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Hey neighbor,
November's first weekend in the 540 opens with First Friday downtown: galleries open late, the Sip & Stroll is on, and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop hosts a free Revolutionary evening. Saturday morning, the Fredericksburg SPCA fills Hurkamp Park with rescues and adoptable pets for the Animal Rescue Festival, and Caledon State Park pours local wine all weekend at its 21st Art & Wine Festival. Historic Kenmore lights up for Night in Washington's Day, UMW opens Dear Evan Hansen, and country star Mark Chesnutt plays the Groove. Grab your calendar, we're pulling up.
— J. Patrick
✨ Fairy Pick of the Weekend
Animal Rescue Festival at Hurkamp Park
2026 Animal Rescue Festival
Saturday, November 7 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM (Walk for the Animals at 9) 📍 Hurkamp Park, 500 William St (Prince Edward St side), Fredericksburg
The Fredericksburg SPCA's Animal Rescue Festival turns Hurkamp Park into the friendliest block downtown. It starts at 9 with the one-mile Walk for the Animals (bring your pup), then rescue groups, local vendors, music, and activities take over until 2. Come to adopt, come to learn about animal welfare, or just come to scratch some ears.
Listings put the cost anywhere from free to $35 depending on whether you walk, so register ahead on the SPCA's page. The Fredericksburg Farmers Market runs in the same park from 7 to 1, so you can grab your produce and meet the adoptables in one trip.
📅 Weekend Rundown
Friday, November 6
🥓 Makin' Bacon — all day, Dogtopia of Fredericksburg, 4272 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly Friday. A $5 donation to the Dogtopia Foundation gets your pup two pieces of turkey bacon at naptime.
🎨 FXBG First Friday — 5:00–9:00 PM, downtown Fredericksburg. Extended shopping hours, gallery openings, live music, and pop-ups, with the Sip & Stroll running until last call at 8:30. Grab a map at the Visitor Center, 601 Caroline St, open until 8.
🏛️ History after Hours: A Revolutionary Evening — 5:00–8:00 PM, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, 1020 Caroline St. Free. Historian Mark Maloy, in Continental Army uniform, tells the story of the Battle of Princeton, where Gen. Hugh Mercer was mortally wounded, and signs copies of Victory or Death.
🧶 Spinners & Weavers Guild Meet-Up (5:00–9:00 PM) and Non-Traditional Knitters Group (6:30–9:30 PM) — LibertyTown Arts Workshop, 916 Liberty St. 🔁 First Friday. Drop in, try the wheel, say hi.
👧 Mom & Daughter Pajama Party — 6:00–9:00 PM, Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St. $25 per person, ages 6+. Games, crafts, dinner, and a movie in your PJs. Registration was due Nov 1, so check for open spots.
🃏 Friday Night Pokémon TCG (6:30 PM, $10) and Friday Night Magic (7:00 PM) — Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly.
🎤 First Friday Karaoke: Deadly Sins — from 7:00 PM, City Vino, 100 Hanover St. Free, no ticket needed. DJ Great Scott hosts; pick a song for one of the seven deadly sins.
🕯️ Winter Snowflake Sip & Pour Candle Workshop — 7:30–9:30 PM (doors 7:15), Pearlescent Candle Co., 809 Caroline St. $50, 21+, and spots are very limited. Pour a 16 oz snowflake candle; grab a drink from the First Friday vendors on your way in.
🎸 Chauncey Fortune Live — 7:30–9:00 PM, Adventure Brewing North, 33 Perchwood Dr, Unit 101.
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen — 7:30 PM (Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:00 PM), Klein Theatre, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave. $5–$40. UMW Theatre's run of the Tony-winning musical goes through Nov 22.
🎶 AJB at the Stafford Eagles — 8:00–11:00 PM, Fraternal Order of Eagles #4488, 2055 Richmond Hwy, #105, Stafford.
📖 Breaking Lines Poetry Night and Spoken Word — 8:00–9:00 PM, Original Grinds Coffee Shop, 615 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly, hosted by Sera.
🎤 First Friday Karaoke at Reclaim Arcade — from 8:00 PM, 2324 Plank Rd. 🔁 Monthly. Classic machines plus the mic; 18+ after 8.
🎤 Karaoke Friday + DJ Friday Night — 9:00 PM, Spirits Bar & Restaurant, 816 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly, DJ is 21+.
🎧 First Friday DJ Night — 9:30 PM–12:30 AM, Durango Grill, 4256 Plank Rd. 🔁 Monthly, with $5 appetizers.
