Hey neighbor,
Christmas comes early this weekend — twice, actually. Over 175 vendors take over the Convention Center for the Countdown to Christmas Craft Show, complete with a 35,000-square-foot Winter Wonderland light trail, while Strangeways throws its own holiday-in-July market on Saturday. Yes, it's 90 degrees outside. No, nobody asked questions.
If tinsel in July isn't your speed, there's still NASCAR under the lights at Dominion Raceway, a Hawaiian Latin luau at Highmark, a horse show, a pinball fundraiser, two separate animal-themed yoga classes, and enough farmers markets and craft workshops to fill every open hour of your weekend.
Here's everything worth pulling up for.
— J Tourismo
🧚 Fairy Pick: Countdown to Christmas Craft Show
The Countdown to Christmas Craft Show
Friday, July 24 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 📍 Fredericksburg Convention Center
Over 175 vendors selling handmade ornaments, décor, and gifts, plus the Winter Wonderland Experience — a 35,000-square-foot light trail presented by Memorable Moments. It's the strangest, most magical way to knock out your holiday shopping in the middle of summer. Bring the kids, bring the camera, leave the sweater at home.
📅 Weekend Rundown
Friday, July 24
Fun Fest 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Salem Church Branch Library, Spotsylvania County. Games, activities, and popsicles courtesy of the Friends of the Library — more Fun Fest dates roll through Stafford and Westmoreland into August.
Countdown to Christmas Craft Show ⭐ Fairy Pick 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Fredericksburg Convention Center. This is the one. See above.
Makin' Bacon 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Dogtopia, 4272 Plank Rd. $5 donation to the Dogtopia Foundation gets your pup turkey bacon at naptime — every Friday.
Adoption Event at PetSmart Central Park 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Meet adoptable pets and maybe bring one home.
Emily Woodhull at Billikens Smokehouse 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Alt-country singer-songwriter rooted in Shenandoah Valley storytelling.
Yoga Pawty 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Old Dominion Humane Society, 3602 Lafayette Blvd. Puppy cuddles, then 45 minutes of yoga — $20 donation, all ages, save your spot online.
Drunk History Wino Edition 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | City Vino. History Walks Fredericksburg teams up with City Vino for a wine-fueled Revolutionary-era storytelling night. 21+, limited tickets, also running Saturday.
Breaking Lines Poetry Night 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Original Grinds Coffee Shop. Weekly open mic for spoken word under new host Sera.
Pop Punk Showcase 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM | Reclaim Arcade. Tell Me More!, AITA, and Just Happy To Be Here — $15 gets you the show plus free play on 75+ arcade and pinball games. 18+.
Saturday, July 25
Annual Iris Sale 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Meadows Nursery, 5043 Plank Rd. Beardless, tall bearded, and everything in between while supplies last.
Kitten Yoga 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Possum-bilities in the Burg, 211 William St. Beginner-friendly flow with adoptable ASPCA kittens, meet-and-greet after — 20% of ticket sales go to the ASPCA.
Bat Yoga 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Possum-bilities in the Burg. Same idea, but with an ambassador bat from Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia. $28, ages 10+, space limited — email to register.
Christmas in July Market at Strangeways Brewing 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Local vendors, handcrafted goods, and an early start on holiday shopping — round two of the Christmas-in-summer trend this weekend.
Local Author Book Signing 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Hexes & Healing: The Witchy Store, Downtown Fredericksburg. Virginia authors signing and selling — email ahead if you want a table.
Boogie at the Raceway | Dominion Raceway, Thornburg. Gates 5:00 PM, green flag 7:00 PM. Late Models, Dominion Stocks, Legends, Mini Cups, plus a kids' dance party and tie-dye station before the racing starts. Adults $20, kids 15 and under free with a paid adult.
Adult Field Day 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Strangeways Brewing. Tug-of-war, relay races, and water balloons for grown-ups — tickets cheaper in advance at adultrecessfxbg.com.
Hawaiian Latin Luau Night 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Highmark Brewery. Cha cha lesson at 6:30, DJ Elle Jay spinning Latin tropical hits after. Free entry, free parking, family friendly.
Sunday, July 26
Hazelwild Farm Equestrian Center Horse Show 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. BHSA/VHSA-sanctioned classes for riders and spectators.
Summer Sunday Fundays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | HobbyTown. Free weekly kids event — build a wooden airplane or model kit.
Book Vase Painting + Flower Bar 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | 817 Caroline Street. Paint a ceramic book vase, build a bouquet with flowers from a local small business. $50, seats limited.
Hooky Skills-Based Scavenger Hunt 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | 51 Towne Center Blvd. Team up, race through riddles and local-business clues — top three teams take home prizes.
Tilt Against the Darkness: A Pinball Fundraiser 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 11800 Main St. Match-play pinball tournament benefiting Victims & Villains' mental health advocacy work. $20 entry, brewery opens at 11 AM.
Fill The Truck — School Supplies 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Orleans Bistro & Grill, 5442 Southpoint Plaza Way. Drop off supplies for local homeless and in-need youth headed back to school.
🌽 Farmers Markets This Weekend
Recurring every Saturday — rain or shine. Add these to your standing weekend routine.
Fredericksburg Farmers Market
Saturdays | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Hurkamp Park, Prince Edward St, Fredericksburg
Fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, honey, and more — all local. The original downtown staple.
Spotsylvania Farmers Market
Saturdays | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | 12150 Gordon Rd, Spotsylvania
Support local Spotsylvania vendors and stock your kitchen with the best the county has to offer.
🍽️ Flavor Route
Wine, dogs, and a midnight market — your trukers are stacking stops all over the 540 this weekend. Here's where to catch them Friday through Sunday.
Friday, July 24
🌭 Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ @ Montclair, 4398 Spillway Ln, Montclair | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🍢 Kusina Filipino Restaurant @ Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy, Fredericksburg | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🍗 Hot Mama's Biscuits @ Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday, July 25
🍕 Matteo's Slice Box @ Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy, Fredericksburg | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🍗 Hot Mama's Biscuits @ Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair | 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🍬Sugar and Pop @ Spotsy Farmers Market, Spotsylvania | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🍕 Matteo's Slice Box @ Highmark Brewery (Latin Night) | 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Sunday, July 26
🍗 Hot Mama's Biscuits @ Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair | 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🍬 Sugar and Pop @ Long Family Markets - Stafford, Stafford | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
👉 Want the full, always-updated schedule? Head to trukfoo.com to see every truk's stops in real time.
🚛 TRUKFOO: THE LOCAL FOODIE CHEAT CODE
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🚀 Before You Go
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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 Tourismo.