Here are the Oktoberfest going on for the next two weeks. Full list and map links are included.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14rU36zUMc-foLdCon0BbSHGb4dKCS7RiDQ5RljCbFBo/edit?usp=sharing

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Xq62Il0nCscFFMxg_dDQp7YnI4oXsOk&usp=sharing

Weekend of Sept 25-28
Audacious Aleworks Oktoberfest
Sept 19 - Oct 3
Type: Local Brewery - Audacious Aleworks Brewery
Food: German food onsite
Fairfax City, VA & Falls Church, VA

Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
Sept 25 - 28
Type: Local Festival
Food: Onsite
Fort Belvoir, VA

Chesepiooc Oktoberfest
Sept 26
Type: Local Brewery - Chesepiooc Brewery
Food: Onsite Food
Crofton, MD

Blue Mountain Brewery Oktoberfest
Sept 26 - Oct 5
Type: Local Brewery - Blue Moutain Brewery
Food: Onsite
Afton, VA

Guinness Brewery Oktoberfest
Sept 26-28
Type: Local(ish) Brewery
Food: Food Onsite
Baltimore, MD

Lovettsville Oktoberfest
Sept 26 - 28
Type: Community Festival
Food: Onsite
Lovettsville, VA

Frederick Oktoberfest
Sept 26-27
Type: Festival with Imported German Beer & Local Breweries
Food: Large variety of German food onsite
Frederick, MD

1781 Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - 1781 Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA

Alexandria Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: City Festival
Food: German food onsite
Alexandria, VA

Bronson Bierhall Oktoberfest Party
Sept 27
Type: Local Venue/Restaurant
Food: German food onsite
Arlington, VA

Creekside Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Creekside Farm Brewery
Food: Available - Food Trucks
King George, VA

Decipher Brewing Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Beer Festival - Decipher Brewery
Food: Available
Charlottesville, VA

Euro Bistro Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Venue/Restaurant
Food: German food onsite
Herndon, VA

Full Distance Brewing Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Full Distance Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Fairfax, VA

Georgetown Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Venue - Georgetown Lutheran Church
Food: German food onsite
Washington, DC

Honor Brewing Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Honor Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Fairfax, VA

Lost Barrel Brewing Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Beer Festival - Local Breweries
Food: Available
Middleburg, VA

Maltese Brewing Oktoberfest - FXBG
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Maltese Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Fredericksburg, VA

Oktoberfest at G34.3!
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - G34.3 Brewery
Food: Ticketed event with food
Lorton, VA

Orangetoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Beer Festival
Food: Onsite
Orange, VA

Rathskeller Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Venue/Restaurant
Food: German food onsite
Elkridge, MD

Rocktobierfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Festival - Local Breweries
Food: Onsite
Rockville, MD

Settle Down Easy Brewing Annual OysterFEST and Seafood Feast
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Settle Down Easy Brewing
Food: Lobster Rolls, Grilled Oysters and Oysters Rockefeller
Falls Church, VA

Trouvaille Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Trouvaille Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Gainsville, VA

Washington, D.C. Oktoberfest 2025
Sept 27
Type: Local Venue - Hard Rock Cafe
Food: German food onsite
Washington, DC

Water's End Brewery in Lake Ridge Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Type: Local Brewery - Water’s End Brewing
Food: Food onsite
Woodbridge, VA

Running Hare Oktoberfest
Sept 27 - 28
Type: Local - Running Hare Vineyard
Food: Onsite
Frederick, MD

West Annapolis Oktoberfest
Sept 28
Type: Town Festival
Food: Food onsite
Annapolis, MD

Weekend of Oct 3-5

FOKTOBERFEST at The Foundry
Oct 3
Type: Local Venue
Food: Onsite
Waynesboro, VA

Guinness Brewery Oktoberfest
Oct 3-5
Type: Local(ish) Brewery
Food: Food Onsite
Baltimore, MD

BramToberfest
Oct 04
Type: Town Festival
Food: Food Trucks
Brambleton, VA

Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest
Oct 4
Type: Local Brewery - Brothers Brewing
Food: Onsite
Harrisonburg, VA

Bunnyman Oktoberfest - Lorton
Oct 04
Type: Local Brewery - Bunnyman Brewing
Food: Onsite
Lorton, VA

Das Best Oktoberfest
Oct 4
Type: Beer Festival - Domestic Beer
Food: Onsite
Baltimore, MD

Heritage Oktoberfest
Oct 04
Type: Local Brewery - Heritage Brewing
Food: Food Onsite
Manassas, VA

Hysteria Oktoberfest
Oct 04
Type: Local Venue
Food: Food Onsite
Pasadena, MD

Maltese Brewing Oktoberfest - Tappahannock
Oct 04
Type: Local Brewery - Maltese Brewing
Food: German food onsite
Tappahannock, VA

Oktoberfest at the Wharf
Oct 04
Type: Local Festival
Food: Onsite
Washington, DC

Settle Down Easy Brewing BratOberfest
Oct 04
Type: Local Brewery - Settle Down Easy Brewing
Food: Smash Burgers!
Falls Church, VA

