HFFI Events


Upcoming Events

Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration

As a part of the Commemoration, a series of lectures about Lafayette, his world, and his important military and diplomatic roles during the Revolution are offered. The lecturers are presented by noted authorities on their topics, many with publications in their areas of expertise. They are joined by Fredericksburg area scholars from our historical and cultural organizations, who also possess deep knowledge about Lafayette, and in particular, Lafayette’s connections to our City. All lectures are free and open to everyone.

Date & Time: March 2024-November 2024

Tickets: Most events are free to the public Overview of events available HERE

Don’t worry!  There is more to come in 2025!!

HFFI reserves the right to take photographs in connection with its events and use these photos for for any lawful purpose, including for example such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content.


Past Events

Take a ride down Historic Route One when it went right through downtown. We’ll go down Princess Anne Street, up Lafayette, and then loop back around on the Bypass, pointing out notable buildings along the way. Each guest will receive a souvenir program full of historic photos. 

Sunday, November 10, 2024 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet and park at the Fredericksburg Shopping Center 501 Emancipation Hwy  (where the Firestone is, across Route One from JMHS)

Tickets $25 for HFFI Members $35 for the General Public

Tickets available HERE

The Other Side of the Tracks

Join HFFI and neighborhood residents as we explore the history and evolution of Darbytown’s backstreets where a melting pot of working-class residents and local family businesses flourished for more than 200 years.

Sunday, October 20, 2024

2:00-4:00 pm

2 tours of 15 people each

Both leave at 2:00

Tickets HERE

Mill District Tour: Powering Fredericksburg

Join us for a tour of the Mill District for a fascinating look at Fredericksburg’s early industry and power sources. We will tour the silk mill and the woolen mill and get a closer look at the grain elevator and the Embrey Power Plant. Owner Ed Whalen will share with us his vision of the area and his efforts to preserve this important part of our city’s heritage. We will end the evening with a cocktail party (Included in your ticket price) on the rooftop bar at the Woolen Mill. 
Thursday, September 12 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $50 Members  $65 General Public

Tickets: SOLD OUT

PUBLIC LECTURE:  

THEIR STUFF and THEIR STORIES: CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS in FREDERICKSBURG

Date & Time: Thursday, October 17th at 7:00 P.M.

Location: Auditorium of the Downtown Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street

Presented by Kerri Barile Tambs & Cameron Boutin of Dovetail Cultural Resource Group, a Mead & Hunt Company

A large area in Fredericksburg bordered by Rte. 3, Cowan Boulevard, and Interstate 95  and known as the Hylton Tract is about to be developed.  In such cases, archeological investigations are required as well as a public reporting of the results.

Dovetail Cultural Resource Group, a Mead & Hunt Company, has completed their research and will report on its findings in that area at this presentation sponsored by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. as well as the local Civil War Roundtable of Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Roundtable.

The area saw hard fighting on May 3-4, 1863, in the Salem Church Ridge fighting during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Thousands of soldiers fought in this region during the course of the Civil War, most notably in four major battles between 1862 and 1864 and in hundreds of encampments.  The military operations have been carefully studied.  While details of the soldiers’ experiences are often not explicit in official records, careful study of archival documents and archaeological sites can come together to help tell their story.  This talk will focus on the lives of the soldiers during the war and their time in Fredericksburg as told by what they left behind.

The lecture is free.  There will be time for questions.  Doors will open at 6:30PM.  Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the talk.

To be clear, this is not a meeting of a City commission or any entity dealing with the future of this property but is a public reporting of what has been found there by this archaeological organization.

Historic Happy Hour

Historic Happy Hour is BACK! Join HFFI on Thursday August 22, 2024 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Spirits American Bar and Grill.  Experience Spirits on every level! Take a tour of the building, snack on pretzels with dipping sauces, street tacos, meatballs, eggrolls and chicken wings while enjoying a beverage. 
Date & Time: August 22, 2024 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Tickets: HERE


Civil War Walking Tour
From Fairground to Battleground to Burying Ground

This walking tour will explore the “bloody plain” of the Battle of Fredericksburg in the years before, during, and after the Civil War.

July 20, 2024  7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Meet at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitors Center on Lafayette Blvd in the large lot in front that borders Willis St.

Date & Time: July 20, 2024 7:00pm-8:30pm
Tickets: Available NOW HERE $10


Dressing Women through History


Costumed reenactors will demonstrate and discuss the evolution of women’s fashions through four periods: Early Regency (1814), Late Regency (1824), Civil War (1864), and Victorian (1884). Tea and cookies will be served. Guests will also be given a tour of the historic 1816 Masonic Lodge. 

This event celebrates the 200th anniversary of General Lafayette’s 1824 tour of America. Presented in conjunction with Emily Taggart Schricker, the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society and the Lafayette Bicentennial Commission.

Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4 Meeting Room, Hanover Street Entrance

Tickets are $10

Available HERE

Rock Around The Block

Mid Century Style at Normandy Village

Celebrate Mid Century style at Normandy Village, Fredericksburg’s first postwar suburb. Located just over Route One along the river, this subdivision has nearly 300 houses, most built in the 1950’s. We will have lots of activities for the whole family. Check in at Northside Baptist Church at 445 Woodford Street. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the event.
Your ticket includes:
-Interior tours of five homes
-Live Music
-Historic walking tour
-Vintage lawn games like badminton and croquet
-Classic cars
-Cooking demonstrations
-Exhibits on Link Wray and Patsy Cline, vintage tablecloths and aprons, purses and hats

Date & Time: May 25, 2024 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cost:  $12 in Advance $15 Day of.  Children 3-18 years $6 Advance $8 day of.  Children 2 and under free
Tickets: AVAILABLE HERE

Tunnel Vision Tour
This is your chance to see the famous Fredericksburg Tunnel! You will get to explore the 40-foot tunnel and ponder its possible uses. Afterwards, you will tour the Hay Scale Alley building at 826 Caroline Street, replete with fascinating stories about ghosts, famous visitors, shopping, and the Civil War. Your tour includes wine and cheese, a cupcake from Fredericksburg Cupcake, a discounted voucher for Juan More Taco, and a commemorative booklet. This is only the third time the tunnel has been opened for a public tour, so tickets will go fast!
Date & Time: Saturday April 27th 
3:00 p.m. Tour or 4:30 p.m. Tour
Tickets: SOLD OUT


Architecture 101 Walking Tour
Learn to identify architectural styles and elements using Fredericksburg as your classroom.
Date & Time: Saturday, March 30, 2024 1PM
Tickets: SOLD OUT

HFFI Annual Membership Meeting

Open to all HFFI Members

Not a member of HFFI or need to renew?

Become an Annual Member for 2024 by clicking here or join/renew at the meeting on March 9th.

You can email [email protected] to confirm your current membership status or with any questions.  Please RSVP through this link HERE.

Date & Time:
Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 1-3 p.m.
Location: Fredericksburg Country Club 11031 Tidewater Trail


Bombed in the Burg Tour

Join us Thursday, February 22nd for our Bombed in the Burg Pub Tour.  Tour three different pubs while getting a history relating to the Civil War, WWII and The Cold War.  $25 for the General Public and $20 for Members.  Drinks not included.

Date & Time:
Thursday, February 22, 2024 
5-8pm 

Tickets: SOLD OUT

Spirits & Spirits Pub Tour

Come celebrate All Souls’ Day with us! Ghost enthusiast Stephen Sollohub will regale you with stories about local spirits as we imbibe spirits at local bars. The tour will last three hours, hit four bars, and cover 1.3 miles. One tour only!

Date & Time:
All Souls Day Thursday November 2, 2023 5-8pm

Tickets: AVAILABLE HERE
$20 members/$25 nonmembers (drinks not included)

Jewish Fredericksburg Walking Tour:

Tour the locations of the many Jewish shops and businesses that dominated Fredericksburg in the 20th century. Learn about their overwhelming contributions to civic life and philanthropy.

