MANASSAS, Va. — Trains will take center stage once again as Manassas hosts its 31st Annual Railway Festival on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
The family-friendly event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., spanning the historic downtown area between the train station parking lot and Harris Pavilion. Attractions include model train exhibits from groups like the National Capital Trackers and the Piedmont Railroaders, as well as safety displays from Amtrak and VRE.
Children can enjoy bounce houses, barrel train rides, and a variety of other activities. VRE will offer special train excursions to Clifton at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. Tickets cost $8 in cash or $9 by card, and are on sale now.
“The festival celebrates Manassas’ rich railway heritage with Norfolk Southern, VRE, and Amtrak,” said Kristen Kiefer, Executive Director of Historic Manassas Inc. “It’s a way to honor where we’ve come from and where we’re going as a historic train town.”
Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Manassas Museum and learn about the city’s evolution around its rail lines.
Adding to the excitement, Amtrak is partnering more closely with Historic Manassas to promote the city as a destination. Plans include a new ticket kiosk at the Manassas station and updated marketing materials highlighting the area’s historic sites.
“Manassas isn’t just a stop — it’s becoming a destination in itself,” Kiefer said.
Tuesday (April 1)
- Lifelong Learning with PWC Police K-9 Unit, 1 to 2 p.m. (Central Library)
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
Wednesday (April 2)
- Eating Smart Being Active, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Supply Drive for Animal Services Center, Noon to 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
- Prince William County School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
Thursday (April 3)
- Crafting with Cricut: Farmers Market Tote Bags, 2 to 3 p.m. (Central Library)
Friday (April 4)
- Kid’s Night Out, 6 to 9 p.m.
- First Friday, 6 to 9 p.m. (Manassas City)
Saturday (April 5)
- Family Archery, 9 to 11 a.m. (Woodbridge)
- Annual Coles District Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. to noon (Woodbridge)
- Wonder Wanders, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
- Culture Connection: Japan, 10:30 a.m. to noon (Potomac Library)
- Come Grow with Us, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Pixel Art Party, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Central Library)
- Potomac Library’s 50th Birthday Party, Noon to 4 p.m. (Potomac Library)
Sunday (April 6)
- Thai Street Food & Culture Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Manassas City)
- Mugs for Mom, 2 to 4 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
Monday (April 7)
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
- Miniature Painting Sessions, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
April 8
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
- Art Night, 6 to 7 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Paint, Sip & Munch, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Dale City)
April 9
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
April 11
- Embroidery and Cross-Stitch Workshop, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central Library)
April 12
- Family Archery, 9 to 11 a.m. (Triangle)
- Rippon Lodge Easter Egg Trail, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
- Mini Painting for Beginners, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Dale City Library)
- Serene Journey Births, 11 a.m. to noon (Montclair Library)
- Author Talk, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Full Moon Hike, 7 to 9 p.m. (Woodbridge)
April 13
- International Food Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Manassas City)
April 14
- Meet and Make: Earth Day, 1 to 3 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
April 15
- Invasive Plants and Insects, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Yarn On! Fiber Fun, 6 to 7 p.m.
April 16
- A Springtastic Scavenger Hunt, All day (Chinn Park Library)
- Teen Mario Kart Tournament, 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
April 17
- Watercolor Collaborative, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- After Hours Mini Golf, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
April 18
- Pete the Cat’s Groovy Library Party, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Local History Tour Group, 11 a.m. to noon (Dumfries)
April 19
- Family Archery, 9 to 11 a.m. (Haymarket)
- Pyrite Mine Hike, 10 a.m. to noon (Prince William Forest Park)
- Scrambled Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Brentsville Courthouse)
April 21
- Bull Run Library Airlines, 10:30 a.m. to noon (Bull Run Library)
- Maker Mondays: Tissue Paper Flowers, All day (Nokesville Library)
- LitCon, All day (Multiple Locations)
- Dice Delight, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- Recording in Progress, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
April 22
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
April 23
April 26
- Family Archery, 9 to 11 a.m. (Woodbridge)
- Kids Eco-Expedition, 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Woodbridge)
- Seals on Wheels, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Prescription Drug Take-Back, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Multiple locations)
- 3rd Annual Anything’s PAWsible Festival & 5k Fun Run, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Manassas City)
- Spring Festival, noon to 2 p.m. (Central Library)
- Super Art Fight, 2 to 3 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
April 28
- 24-Hour Comic Day Practice, 6 to 7:45 p.m.