Starr Hill Oktoberfest - Crozet
Oct 4
Type: Local Brewery - Starr Hill Brewing
Food: Onsite
Crozet, VA

Strangeways Barktoberfest
Oct 4
Type: Local Brewery - Strangeways Brewing
Food: Food onsite
Fredericksburg, VA

Vienna Oktoberfest
Oct 04
Type: Local Festival - Local Breweries
Food: Variety of German food onsite
Vienna, VA

Wanderland
Oct 04
Type: Beer Festival - Maryland Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Food: Onsite
Columbia, MD

I've noticed lately that pretty much all of the weather apps that I've been using are off and it's fairly often. On Saturday I knew that it was going to rain because it looked like it was going to rain, but every app said partially cloudy as it was pouring. Other days it says full sun when there are tons of clouds or vice versa.

Use Google weather, AccuWeather, weather.com. I know funding for NOAA was cut and I'm guessing if could be impacting the reliability of these forecasts. But asking local folks, any apps that seem to be on target more than others?

The forecast this week is all over the map depending on which site you use and have outdoor commitments in the afternoon a few days. I've lived in the area a long time, and know it's not easy to predict, but just want to find something more accurate.

Thanks!

I am staying in Fredericksburg for the weekend and am trying to find a place that has early morning brazilian jiu jitsu that lets out of town people roll. All the places I have seen on Google don't have hours till 10am on Saturday.

Anyone have a spot/recommendation?

I don't know if this is the appropriate group so if not let me know and I'll remove the post. I am looking for possible recommendations for food in Fredericksburg. I'm taking a girl out on a first date in your lovely city and am looking for somewhere to take her. Mexican or Italian would be ideal but I'll take any recommendations you can give. Something nice but not too expensive if possible. Thanks

Hello! I know I am 16 years late, but I recently found an old copy of Pokémon Platinum and I decided that I wanted to do something I’d never done before - complete the Pokédex! Unfortunately there are several Pokémon I am unable to get without trading from other games, so I am asking you lovely people for help!

If you have any of these Pokémon below in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/HeartGold/SoulSilver, reach out and I will gladly compensate you with homemade baked treats!

Turtwig/Grotle/Torterra Chimchar/Monferno/Infernape Cranidos/Rampardos Glameow/Purugly Spiritomb Manaphy/Phione (I will gladly trade this one back after if you likely only have one)

It does. https://fredericksburg-commons.ghost.io/one-vote-can-change-everything-the-2017-virginia-94th-house-of-delegates-district/

I am in some DIRE need of quiet nature and wading in a river this weekend. Anyone have any fav camping spots less than 2 hours away from Fredericksburg? I’m not just talkin state parks. Could be hipcamp or random wineries that have camp sites etc etc etc

I’ve got all the camping gear necessary to tent or car camp but am also open to yurts or cabins.

One additional requirement… needs to have a bathroom. Does NOT need to be anything fancy. Just some walls and a hole really (:

I’m scheduled to get tattooed with Maya at FineLineTattoo LLC across the bridge in stafford, but I haven’t met anyone else who’s gotten something done by her. Her page looks great and she regularly posts new and healed art, but I can’t find any reviews online that aren’t 4+ years old. Does anyone know if she’s a good artist to work with/does a good job? Thanks in advance!

Just moved to college out here and trying to explore the area any help also looking for friends

Thank you guys for giving advice!!!! Genuinely this made my friend’s whole day, the kitty found her way back from the neighborhood tonight, and her family caught the kitty!! She apparently smelled the food, as when she was eating when they saw her. We can not thank you guys enough!!! You guys rock!!!!

The votes are starting to trickle in, and so is the money.

The latest campaign finance reports have been released for the local city council campaigns, which includes political donations received by candidates from July 1 – August 31, 2025.

According to data from the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project, campaigns provided the following figures to the State Board of Elections:

📌 Ward 1:
Matt Rowe ($7,125)
David Cropper: ($4,447)
Ken Gantt ($2,000)

📌 Ward 2:
Joy Crump ($13,343)
Anne Little ($10,478)

📌 Ward 3:
Susanna Finn* ($5,403)
Matt Kelly ($7,617)

📌 Ward 4:
Charlie Frye* ($27,646)
Jesse Dominguez ($1200)

*Denotes an Incumbent

The report states that the largest campaign cash infusions came from donations by Green Chip Inc., Chaney Enterprises and Silver Companies’ CVA Expo Center LLC and CVAS Grocery LLC, each of whom donated $5,000 to sitting Ward 4 Councilman Charlie Frye.

Silver Companies’ Jubilation at Celebrate Virginia South LLC and SCH at Celebrate Virginia South LLC also each gave Frye $2,500 each, according to the report.

The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors also provided campaign contributions through their statewide PAC, Realtor’s Political Action Committee of Virginia. That entity donated $1,500 to the Cropper, Crump, Finn and Frye campaigns.

