Luminaria returning to FXBG on May 28

Credit: National Park Service

The annual luminaria event on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend will return to Fredericksburg this year.

The 27th-annual free event will occur from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery at the intersection of Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Parking is available at the University of Mary Washington lot at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road; there will be a free shuttle between the parking area and the national cemetery. Accessible parking for vehicles with state-issued accessible hangtags or license plates will be available in the National Park Service Visitor Center lot at 1013 Lafayette Boulevard.

The luminaria honors those who died in the service of this country. Local Scouts will light 15,300 candles in the cemetery – one for each grave there. In addition, a bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes during the evening as park staff posted throughout the cemetery relate stories about some of the soldiers.

The rain date is Sunday, May 29. More details are available here.

This is an extremely touching and moving event, so be sure to check it out if possible.

Here is a full list of Memorial Day events and observances in Fredericksburg.

(Also, remember that the Doris E. Buffett Swimming Pool in Dixon Park opens this weekend — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. starting Saturday.)

And finally, here is a list of 10 things to do in FXBG this weekend.