Arts & Entertainment

Fredericksburg Civil War 150th Anniversary Events

There are plenty of events this year to celebrate the Civil War's 150th Anniversary.

One of the chief events to celebrate the Civil War's 150th Anniversary this year will be a commemoration of the passage of 10,000 slaves to freedom across the Rappahannock River.

The event on May 4-6 will include a procession from Shiloh Baptist Church Old Site to the City Dock where 10,000 candles will be lit and float across the Rappahannock River to symbolize the freedom of the slaves. A permanent public art project will also be part of the celebration that's put on by the National Park Service, Fredericksburg Area Museum and the George Washington Foundation.

Another signature event will be on Dec. 8-9 when the Battle of Fredericksburg will be remembered with a series of reenactments. There will be field hospitals, music and living history events. The battle scenarios will be of artillery barrage, river crossing, street fighting and Marye’s Heights. The National Park Service will have a procession to Sunken Road on Sunday, Dec. 9 and more events on Dec. 13.

Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • March 25 “Churches Remember, Fredericksburg”
  • St. George’s, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Baptist and Shiloh Old and New Site will tell their stories of the Civil War.  
  • Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, a Man of All Times.  A special travelling exhibit at Chatham April-May.
  • April through 2013 Exhibit Opening, “We Can Never Go Back” Fredericksburg Area Museum
  • Fisk Jubilee Singers,  at UMW April 14
  • Years of Anguish 3  “Freedom and Emancipation” at Fredericksburg Baptist Church April 23
  • Mr. Lincoln Visits Stafford and Fredericksburg  on April 19
  • Lost Photographs of the Civil War Exhibit at the Fredericksburg Area Museum.
  • Anniversary of the Preliminary Issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation at UMW Dodd Auditorium September 21

More information can be found at the Fredericksburg Timeless website.


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