Celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s freedom with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop. Living historians will read from the steps in front of the 18th century building at 11am, 1 pm & 3 pm. Join us for this FREE community event as we honor the enduring legacy of the Declaration. It’s a fun Fourth of July tradition for the entire family!

Looking for a fun and educational way to engage your animal-loving kids when they are out of school? The Fred SPCA’s Compassionate Care Camp offers a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about animals and become advocates for their well-being in the community. Campers will discover more about dogs and cats, explore animal-related career fields, learn how to provide daily care for pets, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the work we do at the Fredericksburg SPCA. With engaging discussions and interactive activities covering a wide range of animal welfare topics, this camp is the perfect summer experience for any young animal enthusiast.
Half-Day and Full-Day Camp Sessions Available.

Dog Week, July 6-10 – Learn about dog care, behavior, and communication through fun enrichment activities, games, and hands-on exercises. Group projects help adoptable dogs while building teamwork and confidence.

www.fredspca.org/humaneed

Youth Wrestling Camp (Ages 5-15)

Join us for a fun and exciting youth wrestling camp designed for beginners and experienced wrestlers alike! Participants will learn wrestling fundamentals, improve technique, build confidence, and develop strength and teamwork skills in a positive environment.

Campers should bring water, snacks, and wear athletic clothing each day. All participants will receive a free camp T-shirt.

Fredericksburg’s Revolutionary War Heroes FREE Lecture Series in collaboration with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., continues at Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 on Thursday, July 9!

Learn more about the famous Frenchman who changed the course of the American Revolution, and his affinity with Fredericksburg. This lecture will be given by David Durham, Co-Chair of the Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Committee which planned the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s “Farewell Tour” visit to Fredericksburg in 2024.

Fredericksburg Comic Con returns July 11-12, 2026 to the Fredericksburg Convention Center with Special Guests, Artists, Cosplay, Anime, Gaming, Vendor Market, Artist Alley, and much more!

Kids 10 and under get in FREE with the purchase of any pass.

✨ Join us for the Tiny Trendsetters Fashion Show hosted by Luca Bees Baby Boutique! ✨

Mark your calendars for July 11th at Market Square in downtown Fredericksburg for an unforgettable day of fashion, family fun, and community celebration! 🎀👗🕶️

Enjoy adorable children’s runway looks, tons of amazing vendors, interactive installations, and exciting experiences for the whole family. The entire community is invited to this FREE event, so bring your friends, family, and little trendsetters for a day you won’t want to miss!

📍 Market Square | Downtown Fredericksburg

📅 July 11th from 3pm-8pm

🎉 Free admission

Come shop, support local businesses, and celebrate style with us! #TinyTrendsetters #LucaBeesBabyBoutique #DowntownFredericksburg 

🎆 Visit King George Independence Celebration 🎆

Visit King George, Westbrooke Homes, and King George Parks & Recreation invite residents and visitors to the Visit King George Independence Celebration, honoring America’s 250th Birthday.

Join us on Saturday, July 11th, at Sealston Sports Complex for an unforgettable evening of live music, family activities, food, and a spectacular fireworks display. This free community event brings together friends, families, and neighbors for one of King George’s most anticipated summer celebrations.

Event Details:
Saturday, July 11th
Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.
Sealston Sports Complex | 11050 Fletcher’s Chapel Road, King George, VA
Admission: FREE!

Event Highlights:
🎵 Live music from ThePhipps & ThePhunk performing on the Greenchip Stage. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening of great music under the summer sky.

🌭 Food vendors will be on-site offering a variety of delicious options for all ages. Come hungry and enjoy local favorites and festival-style treats.

🏰 Family fun and kids’ activities provided by KG Bounce.

⛳ Mini-golf fun for all ages—perfect for families looking to enjoy interactive activities together.

🎆 Fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m., lighting up the sky in celebration of Independence and community spirit.

👨‍👩‍👧 What to Know Before You Go:
• Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating
• Arrive early for parking and the best viewing spots
• Expect a large community turnout
• Family-friendly environment for all ages

🤝 Special thanks to our event sponsors, Four Elements Electric and Local Services, for helping make this celebration possible!

🚗 Parking will be available at Sealston Elementary School (11048 Fletcher’s Chapel Road). Please follow posted signage and staff direction upon arrival.

