Features - Potomac Local News

UMW Basketball Champ to Be Celebrated City-wide Saturday; Kahn Named National Coach of the Year

Published April 17, 2026 at 3:00PM

UMW Head Coach Marcus Kahn talks with players during a timeout in the Eagles’ NCAA Sectional win over Wisconsin–La Crosse. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.

The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team will be honored with a city-wide celebration this weekend following its historic NCAA Division III national championship. The university’s Fan Fest is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Anderson Center on the Fredericksburg campus, with a team trolley traveling through downtown ahead of the event.

The celebration will include fan activities, food trucks, and opportunities for the public to meet players and celebrate the title.

‘Newsies’ Musical Opens at Hylton This June

By Potomac Local News

Published April 16, 2026 at 1:00PM

Actors Theatre at the ARTfactory will present Disney’s Newsies the Musical at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas this June. The high-energy show, based on the real 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City, follows young newspaper sellers who unite against powerful publishers for fair treatment. It features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman with a book by Harvey Fierstein.

The production runs June 5 through June 21 in the Gregory Family Theater. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, and at 2 p.m. on June 7, 14 and 21. Directed by Caroline Scarborough, the cast includes Evan Zimmerman as Jack Kelly, Sean Pflueger as Joseph Pulitzer, and many others from the area.

Hylton Center Unveils 2026-27 Season Lineup

By Potomac Local News

Published April 15, 2026 at 1:00PM

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas announced its full 2026-27 season today, featuring a mix of big-name performers, family shows, and local arts partners. Highlights include Broadway star Bernadette Peters making her Hylton debut, a special extra performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and returning favorites like Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The season kicks off Sept. 19 with An Evening with Bernadette Peters and the American Festival Pops Orchestra in Merchant Hall. Other Hylton Presents shows include Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s David Bowie tribute on Oct. 4, a live Mountain Stage taping hosted by Kathy Mattea on Oct. 18, and holiday performances by Chanticleer, the Vienna Boys Choir, and more. Winter and spring bring Cirque Éloize, Trinity Irish Dance Company, and Straight No Chaser.

Manassas Park Farmers Market Opens 2026 Season

By Potomac Local News

Published April 13, 2026 at 9:00AM

The City of Manassas Park Farmers Market kicked off its 2026 season on Saturday, drawing shoppers to fresh local goods and a vibrant community atmosphere in the heart of the small city.

Spring Market Season 2026: Haymarket, Manassas, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Opening Dates

By Potomac Local News

Published April 9, 2026 at 1:00PM

As warmer days return to Northern Virginia, the 2026 farmers market season is blooming with promise. From vibrant produce stands to handmade treasures and ready-to-eat delights, these beloved community hubs are the perfect way to connect with neighbors, support regional farmers and artisans, and fill your basket with the freshest seasonal goods.

Spotsylvania Farmers Market The season is already underway in Spotsylvania, where the market opened on Saturday, April 4. Early shoppers have discovered fantastic vendors like Always Flavored, who are encouraging everyone to “come hungry and leave flavored” with their exciting sauces and seasonings.

Holy Habits and Hilarity: ‘Nunsense’ Brings Broadway-Worthy Laughs to Manassas

By Potomac Local News

Published April 7, 2026 at 1:00PM

Imagine five nuns in full habit, tapping their way across a school auditorium stage while belting out show tunes about bingo, bad soup, and buried sisters. That’s not a fever dream—it’s the opening number of Nunsense, the long-running musical comedy that Actors Theatre is bringing to the Virginia ARTfactory in Manassas for a limited run next week.

The production opens Friday, April 10, and runs through Sunday, April 19, giving Northern Virginia theater fans a perfect excuse to trade their weekday routines for an evening (or matinee) of pure, unfiltered fun. Presented as a fundraiser for Actors Theatre, every ticket sold helps keep community theater thriving right here in our backyard. If you’ve been looking for a show that delivers big laughs without a big-city price tag, this is it.

Brick-lined Streets vs. Palm Trees: Caroline Street Faces Off Against Florida’s Artsy Woodland Boulevard

By Potomac Local News

Published April 3, 2026 at 3:00PM

Shoppers line Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg on Small Business Saturday.

Caroline Street has danced its way all the way to the finals of Garden & Gun magazine’s “Best Main Street in the South” showdown, and it’s time to turn up the volume on those voting fingers.

In a March Madness-style bracket that’s had the whole South buzzing since mid-March, Fredericksburg’s historic downtown drag finds itself in the ultimate two-street final against Woodland Boulevard in DeLand, Florida.

Little Women Sisters Shine at Riverside Center

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 2, 2026 at 11:00AM

Audiences are stepping back in time with the March sisters in Little Women: The Broadway Musical at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, where four talented performers are bringing Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of family, ambition, and resilience to vivid life amid the backdrop of the Civil War era.

The production, running through Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Riverside Center in Fredericksburg, features Ashlee Beary (often credited as Ashley Berry in local coverage) as the fiery Jo March, Sarah Mae Andersen as the responsible Meg March, Ella Schnoor as the gentle Beth March, and Madison Cox as the artistic Amy March. In a recent Potomac Local Podcast interview, the quartet shared their excitement for the show, their personal connections to the material, and what makes this classic feel so fresh and relatable on stage.

Tulips, Theater & Easter Skating: April 3–5 Roundup

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 1, 2026 at 3:00PM

Spring is bursting with color and fun across Northern Virginia this weekend! From vibrant tulip fields to family skating parties and a clever twist on a classic tale, there’s something for everyone in our community and just a short drive away. Grab your calendar and get ready to celebrate the season with neighbors and friends.

For more details and to register or buy tickets, https://bloomiaflowers.ticketspice.com/tulip-festival

From Elementary School Courts to National Title Game: Patriot High Trio Fuels Mary Washington’s Historic Run

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published April 1, 2026 at 11:00AM

Mens Basketball - Sweet Sixteen

The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team is making history. For the first time in program history, the Eagles are heading to the NCAA Division III national championship, set for Sunday, April 5, in Indianapolis.

A big part of this story is the remarkable bond among three players: juniors Kaden Bates, Jay Randall, and freshman Ethan Kacou. All three share roots that trace back to Patriot High School in Bristow, Virginia. For Kaden and Jay, their connection goes even further—they’ve been playing basketball together since elementary school.