Events
The George Washington Foundation hosts dozens of events each year. Click here to see a full list of upcoming events for 2026.
Please note that photography is taken during all Foundation events and may be used for social media, marketing, and promotional purposes.
George Washington’s Birthday Celebration
***We’re sorry, this event has been canceled. There is still too much snow and ice on the grounds for the event to happen safely. Ticket holders will be refunded.***
Celebrate George Washington’s 294th birthday at his boyhood home with fun activities for the whole family!
Meet “George Washington,” participate in our annual stone throwing contest, play games, and eat birthday cupcakes (While supplies last!). Enjoy several educational stations throughout the Ferry Farm property, take an abbreviated Washington House tour, engage with archaeologists, historians, and other experts to learn about Ferry Farm, the Washington family, and the enslaved people who lived here.
Events will be ongoing from 10am – 3pm, while tickets last. Free parking on-site.
No pets allowed at this event.
Admission
$5.00 – adults
Free – 17 & under
(Plus, online processing fee
Advanced ticket purchasing highly recommended as each time slot is limited. Purchase tickets for arrival time beginning at the top of every hour.
Time slots:
10-11:00 am
11-12:00 pm
12-1:00 pm
1-2:00 pm
2-3:00 pm
Address
George Washington’s Ferry Farm
268 George Washington Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Questions? Email learn@gwffoundation.org or call 540-370-0732 x1202.
Special thanks to event sponsors Keiter and Reid Engineering.
Ever wonder why coffee is so ingrained into American culture? Visit Kenmore’s historic kitchen to learn more about this revolutionary brew. Set beside the hearth fire, guests will experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of coffee as beans are toasted and brewed in a traditional pot. This cooking demonstration explores how coffee moved from a global commodity to a familiar presence in American life, fueling daily routines and revolutionary-era actions alike. The program concludes with coffee samples for guests to enjoy.
The kitchen will be open throughout the day, and entry is included with general admission fees. Visitors may reserve house tour tickets online (for March 1st) or purchase on-site at the front desk. Museum only admission can be purchased on-site. Both admission rates include entry to the kitchen.
ADMISSION
With House Tour
$15 for Adults
$6 for students ages 6-17
Free for Children under 6
Museum & Event Admission
$6 for Adults
$3 for Students ages 6-17
Free for Children under 6
DATE & TIME
Sunday, March 1, 2026
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
House tours at 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm, 3:45 pm
LOCATION
Historic Kenmore
1201 Washington Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
If you have any questions, please call (540) 370-0732 or email learn@gwffoundation.org
Join us at Historic Kenmore for a morning discovering springtime blooms! We will have story time, explore the garden, and kids can plant their own flowers to take home! Following the program, children and their caregivers are invited to take an abbreviated tour through Historic Kenmore and explore the Visitor Center Gallery.
Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Children under 3 are welcome to attend.
The Mini Mornings program series introduces young learners (ages 3-6) to our museum spaces! Children and their caregivers participate in a story time, related craft, and activity while exploring Historic Kenmore.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
10:15 – 11:15 am
ADMISSION
Children (under 6) – $6
Adults – FREE
LOCATION
Historic Kenmore
1201 Washington Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
If you have questions, please call (540) 370-0732 or email learn@gwffoundation.org.
Drums Along the Rappahannock
Drums Along the Rappahannock: Echoes of Revolution at Ferry Farm
Mark America 250 at Ferry Farm, the childhood home of George Washington. Featuring the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Revolutionary War–era reenactors, and family-friendly activities, this immersive event connects visitors to the people, sounds, and ideas that shaped the nation’s founding.
This is a free event.
This event is hosted in collaboration with The George Washington Foundation and the Stafford County Historical Society.
DATE & TIME
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00am to 2:00pm
Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps performance at 1:00pm
LOCATION
George Washington’s Ferry Farm
268 George Washington Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
If you have questions, please call (540) 370-0732 or email Learn@gwffoundation.org.
Homeschool Day at Historic Kenmore
Join us at Historic Kenmore on Friday, May 8, 2026, for an engaging day for homeschoolers and their caregivers that connects the past and present while building skills in historic inquiry. Participants will discover what life was like in 18th-century Virginia during its turbulent transformation from British colony to American state, 250 years ago in this momentous year. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the diverse individuals in Fredericksburg who helped forge American Independence.
Attendees are welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch on our grounds, play colonial games, explore the Historic Kenmore Visitor Center, and complete a variety of self-guided, take-home activities.
Students must be accompanied by a participating adult.
