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Here's a summary of area events on the Fourth of July. Date published: 7/1/2008
Fredericksburg
Heritage Festival The streets of downtown Fredericksburg will be transformed into one big Independence Day party. The annual Heritage Festival encompasses all day events, including a five mile run, crafts, river raft races and hours of music from local bands. The day will begin with the five mile run at 7:45 a.m. This U.S. Track and Field sanctioned event will start on Caroline Street near the railroad station, and will take runners through the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, ending at the Visitor Center. “Last year we had over 700 people for this event,” said Roberta Gold, event coordinator for the festival. “Although it is hard to tell how many people there are until they cross the finish line.” Registration will begin at 6:15 a.m. at the Visitor Center. The sixth annual Heritage Day Parade will follow at 9:30 a.m. What makes this event unique is that anyone can participate. There is no prior registration required. Anyone who wants to join the parade, just has to show up and get in line. “We used to have a formal entry form, but it’s free, so we thought, why bother?” said Ayree Rice, management vice president for the Fredericksburg Jaycees, which sponsors this event. The patriotic parade gets about about 1,000 onlookers each year, Rice said. Kids on decorated bikes, parents pulling children in wagons and strollers and anyone else can participate. However, it is not a motorized event, so floats and cars can’t participate. The parade lasts about 30 minutes and begins on Caroline Street, ending at the post office on Wolfe Street. The streets will not be closed off for the parade, but a rolling road block will keep cars out of the way while the parade passes by. Also sponsored by the Fredericksburg Jaycees is the 31st annual Rappahannock River Raft Race, one of the most popular Heritage Festival events, according to Rice. The race begins at 11:30 a.m. but registration is at 7:30 a.m. at the Falmouth Waterfront Park, where the race will begin. For those just watching the race, the Chatham Heights bridge makes a good lookout point—as does the city dock, where the race will conclude. “Our goal is to have more people participate in the race than the year before,” Rice said. “Last year we had 23, so we hope to have at least that.”
Date published: 7/1/2008
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