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8 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • May 2026 You may have heard the word semiquincentennial (go ahead, try pronouncing that one), but it simply means our nation is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. Here in Fredericksburg and throughout the Commonwealth, you can commemorate this milestone with hands-on, family- friendly events with VA250. By partnering with communities statewide, VA250 is showcasing Virginia's rich history. From 12 signature events highlighting key moments in our nation's history to smaller local events right here in Fredericksburg, VA250 helps families experience the life of those who lived dur- ing the nation's founding. Kids can even track their adventures with the free VA250 Passport. Walk in History From the founding of Jamestown in 1607 to Virginia's Thomas Jefferson penning the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and from the British defeat at Yorktown in 1781 to Virginian George Washington becoming the nation's first president in 1789, America would not be the same without Virginia. That legacy is especially evident here in Fredericksburg. Known as one of the cradles of American history, our city is home to sites like George Washington's childhood home at Ferry Farm, the Mary Washington House, the Hugh Mercer Apothecary, the Rising Sun Tavern and the Fredericksburg Battlefield. Local families can walk where the founders walked, sit where they sat and explore the ideas that shaped the nation's founding. And kids are already discovering these ideas in their own way. We spoke with local kids to hear what freedom, the Revolutionary War and their town means to them. For 5-year-old Caliyah from Fredericksburg, freedom today looks like "being with my family, having lots of my favorite foods, playing at the park and going on fun trips." Others are imagining themselves in history, too. Nolan, a sixth- grader from Stafford, has already thought it through. "If I could travel back to the Revolutionary War for one day, I would do three things. First, I would meet all the Patriot generals. Then I would give the Patriots maps of the 13 colonies," he said. "Lastly, I would give the Patriots a log of every British attack, encampment, fort and troops. This would help them strategize. If you're wondering why I wouldn't want to go to any battles, it's because it would be too dangerous for a 12-year-old." Keefer, a fifth-grader from Spotsylvania, says if he could meet any- one in Virginia history, it would be George Washington. WRITTEN BY SOPHIE DAVIS Fredericksburg Kids Reflect on America's 250th Birthday! From Founding Fathers... MAY 2026 SAT MAY 2 Colonial American Genealogy Learn how to trace Revolutionary-era Virginian ancestors through historical and modern records. 11:00 am–12:30 pm | CRRL – Porter Branch, Stafford Cost: FREE! FRI MAY 8 Homeschool Day at Historic Kenmore Dive in with hands-on colonial life activities, games and self-guided learning. 10:00 am–2:00 pm | Historic Kenmore, F'burg Cost: Adults $4 | Students $6 | Under 6 FREE! SAT MAY 9 Historic Aquia Creek Explore Stafford's colonial industry and Revolutionary War history. 11:00 am–12:30 pm | CRRL – Howell Branch, F'burg Cost: FREE! SAT MAY 16 Indigenous People & Virginia in the American Revolution How Virginia's Native nations shaped the Revolutionary era. 11:00 am–12:30 pm | CRRL – Howell Branch, F'burg Cost: FREE! FRI–MON MAY 22–25 CAF Rise Above Mobile Exhibit Enjoy immersive aviation films honor- ing the Tuskegee Airmen and WASP. 10:00 am–4:00 pm, daily | Stafford Regional Airport, F'burg Cost: FREE! MON MAY 25 Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Honor eight Revolutionary War vet- erans with wreath-laying tributes at Aquia Episcopal Church. 1:00–2:00 pm | Aquia Episcopal Church, Stafford Cost: FREE! Caliyah from Fredericksburg. Nolan from Stafford.