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Hey neighbor,
The first weekend of November is all about history and good eating. Belmont Farm Distillery throws a free America's 250th and Veterans Day celebration on Saturday, with the Culpeper Minutemen doing a live firing and a new tribute whiskey on the table. A short drive south, the 91st Montpelier Hunt Races fill James Madison's front lawn with steeplechase, terrier races, and tailgates. It's also the final weekend of Culpeper Downtown Fall Restaurant Week, so 15 downtown spots have specials running through Sunday night. Add a Civil War debate at Cedar Run Baptist, a Sunday history walk downtown, and Pizza Sunday at Far Gohn. Grab your calendar, we're pulling up.
— J. Patrick
✨ Fairy Pick of the Weekend
America's 250th & Veterans Day at Belmont Farm
Celebrating America's 250th and Veteran's Day at Belmont Farm Distillery
Saturday, November 7 | 12:00–6:00 PM 📍 Belmont Farm Distillery, 13490 Cedar Run Rd, Culpeper
Belmont Farm is marking Veterans Day week and the nation's 250th with an afternoon of living history. The Museum of Culpeper History brings a collection of Revolutionary-era artifacts, and the speakers run all afternoon: UVA's John Ragosta on the Crisis of 1798 at 1 PM, the Culpeper Minutemen at 2:30 with their gear, a live firing, and the Color Guard, Historic Germanna at 3:30 on the German immigrants who fought for independence, and Rev. Bill Cook of America's Black Robe Regiment at 4 on religious freedom.
Co-owner Chuck Miller will be on site all day signing bottles of Liberty Lightning, a limited-release corn whiskey aged in bourbon barrels. Admission and parking are free, so bring the veterans in your life and make an afternoon of it. Food and music aren't listed yet, so check Belmont's page before you go.
📅 Weekend Rundown
Friday, November 6
🍽️ Culpeper Downtown Fall Restaurant Week — final weekend, through Sunday night, downtown Culpeper. 15 restaurants are in, including Angry Wife Brewhouse, Far Gohn Brewing, Grass Rootes, It's About Thyme, Miss Minerva's Tea Room, Natraj, Olive & Stone, Piedmont Steakhouse, Pinto Thai, Scoop on Davis, Sweet Roux, and Uncle Elders BBQ. Specials run from about $10 treats to $65 three-course dinners and vary by spot, so check the menus on the CRI page. Also Saturday and Sunday.
🏛️ Highlights of Montpelier Tour — 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, James Madison's Montpelier, 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station. Adults $34, seniors and military $32, ages 12–17 $16, ages 5–11 $8 ($1 off online). Also Sunday; the house is closed to regular tours Saturday for the Hunt Races.
🪖 Culpeper Minute Men: Icons of Independence — Museum of Culpeper History, 113 Commerce St. The rattlesnake flag, the hunting shirts, and how the 1775 militia ended up on the county seal. On display through 2026; check culpepermuseum.com for weekend hours. Pairs nicely with Saturday at Belmont.
⚔️ Friday Night Magic: Commander — 5:00–9:00 PM, Final Boss, 201 N Main St. 🔁 Weekly.
🎙️ Trivia Night with the Trivia Guy, Brandon Hamilton — brewery opens 5:00 PM, trivia 6:00–9:00 PM, Belmont Farm Distillery, 13490 Cedar Run Rd. 🔁 Weekly Friday. Free, all ages, teams or solo, five rounds including Name That Tune. No phones.
Saturday, November 7
🐦 Fall Guided Bird Walk — 9:00–11:00 AM, Float On Farms, N. James Madison Hwy (Rt 15), Locust Dale, across from the Inn and Tavern at Meander. Free with registration (a $5 donation is encouraged); Friends of the Rappahannock lead the search for woodpeckers, sparrows, and hawks. Loaner binoculars are first come, first served. The turn isn't signed yet, so look for the teal yard signs and arrive 10–15 minutes early.
