The Fredericksburg Area Museum is leaning into its spooky side this fall. Inside the historic Town Hall on Market Square, the museum has lined up three very different ways to celebrate the season: an evening exploring the city’s darker past, a free Halloween open house built for families, and an overnight paranormal investigation for anyone brave enough to stay up past midnight. The fun runs through November.
Whether you’re curious about Fredericksburg’s ghost stories, looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween, or ready to investigate the paranormal yourself, there’s something happening at FAM this season.
Halloween Open House: free for the whole family
Saturday, October 31 | 10 AM to 5 PM | Free and open to the public
Bring the kids (costumes encouraged) for a full day of Halloween fun inside the museum. There’s a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt through the galleries, a photo booth, face painting, spooky crafts and more. And from 11:30 AM to 1 PM, Gus from the FredNats, Fredericksburg’s favorite monster, stops by for photos.
What Remains: Dark History
Thursday, October 22 | 6:30 to 8:30 PM | $12 for FAM members, $16 for nonmembers
FAM Curator of Collections Kylie Thomson leads a fascinating look at Fredericksburg’s darker history, from mourning customs, tombstones and deadly concoctions to the toll of war and disease. Expect eerie artifacts, local cemetery history and one open question: does the museum’s historic Old City Hall building have a few lingering residents of its own? Registration is required, and the museum says tickets are running low.
Paranormal Investigations: FAM and Masonic Lodge No. 4
Saturday, November 21 | 5:30 PM to 1 AM
For those who prefer their history after dark, this guided overnight investigation covers two of Fredericksburg’s most storied buildings: the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Masonic Lodge No. 4. Explore the legends, lingering spirits and centuries of history surrounding both. It’s a ticketed event, with advance booking available online.
Where to find it
All three events take place at or begin at the Fredericksburg Area Museum, 907 Princess Anne Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Use the William Street entrance, right next to Market Square. For more upcoming programs, visit famva.org.
About the Fredericksburg Area Museum
Located in Fredericksburg’s historic Town Hall and Market House, built around 1816, the Fredericksburg Area Museum preserves, interprets and shares the history of Fredericksburg and the surrounding region. Through its collections, exhibitions, educational programs and community events, FAM connects people to the histories that have shaped our past and continue to shape our present, and serves as a welcoming gathering place where history comes to life.
Event details shared by the Fredericksburg Area Museum.
