The 8th annual Spotsylvania Stars and Strikes Spectacular kicks off today at 3 p.m., one of the more popular events the county has each year. More than 15,000 people—and as many as 25,000—visit the county over the seven-hour-long event.

The event, which is free admission, is held in the Spotsylvania Courthouse area off Courthouse Road and include childrens' activities, pony rides, three stages for entertainment, sheriff and volunteer fire fighter demonstrations, food vendors, colonial reenactors, and live music. Some of the bands playing will be Deep Space Network and the Wil Gravatt Band. This year there will even be "Star Wars" characters. There will be an on-site ATM for food vendors.

At dusk will be a first-class fireworks display funded by WJ Vakos Companies and Spotsylvania County. The fireworks show will originate in the Spotsylvania Courthouse Village adjacent to Robert E. Lee Elementary School, and will be visible from viewing locations throughout the Courthouse area.

At 5 p.m., people can meet U.S. Senate candidate George Allen and his wife, Susan, at Robert E. Lee Elementary School at 7415 Brock Rd.

Because of the large number of people expected to attend, there is limited parking at the site. Robert E. Lee Elementary School will have permit-only parking. There will be a free shuttle from Courtland High School that will operate from 2:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m., and it will start again after the fireworks are finished.