Treats on the Streets: Costumes, Creativity & Community in Downtown Fredericksburg

What a wonderful day to be part of downtown Fredericksburg! Brush Strokes Gallery and our neighbors at Art First welcomed costumed visitors during Treats on the Streets, handing out approximately 1,000 pieces of candy between our two galleries. We haven’t seen it this busy in years—and the creative costumes made the day especially fun!

This annual Halloween tradition invites families to trick-or-treat at participating downtown businesses. It’s a chance for children to show off their costumes while families explore the shops, galleries, and streets that give historic Fredericksburg its character. Treats on the Streets is a Fredericksburg Main Street event, supported by Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism, the Fredericksburg Police Department, and the Rappahannock Rotary Club.

The celebration extends beyond candy stops. The annual Downtown Costume Stroll takes participants down Caroline Street to Market Square before trick-or-treating begins. This year’s downtown Halloween lineup also included activities at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market in Hurkamp Park, a kid-friendly Haunted FXBGO! Bus at Market Square, and a Halloween Open House at the Fredericksburg Area Museum. Together, these events offered families a full morning of downtown adventures.

The festivities are part of Fredericksburg’s broader Scarecrow Fest, a monthlong October celebration featuring handmade scarecrows at local businesses and opportunities for visitors to vote for their favorites. It’s another way our downtown community puts imagination on display each fall.

For us at Brush Strokes Gallery, seeing so much creativity outside our doors was a treat of its own. We loved admiring the costumes, greeting families, and sharing the excitement alongside Art First. Days like this remind us how much joy comes from being part of an active, welcoming downtown.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, to our fellow downtown businesses, and to the organizers and community partners who made this tradition possible. You made our Halloween celebration sweeter!

Visit Brush Strokes Gallery to discover original artwork and enjoy a little creativity in every season.