For additional information, contact King George Parks & Recreation:
📧 questions@kgparks.org
📞 (540) 775-4386

Vendor and sponsor opportunities are available. Interested parties may contact:
📧 director@kgparks.org
📞 (540) 775-4386

Celebrate American Independence Between the Rivers with an evening of music, community, and fireworks at one of King George’s signature summer events. Bring your family and friends and be part of this unforgettable celebration!

Join us for a week of engaging activities and educational adventures at the UMW Summer Enrichment Program from July 12-18, 2026. This exclusive residential program caters to rising 10th-12th graders.

What to Expect:

• Diverse Courses: Explore a variety of fun and educational courses taught by UMW Professors.
• Enrichment Activities: Immerse yourself in fun activities throughout the week.
• Discover UMW and Fredericksburg: Get acquainted with the UMW campus and the charming city of Fredericksburg.
• Build Connections: Meet new people and create lasting memories.

Looking for a fun and educational way to engage your animal-loving kids when they are out of school? The Fred SPCA’s Compassionate Care Camp offers a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about animals and become advocates for their well-being in the community. Campers will discover more about dogs and cats, explore animal-related career fields, learn how to provide daily care for pets, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the work we do at the Fredericksburg SPCA. With engaging discussions and interactive activities covering a wide range of animal welfare topics, this camp is the perfect summer experience for any young animal enthusiast.
Half-Day and Full-Day Camp Sessions Available. 

Cat Week, July 13-17 – Explore feline behavior, body language, and enrichment through interactive lessons, crafts, and time with adoptable cats. Activities encourage compassion and problem-solving skills.

Humane Education

No tents, just cents.

Trail mix? Check. Piggy bank? Double check. At Cash Camp you’ll earn your financial badge by learning the ropes of banking, saving, credit, and more — all while having a blast with themed games and hands-on challenges.

You’ll learn how to build a budget that works, how credit, loans, and debt work, career building tips and tricks, and more!

The money adventure for 12-17 year olds.

Note: Lunch will be provided. If your student has allergies, they will need to bring their own lunch. If you have additional questions, you can reply to the confirmation email and we will respond as quickly as possible.

If you’ve got a smartphone, bring it along! We’ll use it for a few activities — but don’t worry, it’s not required.

History buffs, family genealogists, and local residents of all ages are invited to partake in Historic Germanna’s 70^th Anniversary Conference and Reunion, taking place from Thursday July 16 through Sunday July 19. Learn about the often overlooked history of Germanna, a keystone of this region’s history, through exciting lectures, hands-on archaeology, special exhibits, and more! A variety of activities are planned for each day of the conference; choose to attend one or all of the many engaging events we have planned.

A schedule-at-a-glance is available below; you can learn more by visiting germanna.org/conference.

Interested attendees can register at germanna.org/conference; don’t wait – if you register by June 1, you can take advantage of our special Early Bird rates!

Thursday, July 16, 2026:

10:00am-4:00pm: Registration – Historic Germanna Visitor Center (2062 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove, VA 22508) – Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up your registration packet, check out the exhibits and library, and meet friends and family!

10:00am-4:00pm: Public Archaeology Day – Fort Germanna/Enchanted Castle Site – View archaeology work in progress at the Fort Germanna/Enchanted Castle site. Check out the interesting artifacts and the stories they tell. Visit with our resident archaeologists as they talk about this year’s discoveries. No registration required. Upon arrival to the Visitor Center, attendees will be given a timed ticket and directions to access the site. Last entry at 3:00pm

12:00pm-4:00pm: Special Exhibit – Hitt Archaeology Center (2058 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove, VA 22508) – View a rare new anniversary exhibit, on display for this weekend only, featuring significant artifacts from the collections of Historic Germanna and other cultural institutions.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Faith and Revolution: A Colonial Evening at Little Fork Church –  Little Fork Episcopal Church (16461 Oak Shade Rd, Rixeyville, VA 22737) – Kick off this exciting weekend with an opening gathering at Little Fork Church! This event introduces participants to the religious and cultural life of colonial Virginia, showing how churches, clergy, and communities were part of everyday life. Step into the social and spiritual world of Revolutionary-era Virginians as you share a colonial-style picnic supper inspired by eighteenth-century Virginia, while historical interpreters portray clergy from several Christian traditions active during the Revolutionary era. Along the church’s historic grounds and ADA-accessible interpretive trail, temporary installations will introduce visitors to clergy figures and religious communities that shaped the religious landscape of colonial Virginia.

