Heritage Festival
The streets of downtown Fredericksburg will be transformed into one big Independence Day party.
The annual Heritage Festival encompasses all day events, including a five mile run, crafts, river raft races and hours of music from local bands.
The day will begin with the five mile run at 7:45 a.m. This U.S. Track and Field sanctioned event will start on Caroline Street near the railroad station, and will take runners through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, ending at the Visitor Center.
“Last year we had over 700 people for this event,” said Roberta Gold, event coordinator for the festival. “Although it is hard to tell how many people there are until they cross the finish line.”
Registration will begin at 6:15 a.m. at the Visitor Center.
The sixth annual Heritage Day Parade will follow at 9:30 a.m. What makes this event unique is that anyone can participate. There is no prior registration required. Anyone who wants to join the parade, just has to show up and get in line.
“We used to have a formal entry form, but it’s free, so we thought, why bother?” said Ayree Rice, management vice president for the Fredericksburg Jaycees, which sponsors this event.
The patriotic parade gets about about 1,000 onlookers each year, Rice said.
Kids on decorated bikes, parents pulling children in wagons and strollers and anyone else can participate.
However, it is not a motorized event, so floats and cars can’t participate.
The parade lasts about 30 minutes and begins on Caroline Street, ending at the post office on Wolfe Street. The streets will not be closed off for the parade, but a rolling road block will keep cars out of the way while the parade passes by.
Also sponsored by the Fredericksburg Jaycees is the 31st annual Rappahannock River Raft Race, one of the most popular Heritage Festival events, according to Rice.
The race begins at 11:30 a.m. but registration is at 7:30 a.m. at the Falmouth Waterfront Park, where the race will begin.
For those just watching the race, the Chatham Heights bridge makes a good lookout point—as does the city dock, where the race will conclude.
“Our goal is to have more people participate in the race than the year before,” Rice said. “Last year we had 23, so we hope to have at least that.”
Although people are out to have fun, Rice said, safety is always a priority and no one has ever been hurt. Everyone is required to where a life jacket.
While some enter the race to win, others just want to have fun.
“Some people come down the river in as little as 15 minutes,” Rice said. “Some take three hours—they just want to have a good time.”
Awards are given to the winners in each of the four classes, but a “We didn’t think it would make it, but ...” award is given to the last raft to cross the finish line.
During the river raft race, other events, on solid ground, will be taking place.
Over 160 vendors will line Charlotte, Hanover, Sophia and Wolfe Streets for the Heritage Festival craft show.
Artists, jewelers, furniture craftsman, florists and many other specialists are traveling from all over the east coast to participate in this event.
“Nine years ago we had 18 vendors,” Gold said. “This year we are sold out of spaces.”
The craft show will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—as will the Festival of the Streets, a plethora of music, activities for kids and adults, food vendors, a driving range, antique automobile show and more.
The popular Chili Cook Off is back on, after last year’s cancellation. Hard Times Cafe will be the official provider, and will set up in the “beer garden” in the city parking lot on Sophia Street, between Hanover and Charlotte Street.
A dunk tank will also be set up in the “beer garden” where local officials and others will risk being plunged into icy water.
Dixie Power Trio, a group in the Bluemont concert series, will be performing, along with Full Circle Band and others that will play continuously throughout the day.
More music will follow at 8:00 p.m. with a free POPS concert by the University of Mary Washington Community Symphony Orchestra at Pratt Park in Stafford.
Stafford
Pratt Park Fireworks show
This year’s fireworks will be shot off from Brooks Park over the Rappahannock River.
Dominion Fireworks out of Petersburg, Va., will be suppling the $20,500 fireworks. Heritage Festival donors are funding the costly show.
The approximately 20-minute fireworks show will begin at 9:15 p.m.
“We’re hoping they’re going to play; it’s still up in the air,” Gold said. “But I think people would love it.”
People can catch the orchestra, though, during its concert in Pratt Park, located off of River Road, at 6 p.m.
This is the second time the UMW orchestra has played on the Fourth, but it will now become an annual thing.
It will play classic songs by composers such as John Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as Fourth of July standards like “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Pratt Park is not the only venue where the fireworks can be seen. The YMCA in Stafford will offer its parking lot to spectators. Old Mill Park will also be open, although no entertainment will be provided, as in previous years.
