News Release

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park Cancels Annual Illumination of the National Cemetery, Postpones other Programming

Date: March 31, 2020
Contact: John Hennessy, 540-639-3200 ext 4010

Consistent with emergency “Stay Home” Executive Order implemented in the Commonwealth of Virginia on March 30, 2020, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and its partners have canceled this year’s Illumination of the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. The event commonly attracts between 4,000 and 9,000 visitors.

The park’s buildings, including Chatham, the Stonewall Jackson Death Site, and visitor centers at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, will remain closed to the public for as long as the “stay home” order is in place—currently planned through June 10.

All other programming at the park is cancelled for the duration of Virginia’s emergency order. Decisions regarding programming and access beyond June 10 will be made as circumstances indicate.

In the meantime, the park will be sharing in virtual form stories, videos, insights, and short virtual tours on its Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FredericksburgSpotsylvaniaNMP/

Updates on the park’s operating status will be posted to the park’s website:
https://www.nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/conditions.htm


For current information about the disease and information on how to protect yourself, please visit:
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm