STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — It’s been dubbed the cradle of opportunity, and now those helping to plan Stafford County’s 350th Anniversary say the area is ready to welcome new visitors.
Stafford, founded in May 1664, will turn 350 next year. A series of events are planned to honor the sesquarcentennial, and a kick-off event was held Tuesday at Stafford Hospital to announce a list of parties to be held in 2014 to honor the birthday.
“Celebrate Stafford 350” will be the first event of the year and is scheduled to be held January 4 at Stafford Marketplace. Centered on family fun, the event will feature a skating rink, history re-enactors, and will have a focus on future economic development with displays and demonstrations.
The county also has a Founders Day planned for May 3, 2014 at Brooke Point High School. Expected to be the most attended anniversary event of the year, the event will feature Stafford County School’s annual Art Show, and a parade that will travel from the high school to nearby Stafford Hospital.
There are also several other projects that coincide with the sesquarcentennial celebration, including a history wall at the Rowser Government Complex that will feature prominent African Americans who broke free from slavery to find freedom, as well as a legacy film that will show Stafford’s role in American history.
One of the lasting projects of the anniversary will be a Celebration Stage that will be built at Pratt Park outside Fredericksburg. Expected to open in June 2014, the stage will span 40×60 feet, and it’ll be used for performances, concerts, and outdoor movies, according to county officials.
Officials set a $1 million fundraising goal for the celebration, and so far have made nearly half that goal. It was announced Tuesday morning that coffers for the event now contain nearly $450,000.
“This county is on the line of departure, and by looking at what’s out there and what is coming to this county, this celebration will help us show others that Stafford is a ‘cradle of opportunity,’” said Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas, an organizer of the celebration and fundraiser.
In addition to setting sponsorship levels for the celebration that range between $250 and $250,000, the county also lunched stafford350.com as a way to promote the year-long celebration on the web.
“This is a once in a lifetime event. Not many in this room will live to see the 400th anniversary, but our grandchildren will,” said Stafford Hartwood District Supervisor Gary Snellings.
