The FXBG Rundown
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Your weekend guide · October 23–25
Good morning, FXBG.
This weekend offers several reasonable answers to “What should we do?” Dress up at the ballpark. Find a pumpkin at the farm. Hunt for secondhand treasures indoors. Or spend an afternoon strolling downtown with pumpkin spice as your organizing principle.
The useful part: you can choose a free-admission family outing, keep the farm visit simple, or reserve a more expensive afternoon for yourself and a friend.
Here are four local highlights to build around. Pick one anchor outing, leave room for lunch and naps, and resist the temptation to turn Saturday into a competitive sport.
Friday: Costumes at the ballpark
FredNats Fall Fest returns Friday, October 23, at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
The team advertises trick-or-treating around the concourse, a petting zoo, bounce houses, a photo booth, a barrel train, and music. Costumes are encouraged, so this is a chance to give that carefully selected Halloween outfit an outing before the big night.
Admission is free. Parking is an $8 donation or a bag of nonperishable food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Face painting and concessions cost extra, and outside food and drinks are prohibited. Nationals
When: Friday, October 23, 5:30–8 p.m., according to the city tourism listing.
Where: Virginia Credit Union Stadium, 42 Jackie Robinson Way, Fredericksburg.
Good fit: Families looking for Halloween fun without a separate admission charge for everyone. FXBG
Before you go: Check the team’s latest update for timing or weather changes. Its main event page confirms the date and activities but does not display hours; some community calendars list different times.
Saturday or Sunday: Braehead’s last festival weekend
If the pumpkin patch has remained a good intention all month, this is your nudge. Braehead Farm’s advertised festival season ends Sunday, October 25.
The full festival includes hayrides, a corn maze, a sunflower walk, photo opportunities, and access to the Family Playgrounds. The maze also has a scavenger hunt about the farmer’s missing pies, which sounds like a case worth investigating.
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: 1130 Tyler Street, Fredericksburg.
Cost: Full festival admission is $15 per person plus tax; ages 2 and younger are free. Pumpkins cost extra at 90 cents per pound.
Booking: Pay on arrival; advance tickets are not needed. Children 15 and younger must have an accompanying adult for the festival.
Budget alternative: The front pick-your-own fields have no admission charge; pay for what you pick. Family Playgrounds-only admission is $6 plus tax per person, with ages 2 and younger free. Braehead Farm : Braehead Farm
Saturday morning: Treasure hunting under one roof
The Fall Garage Sale at the Fredericksburg Convention Center offers an indoor alternative to driving between neighborhood sales.
The venue describes 45,000 square feet of residential yard sales, with categories including books, toys, furniture, clothing, kitchenware, and collectibles.
This is the outing for someone who enjoys finding the thing they didn’t know they needed. A short shopping list might help. So might a firm agreement that the mystery appliance stays at the sale.
When: Saturday, October 24. Early entry begins at 8 a.m.; general admission starts at 8:30 a.m. The sale ends at 3 p.m.
Where: 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg.
Cost: The Chamber of Commerce listing gives $10 early-bird and $5 general admission. Children 12 and younger enter free.
Booking: Online tickets are available. Admission at the door is cash only, according to the venue. Fredericksburg Convention Center
Saturday afternoon: Follow the pumpkin spice
The Pumpkin Spice Crawl brings a ticketed shopping-and-treats afternoon to downtown Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg Main Street’s event, supported by the Visitor Center, offers participating-shop gifts or experiences and shopping discounts.
Think of it as a planned downtown stroll with little stops along the way. This is the splurge option in today’s guide, especially if shopping purchases become part of the afternoon.
When: Saturday, October 24, 3–7 p.m.
Where: Downtown Fredericksburg; the ticket listing gives 601 Caroline Street.
Cost: $60 plus processing fees; the ticket page currently displays $64.15.
Booking: Tickets are limited. They become nonrefundable within 36 hours of the event.
Before buying: Review the latest itinerary and inclusions. The page mentions 16 participating shops but separately lists 15 gifts and experiences, so don’t assume those counts mean the same thing. No age restriction is stated on the ticket page. Fredericksburg Visitor Center
The easy weekend plan
For a family keeping costs down, make Friday’s ballpark outing the main event and choose your parking donation before leaving home.
For a slower Sunday, choose the farm and decide beforehand whether you want the full festival or a simpler pumpkin-shopping visit.
For a grown-up Saturday, the indoor sale and downtown crawl offer two very different kinds of browsing. You do not need to do both to have had a successful weekend.
Check the linked organizer pages again before departure for changes and ticket availability.
Gee whiz: The pumpkin has a weight problem
At 90 cents a pound, a 10-pound Braehead pumpkin costs $9; a 20-pound pumpkin costs $18, before any applicable tax. Braehead Farm : Braehead Farm
That enormous pumpkin may be photogenic, but it is also quietly negotiating your grocery budget.
Let the children choose the face. Let the grown-up check the weight.
Before you go
What did you find worth doing this weekend? Reply with a local tip for a future issue.
Forward this guide to the person who usually gets asked to make the plans.
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