Saturday, November 7
🥬 Fredericksburg Farmers Market — 7:00 AM–1:00 PM, Hurkamp Park, 500 William St. See Farmers Markets below.
🥞 $5 Pancake Breakfast — 8:00–10:00 AM, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 AF & AM, 803 Princess Anne St (enter on the Hanover St side). 🔁 First Saturday. All-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy for $5.
🐾 Animal Rescue Festival — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM (walk at 9), Hurkamp Park. ⭐ Fairy Pick — see above.
🌵 Cactus Grafting & Propagation Workshop — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Green Eyed Vines Propagation Station, 719 Caroline St. $55, and you take a cactus home.
🍷 21st Annual Caledon Art & Wine Festival — 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Sunday 10–4), front lawn of Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George. Local wineries and restaurants, local artists, and live music, rain or shine. $30 per day for tasters (tickets here); non-tasters and kids free, $5 parking. Bring cash, leave the cooler at home; leashed pets are welcome.
🐈 Cause 4 Paws Feline Rescue Adoption Event — 11:00 AM–4:30 PM, PetSmart Central Park, 1421 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. 🔁 First and third Saturdays. Cats and kittens ready for homes.
🔧 Repair Café — 1:00–4:00 PM, Fredericksburg Library, 1201 Caroline St. Bring broken lamps, electronics, bikes, or clothes, and volunteer fixers will help you repair them. First come, first served.
🚘 610 Cruisers Cruise-In — 4:00–8:00 PM, 269 Garrisonville Rd, Stafford. 🔁 Weekly Saturday; the season wraps Nov 14.
🏺 Handbuilding Discovery Night — 6:00–8:30 PM, Corgi Clay Art Center, 15 Tech Pkwy, Stafford. $70, ages 14+, all supplies and firing included, and only eight seats. Tonight's focus is coil-built forms.
🕯️ Night in Washington's Day — 6:00–9:00 PM, Historic Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave. The Great House and grounds lit the 18th-century way, plus night-sky viewing. $15 adults, $7 students, 5 and under free; advance tickets strongly recommended.
🌿 Kokedama Workshop — 7:00–9:00 PM, Green Eyed Vines Propagation Station, 719 Caroline St. $55. Make a Japanese-style moss-ball plant, no pot required.
😂 Comedy and Wine at City Vino — doors 7:00 PM, show 7:30 PM, 100 Hanover St. $30 for four comics, each paired with a wine, plus a light snack.
🤠 Mark Chesnutt — 7:00 PM, The Groove Music Hall, 6501 Dominion Raceway Ave, Woodford. $46.50–$119; the front rows are already gone.
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen — 7:30 PM, Klein Theatre, UMW. See Friday.
🪩 DJ Saturday Nights — 9:00 PM, Spirits Bar & Restaurant, 816 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly, 21+.
Sunday, November 8
🏃 Social Stride First Anniversary Run — around 8:30 AM (no later than 9), Lucky Road Run Shop, 1865 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. The local running club turns one: bibs, photos, samples, and more.
🥬 Spotsylvania Sunday Farmers Market — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Spotsylvania High School lot, 6975 Courthouse Rd. See Farmers Markets below.
🍷 Caledon Art & Wine Festival, Day 2 — 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George. See Saturday.
🔮 Grimoire's Gothic Market — 12:00–5:00 PM, Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. $2. Folklore-inspired vendors: tarot, crystals, herbs, candles, and fragrance makers.
🎲 Bolt Action Game Day — 12:30–3:30 PM, Hobby Town, 4143 Plank Rd. 🔁 Second Sunday. No models needed; new players welcome.
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen Matinee — 2:00 PM, Klein Theatre, UMW, 1301 College Ave, with an AfterWords discussion.
🗡️ Flesh & Blood TCG Weekly Sunday Armory — 2:00–5:00 PM, Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly.
🍺 Seltzer Sunday — Adventure Brewing, both locations. $6 pints and $5 cans to go.
🎯 Cornhole Tournament — sign-up 7:30 PM, tournament 8:30 PM, Spirits Bar & Restaurant, 816 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly, 21+, valid ID required.
🥬 Farmers Markets
Fredericksburg Farmers Market — Hurkamp Park, 500 William St. Saturdays, 7:00 AM–1:00 PM, through December 5. Produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, and honey, with the Animal Rescue Festival next door this week.
Spotsylvania Farmers Market — Saturday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (November hours), Route 3 VDOT Commuter Lot, 12150 Gordon Rd. 🔁 Also Sunday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Spotsylvania High School lot, 6975 Courthouse Rd; Sundays run through Nov 22.
