Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has announced dates for the 2024 National Night Out events.
National Night Out is an annual event offering a chance to meet your neighbors, interact with law enforcement, and learn about multiple businesses and non-profit services in the community.
The department has opened registration for neighborhoods interested in hosting a Night Out, and for those interested in exhibiting at the Stafford Marketplace event in October.
George may have a Federal holiday, but Historic Kenmore is making sure his sister Betty has a party of her own. Betty Washington’s 291st birthday celebration will be June 22 at her Fredericksburg home Kenmore.
Betty Washington Lewis and her husband Fielding Lewis began construction on Kenmore in 1769, and the family moved in by the fall of 1775. The Fredericksburg plantation originally covered 1,270 acres, now reduced to a single city block. Kenmore is notable for its 18th-century decorative plasterwork ceilings. After Fielding’s death in 1781, the property passed to his first-born son, John, while Betty stayed on for 14 more years. Kenmore has had eleven owners and has been owned by The George Washington Foundation since 1925. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Kenmore invites guests to visit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enjoy Crumbl cookies and a cup of tea while learning about life as a lady in the 18th century – their games, hobbies, fashion, and more. Birthday festivities are included in General Admission tickets. Admission is free for children under 6.
Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the door. Historic Kenmore is located at 1201 Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg.
The City of Fredericksburg has announced the revival of its “Around the Town” free trolley service to downtown for the upcoming summer season. Operated by Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg, the service will run on Friday and Saturday evenings from May 31 to August 31, offering residents and visitors a convenient way to explore downtown attractions.
The trolley will make a 20-minute loop around downtown with stops at six locations, including popular spots such as the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, Carl’s Ice Cream, Mason Dixon Café, Haley’s Honey Meadery, Red Dragon Brewery, Harry’s Downtown, Mellow Mushroom, Castiglia’s, and Rebellion Bourbon Bar and Kitchen. Additionally, on the first Friday of each month, extra stops will be added for art gallery openings. The free, family-friendly rides are available from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Now in its 7th season, the “Around the Town” initiative was introduced in 2018 as part of the city’s efforts to manage downtown parking while enhancing the visitor experience. The trolley service is strategically located near restaurants, public restrooms, coffee shops, art galleries, museums, parks, shops, and key parking facilities.
The initiative has seen a steady increase in ridership since its inception, with reports of full trolleys during peak hours in the previous summer. Danelle Rose, Tourism Marketing and Communications Manager, expressed excitement about the addition of new signs at trolley stops to improve visibility and provide essential information for riders.
Travel counselors will be available at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center to assist with inquiries about the trolley service, parking options, and downtown amenities. The Visitor Center will extend its hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer.
Fredericksburg has posted a map of the route and parking options online.
