Fredericksburg - Page 16 of 51 - Potomac Local News

Fireworks, Food, and Free Shuttles—Here’s What’s Happening for July 4 Around Quantico and Fredericksburg

Published July 2, 2025 at 8:00AM

QUANTICO, Va. – Independence Day celebrations are gearing up across the region, with events planned in both Fredericksburg and at Marine Corps Base Quantico in honor of America’s 249th birthday—and the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps.

On Wednesday, July 3, Marine Corps Base Quantico will host a special celebration at Lejeune Field from 4 to 9:30 p.m., featuring a fireworks show at 9 p.m. The event is open to authorized ID card holders and promises an evening packed with family-friendly fun. Attendees can enjoy live music from Huntley—winner of the 2023 season of The Voice—and the band Full Moon Fever, plus food trucks, inflatables, a rock wall, and more. The event marks the start of festivities commemorating the Marine Corps’ 250th year.

Susan Spears Tapped to Help Shape Virginia’s Rail Future

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 1, 2025 at 1:15PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Susan Spears, President & CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to serve on the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), a state agency that plays a key role in shaping rail transportation across the Commonwealth.

The Chamber celebrated the news in a statement, saying, “The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce is honored to share that Governor Glenn Youngkin has appointed our President & CEO, Susan Spears, to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. As a trusted leader in our region, Susan will help guide the future of passenger rail throughout Virginia—bolstering connectivity, prosperity, and sustainable growth for the Fredericksburg Region and beyond. We are grateful for her dedication to advancing our local business community and supporting critical infrastructure development in the Commonwealth.”

Former UMW President William Anderson Remembered for Transforming the University

By Potomac Local News

Published July 1, 2025 at 9:30AM

President Anderson at the dedication of the Anderson Convocation Center, 2011. Photo by Norm Shafer.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The University of Mary Washington is mourning the loss of its former president, William M. Anderson Jr., who passed away over the weekend. Anderson served as UMW’s president from 1983 to 2006, leading the school through a period of major growth and transition.

According to a statement from the University of Mary Washington, Anderson’s 23-year presidency was the longest of any public university leader in Virginia at the time. During his tenure, the school transformed from a respected liberal arts college into a nationally recognized university.

Fredericksburg Seeks Junior Reporter for Live FOX 5 Zip Trip Broadcast

By Potomac Local News

Published July 1, 2025 at 9:00AM

Overlooking Fredericksburg from 1,000 feet

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The City of Fredericksburg is looking for one lucky student to shine on live TV as a Junior Reporter when FOX 5 DC’s Zip Trip comes to town next month.

The selected student will join FOX 5’s team on Friday, July 25, 2025, during a live broadcast from Riverfront Park, helping to showcase what makes Fredericksburg unique. The city is inviting students to submit a short video introducing themselves and sharing why they would make a great Junior Reporter. The winning student will appear on-air, interact with FOX 5 staff, and represent Fredericksburg in front of a regional audience.

Riverside Adds Real-Life Mental Health Talks to Next to Normal Performances

By Potomac Local News

Published June 30, 2025 at 7:30PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is expanding the impact of its summer musical Next to Normal with a special speaker series designed to connect the themes of the show to real-life mental health experiences in the Fredericksburg region.

The musical runs from July 2 to August 3, 2025, and explores the story of a suburban family grappling with the effects of bipolar disorder, grief, and emotional trauma. With a contemporary rock score and book by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal won three Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Critics from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post named it one of the best shows of the year when it debuted on Broadway.

Weekly Traffic Update for Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Fredericksburg

By Potomac Local News

Published June 29, 2025 at 11:00AM

As we head into the July 4 holiday weekend, here’s what to know before you hit the road.

Heads up! VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads starting at noon Thursday, July 3, through noon Monday, July 7. But here’s what’s happening before and after the break:

Cutting a New Path: Faded & Co. Gives Second Chances Through Barbering

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published June 27, 2025 at 11:15AM

Antoine Carey launched Faded & Co. and the F.A.D.E.D. Foundation as a second chance advocacy organization. [Courtesy photo]

“I earned my barber license while incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center. That program changed my life — it gave me more than just a trade; it gave me a vision of who I could become,” Carey said. “When I was released in 2014, I didn’t just walk out with a record — I walked out with a barber license and a new sense of direction.”

Carey, founder and owner of Faded & Co. Barbershop and CEO of the F.A.D.E.D. Foundation in Fredericksburg, was inspired by his own story to begin a home for second-chance advocacy for those released from incarceration.

Next to Normal Brings Bold, Emotional Story to Riverside Stage This Summer

By Uriah Kiser

Published June 26, 2025 at 2:30PM

The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts will launch its summer season with Next to Normal, a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical that blends rock music with raw emotion to tell the story of a family navigating the stormy waters of mental illness and grief.

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Your Guide to July 4 Celebrations in Fredericksburg and Stafford

By Potomac Local News

Published June 26, 2025 at 9:00AM

Looking for fireworks, food, and fun this Independence Day? 🎆 Here’s a roundup of some of the best local events happening on Friday, July 4, 2025:

🇺🇸 Fabulous Fourth at Ferry Farm

FAMPO Advances Rappahannock River Crossing Despite Spotsylvania Concerns

By Potomac Local News

Published June 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

A view of newly erected pylons that will hold a bridge that will carry I-95 travelers across the Rappahannock River. [Photo: Susie Webb/PLN]

On June 16, the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) Policy Committee approved Resolution 2550, selecting Option C—a route connecting Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County with Gordon W. Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg—as the preferred corridor. The approval allows consultants to complete cost estimates and finalize documents ahead of a federally required environmental review (NEPA).

Fredericksburg officials supported Option C with a 6-1 vote, and Stafford County unanimously endorsed it. Spotsylvania County declined to endorse a specific route, raising concerns about potential impacts on local roads such as Fall Hill Avenue, Bragg Road, and River Road.