Date & Time: Rescheduled due to rain
Sunday, October 15, 1pm & 2pm 

Tickets:  
$10 members/$12 General Public
Warehouse Walking Tour:

Learn about the early industrial age of Fredericksburg in the area around the train station. The owners of some of the warehouses will take you on a tour inside their buildings and explain how they have been re-adapted for their businesses.

Spanning both sides of Lafayette Boulevard, the warehouse district is a reminder of Fredericksburg’s industrial and agricultural past. Learn about the history of this area and tour the inside of several warehouses, including the famed Purina Tower! This tour has a lot of walking, so we will take a break at 25 30 Espresso, where we will treat you to a coffee.

Warehouse Tour starts and ends at 600 Jackson Street at the RACSB parking lot.

Date & Time:
Sunday, October 1, 1pm, 2pm, & 3pm

Tickets: Get tickets HERE
$30 

Historic Happy Hour

Come socialize with history geeks. Listen to a short lecture about the history of William Street. Take a tour of the 200-year-old building. Hang out in the secret courtyard. Appetizers and your first drink are included in the ticket price. Tickets must be purchased by August 21 so we can give a final head count to the owner

Date & Time:
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 6-8pm
Location: 
Wild Hare Cider Fredericksburg Cider Pub & Courtyard
205 William Street Fredericksburg VA 22401
Tickets:
$25 Members/$30 General Public SOLD OUT
Get Tickets HERE

Right up your Alley Walking Tour

Back by popular demand! Walk back through history as we explore the city’s hidden alleyways and back streets. Hear fascinating stories about Jail Alley, pants factories, the Kelly Syndicate, Freeman’s Corner, and Free Alley. The two-hour will cover about 1.5 miles of occasionally uneven or muddy terrain.

Date & Time:
Thursday, June 29
Starting Time: 6:00 p.m.
Starting Time: 6:30 p.m.

Tickets:
Tickets are $12 ($10 for members)

Get tickets here

Meeting spot:
Market Square, behind the
Fredericksburg Area Museum
907 Princess Anne Street

Black History Walking Tours: Black Businesses & Entrepreneurship in Fredericksburg, 1787 – Present

Partnering with the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM), this walking tour features stories of African American business owners and entrepreneurs throughout our town’s  history. Led by Dr. Gaila Sims, FAM Curator of African American History and Special Projects, the tour begins in the eighteenth century with John De Baptiste and the establishment of French John’s Wharf, continues with industrious builder Henry Dean and the development of Liberty Town following the Civil War, touches on thriving Black businesses on Princess Anne Street in the mid-twentieth century, and culminates with contemporary favorites scattered across the city. Grounded in historical documentation, archival research, and individual stories, this walking tour explores Fredericksburg’s unique contributions to the history of Black enterprise.

Dates & Times:

Sunday, June 25th
Starting Time: 11:30 a.m.

Ticket Price:  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here at the  FAM website.

Meeting spot:
Fredericksburg Area Museum
907 Princess Anne Street

May 27, 2023  

Preserving Fredericksburg:
A Walking Tour

 This walking tour will highlight the efforts of the agencies dedicated to the preservation of Fredericksburg. We will hear from five local experts as they show us their latest projects around town.

Date & Time:  Saturday, May 27, 2023  10:00-noon

Ticket Price:  $12 ($10 for members) on sale at this link and at the Lewis Store.

Meeting spot:   Lewis Store, 1200 Caroline Street

  

March 26, 2023

Grub in the Burg

 This lecture on the history of the restaurants in Fredericksburg features a lot of now and then photographs on the big screen. Come early and buy some grub from Hot Chikn and eat while you listen. 

Date & Time:  Sunday, March 26, 2023 4:00-6:00 pm

Ticket Price:  Free! No registration required.

Meeting spot:   Water’s End Brewery at Fredericksburg Square
525 Caroline Street

March 19, 2023

2023 Annual Membership Meeting & Preservation Awards

Sunday March 19, 2023 starting at 1:00 p.m.

