Here in Fredericksburg, you can participate in Memorial Day events with roots that go back as far as the origins of the holiday itself. There are experiences to be had here that are moving and powerful enough to drown out all of the chatter that goes along with modern Memorial Day events, and to put you in a mood of solemn remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice over the course of our nation’s history. There is also a spirit of celebration of the gifts that past generations have given this community. The holiday weekend can be a great opportunity to explore all of this.
30th annual Luminaria at Fredericksburg National Cemetery
The terraced hill of the cemetery, at 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, is part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, is a stunning sight itself, members of local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and other volunteers have painstakingly placed luminaries on each of the more than 15,300 graves of fallen soldiers here.
The luminaria takes place on the Saturday before Memorial Day. This year’s date is: May 24, 2025 – 8pm to 11pm. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to Sunday, May 25th.
Parking: University of Mary Washington lot at the corner of William Street and Sunken. Click here for Google map pin. Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg provides free shuttle service between the parking lot and the national cemetery. Accessible parking with state-issued accessible tags/plates is available at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center (1013 Lafayette Blvd).
More Memorial Day Events
For details on all of the Memorial Day events in Fredericksburg, check our Memorial Day page to see the current times and locations.
Updated May 20, 2025