Registration is now open for the 4th Annual Halloween Houses O’ Lights contest, a community tradition that invites residents to showcase their creativity with festive Halloween decorations.

Organizers are calling on residents of all housing types—single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments—to light up their yards, balconies, porches, and windows in celebration of the spooky season. Registration is free and open until 11:59 p.m. on October 15, 2025.


MANASSAS PARK, Va. — Manassas Park Police say they seized more than 30 illegal gaming machines during coordinated raids Thursday at multiple businesses across the city.

Detectives executed eight search warrants on October 9, 2025, after an investigation into illegal gambling operations that began with two citizen complaints earlier this year. Police say surveillance at several establishments confirmed the use of the machines, which resembled arcade-style devices offering cash or prize payouts.


A proposal to ban firearms inside Manassas Park government buildings drew a packed house and strong opposition Tuesday night, as residents, veterans, and gun-rights advocates lined up to tell city leaders the ordinance goes too far.

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The future of Manassas Park’s growth took center stage Tuesday night as the Governing Body heard hours of testimony on the proposed Overlook development, a 213-home project that would rise at the corner of West Carondelet and Manassas Drive.

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MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Neighbors, city leaders, and community partners gathered at City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 4, to raise a special flag celebrating Manassas Park’s 50th anniversary as an independent city.

Mayor Alanna Mensing opened the ceremony by reflecting on the city’s history, from its beginnings as a subdivision in 1955 to achieving city status in 1975 — the last town in Virginia to do so. Mensing noted how the community has since grown into a full-service city with its own schools, police, and fire departments.


A woman was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead near the intersection of Creek View Terrace and Locust Terrace in Manassas Park on Sunday evening.

Manassas Park Police and Fire & Rescue crews responded just before 6 p.m. on September 1, 2025, and attempted life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, the woman died at the scene. Police say there are no signs of foul play, and the case is now with the Chief Medical Examiner.


MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Keep the Park Beautiful just hauled off more than 150 pounds of trash during a recent neighborhood cleanup on Connor Street—and they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

On Saturday, August 16, more than 20 volunteers—including students, retirees, local families, and even the fire department—showed up with gloves and good vibes to clear out everything from old car tires to construction debris. It took less than two hours to give the street a major facelift.


MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Another new restaurant is headed to Park Central. The city teased on Facebook that Nash & Smashed, known for its Nashville-style hot chicken and smash burgers, will soon open in town. An official opening date has not yet been announced.

Nash & Smashed got its start in Galveston Court, near Hoadly Road and Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge, in 2023 and has since expanded across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., with more than 25 locations open or in development. The menu features hot chicken sandwiches, fried chicken buckets, and signature smash burgers, including options that combine both chicken and beef. The chain emphasizes locally sourced and halal ingredients.


Virginia Railway Express is moving forward with improvements at two of its stations, one marking a long-awaited property transfer in Spotsylvania County and the other preparing for a major new parking facility in Manassas Park.

At its July meeting, the VRE Operations Board approved a contract with Espina Paving, Inc. of Woodbridge to mill and pave the Manassas Park Station parking lot. The work, set to finish before winter, aims to improve the lot’s appearance and safety after recent construction left it looking, as one board member put it, “like a war zone.”


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