Historic Renwick Courthouse, 815 Princess Anne Street

Open to all HFFI Members

Not a member of HFFI or need to renew?

Become an Annual Member for 2023 by clicking here or join/renew at the meeting on March 19th. 

You can email [email protected] to confirm your current membership status or with any questions.  Please RSVP through this link.

March 15, 2023

Irish Pub Tour

Get started early for Saint Patrick’s Day by coming on our tour of Fredericksburg’s Irish pubs. We will hear the story of the Irish Brigade and visit several bars where you can buy a drink and learn more about our town’s Irish connections. Sláinte!

Date & Time:  Two tours scheduled — Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 5-8 p.m. OR 6-9 p.m.

Ticket Price:  $30 General Public / $25 HFFI Members

Meeting spot:  To be announced

December 9-11, 2022

52nd Annual Candlelight Tour

Mark your calendars for this annual tradition!

Enjoy festive tours of the College Heights neighborhood.

Ticket Price:  $35 General Public / $30 HFFI Members & Candlelight Tour Volunteers

Registration Required

Find more information and tickets HERE

November 19, 2022

Grand Re-Opening of the Lewis Store

Open House on Saturday, November 19th from 1:00-4:00 PM

Please join the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. for the Grand Re-Opening of the Lewis Store at 1200 Caroline Street in historic downtown Fredericksburg!

We’re so excited to share our ongoing restoration efforts of this important eighteenth-century commercial building located in the historic core of downtown Fredericksburg. See and learn about the history of this historic building and its restoration while enjoying refreshments and Colonial-era costumed folks and musicians. Museum displays and gift shop open to browse. 

All are welcome!

November 10, 2022

Historic Pub Crawl

Learn about 300 years of history and taverns on our sixth annual pub tour. We will explore the sites of Fredericksburg’s earliest taverns and visit four current bars, where you can buy a drink as we learn about the history of the buildings.

Date & Time:  Two tours scheduled — Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 5-8 p.m. OR 6-9 p.m.
Ticket Price:  $30 General Public / $25 HFFI Members
Meeting spot:  Curitiba Art Cafe, 919 Caroline Street

October 16, 2022

#HFFITours Walking Tour

Time for a Change: Fredericksburg Architecture from the 1950s to the 1970s 

Join us as we learn about corporate design, department stores, and the architects who helped shape the mid-20th century in downtown Fredericksburg.

Date & Times:  Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 1-3 p.m. OR 2-4 p.m.
Ticket Price:  $12 General Public / $10 HFFI Members
Starting Location: Crown Jewelers, at 200 William Street

September 8, 2022

Historic Happy Hour

Come join us at Renato’s for Historic Happy Hour! 
This social gathering will give you the opportunity to get to know other history buffs, with plenty of time to mingle and chat. A special guest star will give a short lecture about the history of this 100+-year-old building.
Date & Time:  Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 6-8 p.m.
Ticket Price:  $30
Location:  Ristorante Renato

June 25, 2022

Right Up Your Alley–Exploring the Back Streets of Fredericksburg

Stroll along some of the city’s oldest alleyways and learn about the lifeways and activities of the communities within them.

Two tour times — 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.  $10 HFFI Members/$12 General Public

Tours will take approximately 2 hours and participants are asked to wear sturdy walking shoes!

May 15, 2022

Spring Home Tour

Members-Only tour of 909 Madison Street.

FREE.  Open to active Annual Members only.  Registration Required.

Please reach out to [email protected] with questions regarding your membership status.  Renew or Join anew for 2022 through the registration form.

Reservations can be made online through the link above, or by calling or going in person to the HFFI Office at the Lewis Store (Address: 1200 Caroline Street, Phone 540-371-4504).

Would you like to sponsor this event or another HFFI event in 2022?  Please contact us.

Event Sponsorship Information

Click here for more information on how to Sponsor an HFFI Event. 

Reserve your spot online using the individual event links or call 540-371-4504

Event Sponsors