Stafford Farmers Market (Long Family Markets) — Sundays, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM through Thanksgiving week, 610 Slug Lot, 163 Staffordboro Blvd, Stafford.
🚛 The Flavor Route Sponsored by Trukfoo!
If you're here → go eat here. Adventure Brewing has truks on its calendar all weekend, and Caledon's Art & Wine Festival is bringing local restaurants. Nothing else is confirmed yet, so anything marked gets a quick check before you head out.
Friday, November 6
🍕 Rosie's Pizza @ Adventure Brewing — on Adventure's calendar (time and location not specified; Chauncey Fortune plays North, 33 Perchwood Dr, at 7:30)
Saturday, November 7
🌮 Chapo's Tacos @ Adventure Brewing — on Adventure's calendar (time and location not specified)
🍷 Local restaurants @ Caledon Art & Wine Festival, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George, 10 AM–5 PM — promoted by the park; no truks named. Outside food isn't allowed.
🍺 Weekend food truk @ Creekside Farm Brewery, 15492 Creekside Ln, King George, open 12–9 PM — unconfirmed, the lineup isn't posted yet
Sunday, November 8
🌮 Chapo's Tacos @ Adventure Brewing — on Adventure's calendar (time and location not specified)
🍷 Local restaurants @ Caledon Art & Wine Festival, 10 AM–4 PM — Day 2
👉 Want the full, always-updated schedule? Head to trukfoo.com to see every truk's stops in real time.
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Around Virginia
Central Virginia / Richmond
Garden Glow at Maymont
Friday, November 6–Sunday, November 8 | 5:00–10:00 PM (final entry 9:00 PM) 📍 Robins Nature Center entrance, 2201 Shields Lake Dr, Richmond
It's closing weekend for Maymont's light show, so this is your last shot. Plan about 90 minutes to wander the glowing grounds, then warm up in the Glow Village with fire pits, food truks, and Glow Bars. All three nights are standard nights: adults $25, seniors and kids 1–16 $21, infants free. Grab tickets here.
Charlottesville
Apple Harvest Festival at Albemarle CiderWorks
Saturday, November 7 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 📍 Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln, North Garden
A down-home orchard day just south of Charlottesville: hayrides over the mountainside, apple and cider tastings, cider-pressing and jam-making demos, Brunswick stew, and an apple pie contest with the winner named at 1 PM (slices go on sale after to benefit the Ruritans). Tara Mills Band, Small Town Rodeo, and 7th Grade Girl Fight play all day. Rain or shine; admission isn't posted, so check before you go.
Northern Virginia
Cox Farms Fall Festival
Friday, November 6–Sunday, November 8 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (last entry 4 PM) 📍 Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville
The season ends Sunday, so this is the last call for NoVA's favorite fall festival. Friday is the deal at $15; Saturday and Sunday are $25. Tickets are dated, so buy online before you make the drive.
Hampton Roads / Virginia Beach
Dominion Energy Garden of Lights
Opens Friday, November 6 | nightly through January 3 📍 Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd, Norfolk
Norfolk's 30-plus-year holiday tradition switches on this weekend: a one-mile, walk-only loop of lights through the garden, and its biggest fundraiser of the year. Non-member adult tickets run $24–$30 depending on the night and kids 3–12 are $15–$18, with $5 more for walk-ups. Sunday is Barks & Bulbs night, so the dog can come too. Opening-night hours and pricing aren't posted yet, so check the site before you drive down.
Shenandoah Valley
Harvest Fest, Harrisonburg Farmers Market
Saturday, November 7 | 8:00 AM–1:00 PM 📍 Harrisonburg Farmers Market, 228 S Liberty St, Harrisonburg
The Valley's favorite market throws an end-of-harvest party: pumpkin painting, fall food, an annual pie contest, and giant bubbles from Bubbles by the 'Burg, with live music to be announced. JMU Sport and Recreation students help run the games, so it's built for kids. Check the market's page for the latest lineup.
More Virginia festivals: Festival Guides and Reviews.
That's the lineup, FXBG. Whether you're walking a rescue pup through Hurkamp Park, sipping your way across Caledon's lawn, or seeing Kenmore by candlelight, get out there and live it. The 540 doesn't slow down, and neither should you.
See you next weekend.
Pull up soon,
J. Patrick
🚀 Before You Go
If you like what you see here, pull up and connect with us on these platforms:
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The Pull-Up is your weekly local events guide for the 540 — Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and beyond. Published by FestiveFly. Written by J. Patrick.