Special Events

 

About Special Events

Outside of our regularly scheduled programs, we host programming and special events that range from seasonal programs like our History at Sunset talks, annual events like the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria, commemorations of battle anniversaries, and special living history programming. Visit the programs page to learn about regularly scheduled programs.

 

Upcoming Special Events

While we occasionally host events in the winter, most park events are planned for the spring, summer, and fall.

National Park Week

Saturday, August 29, 2026
Tours at 10:30 am & 2 pm
Join us at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center on Saturday August 29 to celebrate National Park Week!

National Park Week is an annual national celebration for people to discover and enjoy our country’s remarkable network of natural, cultural, and recreational sites. The National Park Service welcomes everyone and encourages people to form connections to these places that protect and preserve our shared landscapes, history, and culture.

10:30 am

Sunken Road Walking Tour: Junior Ranger Edition
45 minutes, all ages welcome, about 0.3 mile walk
Become a Junior Ranger on this special kids edition of our Sunken Road Walking Tour!

2 pm

Sunken Road Walking Tour: Park Ranger Special
45 minutes, all ages welcome, about 0.3 mile walk
For more nearly 100 years the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP has preserved the stories of our battlefields and those who fought and died on them. In this special edition of our Sunken Road Walking tour, join us as we discuss the people, historians, rangers, and more that have dedicated their lives to telling the stories of others.

Labor Day Living History Event

Saturday, September 5, 2026
10 am - 4 pm
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, the National Park Service and local living historians will host an event entailing various aspects of the Civil War. Reenactors depicting soldiers will convey the stories of what happened before, during, and after the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Visitors are encouraged to converse with the reenactors or partake in programs led by park rangers at 10:30 and 2:00. Children may complete a free Junior Ranger activity booklet to earn a special patch. The event will occur from 10 am–4 pm at the Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights, adjacent to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center at 1013 Lafayette Boulevard.

All programs are family friendly, free of charge, and open to the public.

Civil War Book Group

First Wednesdays of the month
6 pm - 7 pm
Fredericksburg Library Branch (1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401)

Visit the Civil War Book Group page for this month's title!

Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend

September 11-13, 2026
Join park staff and historic sites across Fredericksburg and Stafford to experience sites and stories associated with slavery in partnership with the Slave Dwelling Project organization. This weekend brings together historic sites, descendant communities, scholars, and the public to explore the full and often underrepresented history of the area. Visit the Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend website for the full list of events, event descriptions, and registration information.

At the park, visit Chatham on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for the following programs.

Drop-In Events, 1 pm-5 pm

• Visit the Chatham Laundry: Step inside the Chatham Laundry featuring the story of enslaved laundress Ellen Mitchell.
• Laundry Demonstrations: Visit a living history "suds row" and learn about the laundresses who performed critical and often grueling work.
• 23rd United States Colored Troops: Learn about the soldiers who claimed their freedom and then fought to keep it.

Community Canvas Children's Activity Tent; 3 pm-5 pm

Drop by for a craft activity with the partner group Community Canvas from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Sparking Freedom Walking Tours; 1 pm & 2 pm, 45 minutes

Meet at the Chatham garden-side entrance. Resistance to enslavement took many forms at Chatham. Discover stories of this resistance and learn about the people whose actions challenged oppression.

The Story of Ellen Mitchell at 3 pm, 30 minutes.

Learn the story of laundress, Ellen Mitchell, who fundraised for her freedom in this joint program with a park ranger and living historian.

United States Colored Troops at 4 pm, 30 minutes.

Join living historians for a discussion of the United States Colored Troops and the enslaved man from Chatham that joined the army to fight for the freedom of others.

 

Annual and Recurring Special Events

History at Sunset

History at Sunset is an annual summer series that focuses on areas rarely visited or stories rarely told.

Civil War Book Group

In partnership with the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, the Civil War Book Group meets once a month.

National Cemetery Luminaria

The National Cemetery Illumination takes place every year during Memorial Day Weekend.

 

 

---

See the Calendar for a full listing of park events and programs.

If you are interested in hosting your own event, refer to the Permits & Reservations page for guidance.

Check out the Fredericksburg community event calendar for events happening in the region.