🏇 91st Montpelier Hunt Races — Jack Russell Terrier Races kick things off at 10:15 AM, Montpelier, 11407 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station. Steeplechase racing, the Parade of Hounds, a Kids Stick Race, hat and tailgate contests, a vintage car display, and food truks and vendors. A general admission badge is $30 for everyone over 12 (kids 12 and under free), the price goes up on race day, and every car needs a parking pass. Get tickets here.
🏛️ Downtown Culpeper History Walking Tour — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, starts at 111 Commerce St. $25. Also Sunday.
🇺🇸 America's 250th & Veterans Day Celebration — 12:00–6:00 PM, Belmont Farm Distillery, 13490 Cedar Run Rd. ⭐ Fairy Pick — see above.
🎤 Cedar Mountain Debate Series: Who Was the Better Commander? — 5:00–6:30 PM, Cedar Run Baptist Church, 21210 Old Orange Rd, Culpeper. $15. Historians Greg Mertz (for Longstreet) and Frank O'Reilly (for Stonewall Jackson) make their cases. Hosted by the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Foundation.
🍽️ Restaurant Week keeps rolling downtown. See Friday.
Sunday, November 8
🏛️ Highlights of Montpelier Tour — 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station. See Friday.
🏛️ Downtown Culpeper History Walking Tour — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, starts at 111 Commerce St. $25. A 75-minute walk from early settlement through the Civil War.
🍕 Pizza Sunday at Far Gohn Brewing — open 12:00–8:00 PM, 301 S East St, Culpeper. 🔁 Weekly. Far Gohn is a Restaurant Week spot too.
🇫🇷 Français with Françoise — 3:00–5:00 PM, Revalation Vineyards, 2710 Hebron Valley Rd, Madison. A free French conversation group. While you're there, Rachana Damani's Art @ The Vineyard show hangs in both tasting rooms (free, through Dec 31).
🍽️ Last call for Restaurant Week — specials end Sunday night.
🥬 Farmers Markets
Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market — the regular season wrapped Oct 31. The winter market picks up Saturdays Dec 5, 12, and 19, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, at the Heritage Park lot, 605 E Spencer St.
Rappahannock County Farmers Market — Saturday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 12018 Lee Hwy, Sperryville. Open through Nov 21, so it's your nearest Saturday market right now. Check before you go.
🚛 The Flavor Route Sponsored by Trukfoo!
If you're here → go eat here. Straight talk: no truk has a confirmed Culpeper stop on the books yet this weekend. The good news is that Restaurant Week has 15 downtown kitchens running specials, and the Hunt Races are bringing food truks. Anything not confirmed is marked, so check before you head out.
Friday, November 6
🍽️ Restaurant Week specials @ 15 downtown Culpeper restaurants, through Sunday — menus at culpeperdowntown.com
🍺 Far Gohn Brewing @ 301 S East St, 3–10 PM — a Restaurant Week participant
🎙️ Food & drinks @ Belmont Farm trivia night, 13490 Cedar Run Rd, 5–9 PM — available on site per the listing (no truk named)
Saturday, November 7
🏇 Food truks & vendors @ Montpelier Hunt Races, 11407 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station — on site per the races (truks not named yet)
🍺 Weekend food truk @ Old Trade Brewery, 13270 Alanthus Rd, Brandy Station — unconfirmed, based on the regular weekend pattern
Sunday, November 8
🍕 Pizza Sunday @ Far Gohn Brewing, 301 S East St, 12–8 PM — the brewery's own kitchen, based on the weekly pattern
👉 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, Culpeper. Whether you're watching the Minutemen fire at Belmont, tailgating at the Hunt Races, or eating your way through Restaurant Week, get out there and live it. Downtown doesn't slow down, and neither should you.
See you next weekend.
Pull up soon,
J. Patrick
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The Pull-Up is your weekly guide to food truks, festivals, local events, and hidden gems in Culpeper and beyond. Published by FestiveFly. Written by J. Patrick.