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Hey neighbor,
The second weekend of October is a maker's weekend in the 540. More than 175 artisans pack the Fredericksburg Convention Center for the Fall Arts & Craft Show, Alpine Chef brings Oktoberfest to the historic train station, and King George throws its 67th annual Fall Festival. Add spooky stories under the trees at Memorial Park, a sea of pink for the Power of Pink walk, the season-finale Cars & Coffee at Gari Melchers' Belmont, pumpkin painting at Tater's Corner, hayrides at Braehead, and a flannel-required 10K at Pratt Park, and there's no reason to sit still. Grab your calendar, we're pulling up.
— J. Patrick
✨ Fairy Pick of the Weekend
Fall Arts & Craft Show
Fall Arts & Craft Show
Saturday, October 10 | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM & Sunday, October 11 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM 📍 Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy
200+ artisans and makers from across the region fill the Convention Center with handmade jewelry, home décor, fine art, woodwork, candles, textiles, specialty foods, and more. Every booth is something different, so it's the kind of place where you walk in for "just a look" and walk out with half your holiday list done. Admission is $7–$8.
It's all under one roof, so it works rain or shine, and it runs both days. Pair Saturday with the farmers market at Hurkamp Park in the morning, or make Sunday your slower shopping day.
📅 Weekend Rundown
Friday, October 9
🥓 Makin' Bacon — starting at noon, Dogtopia of Fredericksburg, 4272 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly Friday. $5 donation gets your pup two pieces of turkey bacon at naptime.
🎸 Dawn & Anthony Live — 6:00–9:00 PM, Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District, 620 Caroline St. 🔁 Second Friday.
👻 Park After Dark — 6:30–8:00 PM, Memorial Park, 1301 Kenmore Ave. Spooky, family-friendly stories under the trees: Earthquest brings a vulture or two, then library storytellers take over. Free, ages 5+, pre-registration recommended. Bring a chair; rain location is Dorothy Hart Community Center.
🍽️ Stated Communication Dinner — dinner 6:30 PM, Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4, 803 Princess Anne St (Baker Room entrance on Hanover St). 🔁 Second Friday. Community members welcome for a catered dinner; $20 donation recommended, semi-formal.
🃏 Friday Night Pokémon TCG Tournament — 6:30 PM, Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly. $10 entry, 3 rounds.
🎶 Connor McLaurin — 7:00–9:00 PM, Adventure Brewing North, 33 Perchwood Dr, Unit 101. Live music in the taproom.
⚔️ FNM – Weekly Draft (7:00 PM, $30) and FNM – Standard (7:15 PM, $10) — Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly.
📖 Breaking Lines Poetry Night and Spoken Word — 8:00–9:00 PM, Original Grinds Coffee Shop, 615 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly, hosted by Sera.
🎤 Spirits Bar Karaoke — 9:00 PM, Spirits Bar & Restaurant, 816 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly Friday.
🏆 Kingz Golden Edition — Oct 9–11, Fredericksburg Field House, 3411 Shannon Park Dr. A three-day Kingzcupusa tournament weekend; check the event page for the schedule.
Saturday, October 10
🥬 Fredericksburg Farmers Market — 7:00 AM–1:00 PM, Hurkamp Park, 500 William St. See Farmers Markets below.
🚗 Cars & Coffee — 8:00–11:00 AM, Gari Melchers Home & Studio at Belmont, 224 Washington St, Falmouth. 🔁 Second Saturday, and the last one of the May–October season. All makes and years welcome; coffee for purchase, museum opens at 10 AM with paid admission. Free.
🎗️ Power of Pink Breast Cancer Walk — 8:30 AM, Mary Washington Orthopedics, 1301 Sam Perry Blvd. Mary Washington Hospital Foundation's annual 2.2-mile walk, with prizes for the biggest team and best pink outfits (pups in pink welcome). $35 online through noon Friday, $15 for 12 and under; day-of registration opens at 7:30 AM. Every dollar stays local.
🛍️ Fall Arts & Craft Show — 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. ⭐ Fairy Pick — see above.
🎃 Braehead Farm Fall Festival Weekend — 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (also Sunday), Braehead Farm, 1130 Tyler St. Hayrides, a corn maze with a pie-thief scavenger hunt, sunflower walk, farm animals, and pumpkins at 90¢/lb. $15 + tax for the festival (2 and under free); the front pick-your-own fields are free to enter.
🍂 67th Annual King George Fall Festival — 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, King George High School, King George. The parade steps off on Route 3 at 11:00 AM. This year's theme is "America the Beautiful – Celebrating 250 Years!" A hometown tradition since 1959 with rides, a petting zoo, a car show, crafters, and food vendors. Free.
🌻 Harvest Day & Flower Bar at Tater's Corner — 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (Sunday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM), Tater's Corner, 89 Chatham Heights Rd. Free pumpkin painting and games for the kids, a floral pumpkin craft for grown-ups, the fall flower bar, and baked goods from Whole Heart Baking Co.