DATE & TIMES
Friday, May 8, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm
ADMISSION
Students (ages 6-17) – $6
Adults -$4
Children under 6 – free
LOCATION
Historic Kenmore
1201 Washington Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
More details and registration ticket link to be announced soon! If you have questions, please call (540) 370-0732 or email learn@gwffoundation.org.
Have a homeschool co-op or group over 15 and want to schedule a private school program? Check out our School & Youth page to learn more!
Dig up artifacts! Meet real archaeologists! Witness the wonders of the “science of history.” It’s a hands-on opportunity to learn how to grid the site, dig up artifacts, and keep field notebooks. Campers will meet real archaeologists, visit the lab, and practice mending artifacts. Throughout the week, they’ll build a newfound knowledge of the mysteries beneath their feet as they explore the storied landscape of Ferry Farm, George Washington’s Boyhood Home.
Campers get a crash course in the entire archaeological process and discover the importance of archaeology to understanding George Washington’s life and the history of Ferry Farm.
For campers ages 8-12.
COST
$200.00 per camper, plus processing fees.
Advance registration and payment required, as camp space is limited. Registration deadline is 4 p.m., Monday, May 25.
Please note our refund policy regarding camps: 2+ weeks before, 90% refund (10% administration fee). 2 weeks before, 50% refund. 1 week before, 0% refund.
After registering, you should receive a confirmation email from SimpleTix. You will receive further communication from the Education Department at The George Washington Foundation in May as we get closer to the camp season. This will include a camper registration and emergency contact form.
Location:
George Washington’s Ferry Farm
268 George Washington Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Questions? Email learn@gwffoundation.org
or call 540-370-0732 x1206.
A 250th Fourth of July
Be part of America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, at George Washington’s Ferry Farm! This family-friendly Americana-themed Independence Day event commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation in a setting rich with Revolutionary history. Join us for a day filled with games, hands-on activities, crafts, living history demonstrations, reenactors, and engaging programs presented by community organizations from across the region. Fabulous Fourth offers a meaningful and memorable way to honor our shared heritage and the enduring spirit of independence.
Celebrate our nation’s 250th along with the area’s historic sites and educational entities. With dozens of things to see and do, guests will be entertained by performances and demonstrations by the Kilmarnock Pipe Band, the Wil Gravatt Band, demonstrations by the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, the Fredericksburg Area Museum, James Monroe Museum, Washington Heritage Sites, James Ingram who interprets of the lives of enslaved Sailors, and many others!
Returning performers include a George Washington reenactor, Enduring Freedom, the 23rd USCT, and the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society.
Kids can enjoy a display of dinosaur and other fossils, a live archaeological excavation, play colonial games, watch living history, take Washington House tours, food trucks, craft-making, and more.
11:00 am – Inspiring Speeches and Flag Retirement Ceremony
Tickets to be purchased at the gate.
Free shuttles will run between the Eagles Lodge parking lot on Cool Springs Road and the Ferry Farm and Fourth in Fredericksburg events. Handicap parking only available on-site at Ferry Farm.
Event is rain or shine. No pets, no weapons, no coolers, and no alcohol permitted.
Questions? Email learn@gwffoundation.org or call 540-370-0732.
FREE PARKING
Eagles Lodge Lot
21 Cool Springs Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
American Revolution Camp
This camp teaches children what life was like in the 18th century, when colonists were on the cusp of war. Through immersive hands-on activities, children learn about colonial life, maritime practices, and the challenges of war. Campers will play colonial games, explore historic trades, learn from real historical objects, and even design and test their own model ships. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to walk in the footsteps of George Washington at both museum sites while exploring the lives of Revolutionary soldiers, sailors, and civilians. This camp alternates locations between Historic Kenmore and George Washington’s Ferry Farm.
For campers ages 8-12.
COST
$200.00 per camper plus processing fees. Advance ticket purchase required, as program space is limited. Sign-up deadline is 4 p.m., Monday, June 29.
Please note our refund policy regarding camp: 2+ weeks before, 90% refund (10% administration fee). 2 weeks before, 50% refund. 1 week before, 0% refund.
After registering, you should receive a confirmation email from SimpleTix. You will receive further communication from the Education Department at the George Washington Foundation in June as we get closer to the camp season. This will include a camper registration and emergency contact form.
Locations:
This camp alternates location each day between George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore.
George Washington’s Ferry Farm
268 George Washington Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Historic Kenmore
1201 Washington Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Questions? Email learn@gwffoundation.org
or call 540-370-0732 x1206.