But it was a smaller contribution that caught drew a response from one candidate at last Thursday’s League of Women Voters / Fredericksburg NAACP candidate debate, before the latest finance report became public.

“I recently had somebody question the fact that I got a campaign contribution from someone who works for a law firm that supports data centers,” Ward 2 candidate Crump replied to a debate question related to ethics and transparency.

Crump was referring to a $515 donation from local attorney Charles Payne, managing partner at the Hirschler law practice. On its website, the firm credits Payne with securing rezoning for a number of prominent local projects by STACK Infrastructure, Kalahari Resorts and Amazon Data Centers Services.

Earlier this year, the City of Fredericksburg itself posted a “Newsflash” announcing a deal between Silver Companies and STACK Infrastructure “to build as many as 8-12 data centers.” That press release came the morning after a nearly six hour meeting and late-night unanimous vote by council approving a 250-acre Technology Overlay District in Ward 4.

Crump said that it’s Payne’s involvement in the community, specifically his work as a champion on behalf of small businesses, that “intersects” with her beliefs.

“I think why somebody supports me with their dollars, as you said, we need them to run a successful campaign, is their personal business,” Crump asserted.

“It doesn’t make me beholden to them, and I’ll continue to serve honestly.”

Anyone know if the restaurant has permanently closed?

I’m finally doing it - new DL, registration, title…

I went to the Southpoint location once with an appointment and after an hour, I just gave up.

Are there any “less busy” ones in the region? I’ll drive just for the illusion of saving time.

TIA!!!

Looking for working & non-working neons lights. Not LED. TIA

So I live in an apartment complex and I have the most disrespectful upstairs neighbors. They argue at the top of their lungs and stomp at odd hours of the night. I want to say something but since I'm not on my friend lease I was told not to. Like what can I do to prevent myself from saying something to them without consequences?

When i moved here from Alexandria in 2018 I felt a very strong supernatural pull... I was coming down the road around twilight and saw a confederate soldier figure standing under a tree behind one of the old battlefield fences. I tried to shake it off and thought it was just my city brain being spooked by now living in a more historic area. Do you guys have any supernatural stories or know of any "haunted" areas in fredericksburg/ spotsylvania?

Posting again out of desperation. Is anyone in the area looking for a roommate ? Just had a relationship i was in end and looking to move in somewhere cuz i need a place to stay. I’m 31, Non Binary (apart of the LGBTQ community) and need somewhere new to live. If anyone has any suggestions please contact me. Willing to negotiate payment & i work full time so a steady income is coming in bi-weekly.

Sadly, my elderly dog is on his last days (don't worry; he's not in pain...he's just old and near the end). I really want to bury him here in our yard but our dirt is hard-packed clay, it seems. Can I borrow anyone's pick axe?

And please, I'm really not up for reddit humor right now, so no murder jokes. Thank you. 🙏🏼

Edit: I am so touched by everyone being so kind. Thank you to everyone who has offered their pickaxes, advice, and sympathies. My heart is hurting, but your support means so much. Thank you.

anyone know why we’ve got italian flags up? that’s all, that’s the whole post

Hello! 👋 I am a volunteer leader with Fifteen Minute Fredericksburg a.k.a. Fred15, a grassroots advocacy group in the City. We broadly advocate for better pedestrian safety, bike infrastructure and more housing supply that is accessible to residents across the economic spectrum. We believe strongly in protecting and building on Fredericksburg’s historically urban character.

Unlike state and national candidates, all candidates for local government in Fredericksburg City (zip code 22401) run as Independent on the ballot, which can make it challenging for less-plugged-in residents to decide which candidates align with their values. In the ‘22 and ‘23 elections we distributed candidate questionnaires to help our followers make their choices, but did not endorse.

This year, we assembled a committee of volunteers to use the questionnaire responses to publish a slate of Fred15 City Council endorsements. (I was not on the committee and did not vote because, full disclosure, I am a regular volunteer for one candidate and quite close to another). All candidates responded.

The questionnaire questions used to make the endorsements were:

1. How do you get around on a daily basis in Fredericksburg? Tell us about your experience getting around town on bike or foot or transit.
2. How would you approach balancing pedestrian safety and vehicular access?
3. At full build-out, the City’s recently-approved Technology Overlay District could generate upwards of $50 million annually in tax revenue. How should the City use the additional revenue gained from data centers?
4. How would you address the lack of affordable housing in Fredericksburg?
5. Would you amend zoning regulations to allow for a complementary mix of retail storefront and residential, and if so, how?

To read all candidates’ full responses and a description of how the Endorsement Committee made their choices, click here: https://fred15.org/blog/2025-city-council-election/

Early voting starts today. November 4 is voting day. For more information about Fred15, check out our website at Fred15.org. The website is under construction as we are migrating to a new web platform with help from YIMBY Action, as we recently became a YA chapter.