Ferry Farm Festivities
The site of George Washington’s childhood will, appropriately, be the site for an Independence Day celebration.
The second annual event will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.
“We’ve been planning for this ever since last year’s event ended, since July 5,” said Paula Raudenbush, who does marketing for Ferry Farm. “It’s going to be a lot of fun ... The staff is looking forward to it. They had a good time last year.”
A group of approximately 100 people will be supervising and helping with a variety of colonial-theme activities, including 18th century games, a sword fighting demonstration and a replica of the Declaration of Independence that guests will be able to sign with quill pen.
Music will be provided by the bluegrass band The Corn Family Old-Time String Band.
New this year is slack-rope walker and acrobat Signora Bella, who will demonstrate this colonial-era entertainment.
“We had 3,000 or so guests last year, and we’re hoping to have more this year,” Raudenbush said.
Parking for the event will be limited, but trollies will run from downtown Fredericksburg to Stafford and will be making stops at both Pratt Park and Ferry Farm.
And the cost of the event? One George Washington per person.
Caroline
Looking for a really good fireworks show in Caroline? The annual Fourth of July Celebration at Caroline High School will have a free, 30 minute fireworks show.
Before it gets dark, though, there will be lots of activities, including a clown who will provide face painting and balloon animals, music provided by Richard Green’s The Sound Solution, bingo for kids and various food vendors.
Last year’s turnout was around the 10,000 mark, according to event coordinator Cassie Ruby.
“We were shocked,” Ruby said. “The year before that we only had about 8,000 or so.”
The event’s centralized location in the county, and long fireworks show, contributes to the event’s popularity, Ruby said.
The event is free and funded by Caroline County Board of Supervisors and the Chamber of Commerce.
LOW’s Fourth on the Fifth Annual Celebration
Lake of the Woods will mix things up by celebrating Independence Day on July 5.
“We always have it on the Saturday closest to the Fourth,” said Hank Altman the event coordinator. “It’s just more convenient that way.”
The usually gated community will be open to the public from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
This event has been going on for at least 20 years, Altman said, with an average crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people.
The day will begin with a parade, where those from toddlers to World War II vets will participate. Antique cars, fire trucks and floats will accompany the marchers.
“It’s really heartwarming to see,” Altman said.
The day will follow with a flag raising, square dance demonstration, pontoon boat rides, food and more.
Fireworks will be shot off from the dam once it gets dark.
Although only residents and their guests will be permitted in Lake of the Woods after 4 p.m., the fireworks can be seen from other areas near the community.
Spotsylvania
The county had its Fourth of July celebration on Sunday, June 29, and does not have any public events planned for July 4.
Compiled by Megan Williams
540/374-5000, ext. 5661
mewilliams@freelancestar.com
These farther away Fourth of July events will still be fun despite the extra effort to get there.
From 4 p.m. until dark, Great Meadow in The Plains, Va., will be hosting a Fourth of July spectacular, and expecting over 20,000 guests.
The afternoon and evening will include children’s activities including a petting zoo, a climbing wall, music provided by Bluemont artists, a polo match and, of course, a fireworks display to end the day.
Admission is $40 to park the car. For more information call 540/687-5099.
Historic Mount Vernon is going back in time to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with “General and Mrs. Washington” greeting and taking pictures with guests. In the Revolutionary War Theatre “snow” falls on audience’s while Washington crosses the Delaware River.
Other events include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a viewing of a replica Liberty Bell and a procession to George Washington’s tomb for a special wreath-laying ceremony and more. For more information call 703/799-5203.
“Boom ’n July” at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg will feature a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. from July 1 through the Fourth, that can be seen from everywhere in the park. The price of the show is included in park admission, which is $55.95 for ages 10 and older, $49.95 for ages 3–9 and free for children under 2. For more information call 757/253-3369.
In Colonial Beach, an Independence Day Bazaar will be hosted at St. Elizabeth of Hungry Roman Catholic Church. The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a yard sale.
Other activities will include a bake sale, children’s games, food vendors, music, raffles, silent auction and fireworks. For more information call 804/214-9018.
Historic Port Royal Independence day Celebration will host a colonial military living history, colonial dancing, patriotic music, children’s activities, carriage rides and more, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The free event is located at St. Peter’s Church on Water Street in Port Royal. For more information call 804/752-5016.