Friday, July 17, 2026:

9:00am-4:00pm: Before Religious Freedom: Faith Traditions in Revolutionary Virginia Symposium – Little Fork Episcopal Church (16461 Oak Shade Rd, Rixeyville, VA 22737) – As Little Fork Episcopal Church and our nation celebrates 250 years, join distinguished speakers representing the Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, and Presbyterian faiths as they discuss the history of American religion in 18th century Virginia — and its role in fomenting revolution by 1776. Scholars representing several Christian traditions present in colonial Virginia will interpret the roles their traditions played in the religious and political developments surrounding the American Revolution. Each speaker will offer insight from within their own denominational or scholarly perspective, helping participants understand why the emergence of religious liberty during this period was such a significant historical development. A catered lunch is included.

6:00pm-10:00pm: 70th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Celebration – Historic Germanna Visitor Center Campus (2062 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove, VA 22508) – The signature evening of the celebration weekend will feature a tented dinner at the Historic Germanna Visitor Center Campus. Delicious fare will be catered by Coopers Cookin and Catering, accompanied by live music and dancing. The evening will culminate with the presentation of three distinguished awards, including a special honor for Orange County historian Frank S. Walker, Jr. Our special exhibit featuring significant artifacts will also be available for viewing during the cocktail hour.
*Please note: Full-conference attendees save $20 on tickets to this can’t-miss event*

Saturday, July 18, 2026:

9:00am-4:00pm: Historical & Genealogical Conference – BIGGER LOCATION: Germanna Community College, Daniel Technology Center (18121 Technology Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701) – Breakfast and lunch included. Don’t miss this incredible lineup of speakers as we dive into fascinating topics about Germanna and its surrounding environs’ history.
Speaker Sessions
▪ Roll Call
▪ The Culpeper Minute Men – Jim Bish
▪ Peter Muhlenberg and the 8th Virginia – Gabe Neville
▪ Hunter Iron Works – Jerrilyn MacGregor
▪ Memories of Early Germanna Reunions – David Brown
▪ Religious Freedom Panel Discussion
▪ Archaeology Update – Kelly Arford-Horne, Director of Archaeology & Cultural Resources
▪ Germanna Update – Executive Director Jennifer Hurst-Wender & President Keith Hoffman
▪ Travels with Germanna

5:00pm-7:00pm: Salubria Open House – Historic Salubria (19173 Salubria Ln, Stevensburg, VA 22741) – Tours start at 5:30pm; drop by anytime. Learn about the exciting updates from our Historic Structure Report and paint analysis.

7:00pm-9:00pm: Oktoberfest! – NEW LOCATION: Old Trade Brewery (13270 Alanthus Rd, Brandy Station, VA 22714) – Get those lederhosen and dirndls out of the closet! There will be music, dancing, conversation, and plenty of German-inspired food for all. Alpine Chef of Fredericksburg will be catering delicious German fare. Food, soft drinks, and two alcoholic drink tickets provided.

Sunday, July 19, 2026:

Choose one:

10:00am: Worship at Hebron Lutheran Church – Hebron Lutheran Church (899 Blankenbaker Rd, Madison, VA 22727) – Morning worship at Hebron Lutheran Church, presided by Dr. Guy Erwin, constructed in 1740 by Germanna colonists and their descendants, in beautiful Madison. Following service, enjoy a delicious picnic lunch catered by Graves Mountain Lodge, complete with a dozen delicious homemade desserts at Hebron Lutheran Church Hall before embarking on your journey home. *Lunch must be reserved separately*

or

10:00am: Colonial Service at Little Fork Church – Little Fork Episcopal Church (16461 Oak Shade Rd, Rixeyville, VA 22737) – Commemorate Little Fork’s 250th anniversary with a colonial-style service. Following service, enjoy lunch at the historic church to round out its 250th commemoration. *Lunch must be reserved separately.*

Looking for a fun and educational way to engage your animal-loving kids when they are out of school? The Fred SPCA’s Compassionate Care Camp offers a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about animals and become advocates for their well-being in the community. Campers will discover more about dogs and cats, explore animal-related career fields, learn how to provide daily care for pets, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the work we do at the Fredericksburg SPCA. With engaging discussions and interactive activities covering a wide range of animal welfare topics, this camp is the perfect summer experience for any young animal enthusiast.
Half-Day and Full-Day Camp Sessions Available.

Kindness Counts Week, July 20-24 – Continue the focus on empathy and compassion with interactive lessons, craft projects, and shelter pet engagement. Team games and hands-on activities show how small acts can make a big impact.

Humane Education