Announcing the Rappahannock Art Festival, coming May 2nd 2026!
The League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area is launching a major new community event: the Rappahannock Art Festival, a large public art festival designed to bring people together through creativity, conversation, and civic connection.
This festival is part of the League’s Unite & Rise initiative—an effort to strengthen community ties, reduce isolation, and meet people where they are with positive, accessible civic engagement. Art is one of the most powerful ways communities express identity, history, and hope. By building a welcoming space for artists, families, neighbors, and local organizations, we’re creating an event that supports both community life and democratic habits—listening, learning, and connecting across difference.
Event details
Rappahannock Art Festival
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Location: John Lee Pratt Memorial Park (Stafford, VA)
What you’ll find: Artist booths • Outdoor installations • Food trucks • Live music and stage programming • Community partner booths • Conversation circles
Apply to participate
We are currently accepting participants for the festival:
Artists & Makers
Showcase original work in an artist booth or apply with a special installation concept. (Space is free to artists)
Performers
Music, spoken word, and other performing arts are welcome.
Food Trucks & Food Vendors
Serve a large public crowd in a high-traffic festival space.
Sponsors & Community Supporters
Help fund the festival and expand access for artists and families.
Nonprofits & Community Partners
Join us on-site to connect with the public and share your work.
Apply below as an Artist , Sponsor the Festival, or sell from your Food Trucks, join us as a Community Partner
Why this matters to the League
The League of Women Voters is best known for voter registration and nonpartisan civic education—but our mission goes deeper than elections alone. The health of a democracy depends on whether people feel connected to one another and confident in their ability to participate.
The Rappahannock Art Festival supports our mission by creating:
- Community belonging — a space where people show up, stay, and connect
- Civic learning without pressure — opportunities to engage at your own pace
- Real-world democratic practice — respectful conversation, listening, and shared problem-solving
- Visibility and access — welcoming entry points for people who wouldn’t attend a traditional “civic event”
This is what Unite & Rise looks like in practice: a positive public gathering that strengthens community trust and invites new people into civic life.
What the League will be doing at the Festival
LWV Fredericksburg will be hosting multiple areas and activities throughout the day, including:
- Intergenerational Conversation Circles
Guided, welcoming small-group conversations designed to help neighbors connect across age, background, and experience. - Scheduled Community Conversations
Short, structured discussions led by local leaders on community topics—designed to be informative, respectful, and accessible. - Voter Registration & Voting Information
Nonpartisan voter registration, election information, and practical resources for participating in local democracy. - League Information Booths
Learn what we do, how to get involved, and how the League impacts our region year-round.
We need volunteers (and we want you involved)
This festival is ambitious—and it’s only possible with community support. We are actively recruiting League members and volunteers for:
- Planning and outreach
- Sponsor and community partner recruitment
- Artist and performer support
- Day-of logistics and setup
- Greeters / welcome table volunteers
- Booth volunteers (registration, info, conversations)
- Stage support and schedule coordination
- Breakdown and cleanup
If you’d like to help, email us at president@fredericksburglwv.org.
“From Our Community” Member Art Booth
We also want to spotlight the creativity already inside our League. If you are a League member and have artwork you’d like to display—fine art, crafts, photography, textiles, sculpture, writing, anything—tell us.
We will be curating a shared booth tentatively titled:
“From Our Community: LWV Member Showcase”
This is a simple, low-pressure way for members to participate in the festival and help set the tone for what this event is about: community, expression, and connection.
Artist booths are free to anyone who would like to showcase their works, but if you have a piece you would like to exhibit beside your fellow members’ works, this is the place!
Visit the main page to apply for a booth, email President@fredericksburglwv.org to discuss the member spotlight booth!
