community events

Once upon a time, kindness changed everything… Be part of the story at the Fred SPCA Fur Ball: A Fairy Tail Gala. On August 22, 2026, immerse yourself in an enchanted evening of elegance, wonder, and generosity. Beginning at 6:00 PM (VIP reception at 5:00 PM), this magical night at the Fredericksburg Convention Center supports lifesaving care for animals in need. Dress in your finest formal or fairy tale-inspired attire and help us turn hope into their happily ever after. B101.5 is an exclusive media partner.

Early bird promo: March 18 – April 30: $125/individual, $250/couple
Regular priced tickets: May 1 – August 10: $150/individual, $300/couple

Join The Knowledge Exchange (TKE) for the Last PIES of Summer Festival™ — a FREE, family-friendly community celebration supporting the creation of Portable Interactive Enrichment Stations (PIES™): immersive mobile enrichment experiences focused on creativity, storytelling, social-emotional learning (SEL), accessibility, and community connection.

Saturday, August 29, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg

The festival supports the development of immersive enrichment stations designed to bring collaborative learning, tabletop gaming, SEL-centered experiences, technology, and creative enrichment directly into community spaces across the region.

Enjoy a full day of:

🥧 Beginner-friendly D&D experiences
💡 Immersive one-shot adventures
☀️ Character creation & collaborative storytelling
🥧 Youth side quests & enrichment activities
💡 Portable Interactive Enrichment Station (PIES™) showcases
☀️ Vendor marketplace & community resources
🥧 Pie fundraising, raffles, & giveaways
💡 Family lounge & neurodivergent-friendly spaces

FREE General Admission Includes:

• Vendor marketplace
• Community resources
• Festival activities & showcases
• Family-friendly gathering spaces
• Pie fundraising & raffles

Ticketed Experiences & Activities
Learn to Play D&D Sessions (1 Hour)

Perfect for beginners, curious players, and families wanting to experience tabletop roleplaying in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Includes:
• Guided beginner-friendly gameplay
• Pre-generated or customizable characters
• Collaborative storytelling experiences
• Small-group sessions

$10 per participant (+ fees)
Ages 13+ | Max 5 players per table
2 tables running simultaneously
✨ Limited seating available

Immersive One-Shot Adventures (3 Hours)

Our featured immersive tabletop experience designed for players seeking deeper fantasy storytelling, teamwork, puzzles, and roleplay.

Includes:
• 3-hour guided adventure
• Experienced Dungeon Masters
• Interactive storytelling & collaborative gameplay
• Small-group immersive experience

$25 pre-registration
$30 day-of registration (if space remains)
Ages 12+ | Adult groups of 4–6 players
✨ Limited seating available

Youth Adventure Experiences
Little Adventurer Experience (Ages 4–7)

1-hour supervised enrichment experience featuring:
• Sensory-friendly activities
• Crafts & creative play
• Story-based adventures
• Guided side quests & movement activities

$10 per child (+ fees)

School Age Adventurer Experience (Ages 8–12)

1-hour supervised enrichment experience featuring:
• Collaborative games
• Beginner roleplay activities
• Creative challenges & puzzles
• Storytelling adventures

$10 per child (+ fees)

Extended Adventure Care Passes (Up to 3 Hours)
Little Adventurer Care Pass (Ages 4–7)

Includes:
• Structured creative activities
• Sensory-friendly play
• Guided quests, crafts, & storytelling
• Supervised enrichment throughout the festival

School Age Adventurer Care Pass (Ages 8–12)

Includes:
• Collaborative storytelling
• Interactive games & roleplay
• Guided side quests & creative challenges

$20 care pass (+ fees)
✨ 2-for-1 ticket options available while supplies last

Limited supervised enrichment spaces are available for families participating in immersive festival experiences.

Support the Mission

Donations and sponsorships directly support:

💡 Youth enrichment programming
☀️ Accessibility & regulation-friendly resources
🥧 Portable Interactive Enrichment Station (PIES™) development
💡 Community-based SEL & creative learning experiences

The Knowledge Exchange is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations may be tax-deductible.

Sponsorship Opportunities

🥧 $100 — Community Slice Sponsor
🥧 $314 — π Slice Sponsor
☀️ $500 — Experience Sponsor
💡 $1,570 — Half-PI Sponsor
🥧 $3,141 — Grand Patissier Sponsor

We are also accepting in-kind donations including pies, snacks, drinks, raffle items, art supplies, and festival materials.

Vendor Spaces Available

• Nonprofit Vendors: $40
• For-Profit Vendors: $80

🎟 Registration, sponsorships, vendor registration, and donations:
bit.ly/PIESFestival

📧 Questions or partnership inquiries: support@tkenonprofit.org

The Downtown Mile for CASA, an annual one-mile sprint through Downtown Fredericksburg, benefits Rappahannock CASA, a nonprofit that trains caring, committed adults to serve as volunteer personal advocates for children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers meet at least monthly with each child they’re serving, speak regularly with the children’s service providers, and make recommendations to the court about services that could help these vulnerable children heal from their trauma. CASA helps the judges who appoint us to these cases prioritize the needs of the children at the heart of them.

The Downtown Mile for CASA features 4 heats — women ages 15 and up, men ages 15 and up, children ages 6 to 14, and a final Superhero Heat, where participants dress as their favorite heroes and complete the mile in capes and tights! The race is the 9th event in the Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix Series, so all finishers receive points toward the 12-race series. T-shirts are guaranteed for all racers who register by September 1, as are capes for kiddos.