🥨 Alpine Chef Oktoberfest — The Alpine Chef, 200 Lafayette Blvd (the historic train station). German food, beer, music, and Bavarian fun. Start time not posted yet — check before you go.
🚘 610 Cruisers Cruise-In — 4:00–8:00 PM, 269 Garrisonville Rd, Stafford. 🔁 Weekly Saturday.
🪩 DJ Saturday Nights — 9:00 PM, Spirits Bar & Restaurant, 816 Caroline St. 🔁 Weekly Saturday, 21+.
Sunday, October 11
🏃 Plaid to the Bone 10K — 8:00 AM, John Lee Pratt Memorial Park, 120 River Rd, Falmouth. A lumberjack-themed fall race: flannel or tartan required, beards and suspenders encouraged, and apple cider, donuts, and coffee at the finish. Race 10 of the Fredericksburg Area Running Club's Grand Prix series. Heads up: River Rd closes at 7:30 AM, so park at Pratt by 7:25 AM or use the overflow lot at 212 Butler Rd.
🛍️ Fall Arts & Craft Show — 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Fredericksburg Convention Center. Day two.
🌶️ Chili Potluck — 12:00–2:00 PM, Church of the Messiah, 12201 Spotswood Furnace Ln. Bring your favorite chili or a side (cornbread, toppings, dessert) and share.
🗡️ Flesh & Blood TCG Weekly Sunday Armory — 2:00–5:00 PM, Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly. $3 entry + 1 pack.
🃏 Funday Sunday Pokémon TCG — afternoon, Your Hobby Place, 4276 Plank Rd. 🔁 Weekly. $12 entry, 4 rounds, great for newer players.
🎯 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 — fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, and honey from local growers.
Spotsylvania Farmers Market — Saturday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, VDOT Commuter Lot, 12150 Gordon Rd. 🔁 Also Sunday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Spotsylvania High School, 6975 Courthouse Rd.
🚛 The Flavor Route Sponsored by Trukfoo!
If you're here → go eat here. Adventure Brewing has the weekend's confirmed truk lineup. The festivals below have food on site, but they haven't named their truks yet, so give those a quick check before you head out.
Friday, October 9
🍽️ Maria Cheryl's @ Adventure Brewing North, 33 Perchwood Dr, Unit 101 — confirmed on Adventure's calendar (Connor McLaurin plays 7–9 PM)
Saturday, October 10
🍕 Rosie's Pizza @ Adventure Brewing North, 33 Perchwood Dr, Unit 101 — confirmed on Adventure's calendar
🍂 Food truks @ King George Fall Festival, King George High School — unconfirmed, based on past years; lineup not posted
🎃 Farm food + visiting vendors @ Braehead Farm Fall Festival, 1130 Tyler St — the farm serves deli sandwiches, chili dogs, kettle corn, cider, and pumpkin ice cream; visiting vendors not named
Sunday, October 11
🍕 Rosie's Pizza @ Adventure Brewing North, 33 Perchwood Dr, Unit 101 — confirmed on Adventure's calendar (it's Seltzer Sunday, too)
👉 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
Richmond Folk Festival
Friday evening, October 9 – Sunday, October 11 📍 Brown's Island & the Downtown Richmond riverfront, 470 Tredegar St, Richmond
One of Virginia's biggest events and it's free: six stages and 30+ performing groups from around the country and the world, plus traditional crafts, storytelling, and food. Brown's Island is mid-makeover but still hosts two stages and the food vendors. Check the schedule for stage times.
Charlottesville
Fall Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival
Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 11 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 📍 Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet
125+ juried artists in the Blue Ridge foothills, with craft demos, live music, kids' activities, food truks, and Virginia wine and beer. Tickets at the gate or online (12 and under free), leashed pets welcome, and free parking with a shuttle from Western Albemarle High School and Henley Elementary.
Northern Virginia
Fairfax Fall Festival
Saturday, October 10 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 📍 Historic Downtown (Old Town) Fairfax
The big 5-0 for one of NoVA's classic hometown festivals: 400+ art, craft, and food vendors, multiple entertainment stages, beer gardens, and kids' activities. Free admission (rides cost extra), free parking, rain or shine.
Hampton Roads / Virginia Beach
Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival
Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 11 📍 Styron Square, Port Warwick, Newport News
An outdoor walk-through gallery of up to 120 juried artists from across the country, with cash awards in 14 categories, live entertainment all weekend, family activities, and food truks. Check pwartfest.org for hours.
Shenandoah Valley
Saturday, October 10 | 11:30 AM–6:00 PM 📍 Massanutten Resort, McGaheysville
Fall on the slopes with local artisans, food truks, and three Valley bands: Spilling Dew (noon), The Judy Chops (2:15 PM), and The Six Piece Suits (4:30 PM). $11.79 in advance through Oct 9, $20 at the gate, 6 and under free; scenic chairlift rides are $7 and sell out.
That's the lineup, FXBG. Whether you're hunting handmade gifts at the Convention Center, raising a stein at Alpine Chef, or running in flannel at Pratt Park — 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.