Instagram. |
| |  | MALL MANIA: From a wine festival to a plushie giveaway to a vintage celebration, there's a lot going on at Spotsylvania Towne Centre! In honor of the country's 250th anniversary, those who spend $250 at Spotsylvania Towne Centre & The Village any day before July 31 can receive a free, limited-edition America 250 Birthday Cake Plushie! To redeem, bring your same-day qualifying receipts to the mall's Customer Service Center. Limit one gift per person; while supplies last. And Pandora is teaming up with Dance FXBG and Downtown Dolls to host a 1940s celebration with 1940s-inspired refreshments, vintage-themed trivia, paper dolls, mini dance lessons and Victory Roll hair tutorials at Pandora from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Keep an eye out next month for a back-to-school market on Aug. 1, National Night Out on Aug. 4, Virginia's tax-free weekend Aug. 7-9, and the VA250 Car Project, which will feature the VA250 stock car that broke the official land speed record, driving simulators and more in Center Court from Aug. 6-11.
| | VIBIN' WITH VAL: Vibin' with Val is set to celebrate its third anniversary with a weekend of special events and activities. On Friday, July 24, from 3-8 p.m., Black Fredericksburg Radio will broadcast live from the winery, at 10691 Spotsylvania Ave. On Saturday, July 25, from noon to 3 p.m., the winery will host a Sip & Spa Sanctuary. The experience will include a glow kit, a curated selection of four wines, and a choice of luxury 60-minute facial services. Tickets are $198 and are available via Eventbrite. Limited space; reservations required. That evening, from 8-10 p.m., Vibin' with Val will host a stand-up comedy show. Tickets are $25 and are available via Eventbrite. Finally, special anniversary events will conclude with a day party from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 26. | | |
CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS:
Treat yourself to an afternoon of great reads and delicious drinks at the Books & Boba event at Ku Tea Coffee & Tea Town (9861 Patriot Highway) on Saturday, July 18, from noon to 4 p.m. Snag free bookmarks and meet local authors Stephanie Nelson, Sarah Demens, Eris Marriott, and Sharon Krasny. Plus, if you RSVP in advance, you'll receive exclusive mini-books featuring the authors' work!
| ON VACATION: Jimmy the Greek restaurant has closed for summer vacation. It will reopen July 31. | | Information is subject to change. Please confirm details before making your plans. | | Make Spotsy Your Summer Spot | |
| How did you like this email? | | | | | | |
