Fredericksburg Fourth Of July 2017 Fireworks At Heritage Festival, Plus Weather Forecast

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Looking for more out of your Fourth of July celebration than a mere fireworks display. Well, Fredericksburg may just be your ticket. The all-day affair includes a 5-mile run, a downtown parade, a street festival with more than 100 vendors, live music and, yes, a fireworks display.

It's the Heritage Festival, 7:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. It's mostly in the downtown area but also includes a side trip to Ferry Farm. Lawns chairs are recommended. Prohibited are sparklers grills and alcohol. Dogs must be on leashes.

WEATHER UPDATE: The weather forecast is a bit dicey. NBC Washington's Chuck Bell says storms will be a bit more likely south and west of the D.C. Metro area; he says rain is most likely between 2 and 7 p.m., but fireworks should be dry. The National Weather Service calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Look for mostly cloudy skies with a high near 93. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. The chance of scattered rain showers before 2 am creeps up to 50 percent. Skies tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.

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Here's how the day will go, with information provided by organizers:

7:45 am - Heritage Festival Five-Mile Run. 6:30 am: Registration at the Visitor Center. Sponsored by the Fredericksburg Host Lions Club. For more info, click here.

9:30 am - Heritage Day Parade. Downtown - Lafayette VRE lot to Caroline Street to George Street ot Princess Anne to Lafayette St. Prizes for Best Costume & Most Creative Bicycle. Sponsored by Blue Star Mothers VA 4

10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Festival of the Streets in Downtown (Sophia Street). Craft show with more than 100 Vendors. Contact: Ellen Grady 540-268-0122. Sponsored by Beth Sholom Temple. Classic Car Display - Sponsored by Stafford Car Club. Children's Activities: Face Painting, Moon Bounce, Elk's Kiddie Tran and Gyroscope Ride. Contact: Travis Bullock 540-854-6666. Sponsored by Community Outreach Inc. Live Music: Patsy and the Country Classic Band, Steve Jarrell & Sons of the Beach 2.

Noon: Presentations of the Colors - American Legion. Welcome - Councilman Matt Kelly

10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Fourth of July at Ferry Farm: "Building America" at Ferry Farm. Sponsored by The George Washington Foundation. $1.00 admission. Catch the trolley from downtown or from the Eagles Lodge on Cool Springs Road. Ferry Farm parking handicapped only. Washington house under construction, archeology, music, games, crafts, family activities, and re-enactors.

Noon: Performance by Enduring Freedom Honor Team

1:00 pm: Flag Retirement Ceremony

4:30 pm: John Lee Pratt Memorial Park opens for the July 4th Spectacular.

Live Music: 5:30 pm - 7 pm - South Hill Banks. 7:30 pm - 9 pm - Karen Jonas

9:30 pm: FIREWORKS (Sponsored by City of Fredericksburg & Stafford County). Fireworks can be viewed from Pratt Park and Old Mill Park.

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