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
April 29
- Wood Carving Demonstration, 5 to 7 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
April 30
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
The Fredericksburg Film Festival (FFF) is back for its second year, promising an impressive lineup of films from around the world, including selections from prestigious festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and Tribeca.
Set to take place from April 16-20, 2025, this year’s event will highlight top-tier independent films, Virginia-based filmmakers, and a growing arts culture in Fredericksburg.
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Entrepreneurs, non-profit directors, business leaders, ministers, life coaches, and more: Fredericksburg’s Most Influential Women Awards will once again recognize women who have made meaningful and lasting impacts on their communities.
The idea for the awards event originated four years ago when Gary Holland, one of the co-founders, came up with the concept while on vacation. He had an idea to “have an event to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the local region," Holland said. He shared the thought with his friend Vernon Green, and the two decided to make it a reality. Their nonprofit organizations, ACT Enough, Inc. and G3 Community Services, Inc., have since served as the title sponsors and primary coordinators of the event.
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Tuesday (March 4)
- Spring Flowers Paint by Numbers Take-and-Make, Ongoing while supplies last (Chinn Park Library)
- Talking to the Author Bookmark Contest, Ongoing (Chinn Park Library)
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
Wednesday (March 5)
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
- Miniature Painting Sessions, 5:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Mini Fig Painting Studio, 6 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Prince William County School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
Thursday (March 6)
- Crafting with Cricut: Punny Plant Pots, 2 p.m. (Central Library)
- VAriegated, until April 6 (Manassas City)
- State of the Parks, 7 p.m. (Woodbridge)
Friday (March 7)
- First Friday, 6 p.m. (Manassas City)
March 8
- Winter Market, 9 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Chinn Park Quilting, 10:30 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Bee Quilting, 11 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Greater Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 11 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Watercolor with Mark Murphy, 1 p.m. (Central Library)
March 10
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
March 11
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
- Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
- Yarn On!, 6 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
March 12
- Craft Exchange, 11 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
- Prince William County School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
March 14
- Pi/Pie Day Scavenger Hunt, All day (Lake Ridge Library)
- “The Secret Garden,” Various times (Manassas City)
- Luck O’ The Irish Bingo, 6 p.m. (Manassas City)
March 15
- Winter Market, 9 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Teen Quilt Series, 10:30 a.m. (Central Library)
- Wonder Wanders, 10:30 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
- Mugs for Mom, 10:30 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
- Culture Connection: Japan, 11 a.m. (Central Library)
- Pi Day Fun, 11 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Chick Eggstravaganza, 2 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
March 18
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
March 19
- Teen Pop-In, 3:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Miniature Painting Sessions, 5:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- DIY Wedding Party Gifts, 5:30 p.m. (Central Library)
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
- Prince William County School Board Meeting (Budget Adoption), 7 p.m.
March 21
- Model Railroad Show, 10:30 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Watercolor Collaborative, 10:30 a.m. (Montclair Library)
- Local History Tour Group, 11 a.m. (Central Library)
- “Miscast – A Musical Cabaret,” 7:30 p.m. (Manassas City)
March 22
- 10th Annual Prince William/Manassas History Symposium, 8:30 a.m. (Manassas)
- Winter Market, 9 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Tying the Knot Toolkit, 11 a.m. (Central Library)
- “Miscast – A Musical Cabaret,” 7:30 p.m. (Manassas City)
March 23
- Thai Street Food & Culture Festival, 10 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Historic Homes of Prince William County Bus Tour, 11 a.m. (Bristow)
March 24
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
- Bad Art Night, 6 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
March 25
- Pom-Pom Cacti Teen Craft Night, 4:30 p.m.
- Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
March 26
- Joint City Council/School Board Work Session, 5:30 p.m. (Manassas City)
March 28
- Stuffed Animal Sleepover, 10 a.m. (Montclair Library)
March 29
- 2025 Neighborhood Conference, 8 a.m. (Woodbridge)
- Serene Journey Births, 11 a.m. (Potomac Library)
March 31
- 8-Bit Art with Perler Beads, 1 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Brit Lit Book Club, 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Manassas City Council Budget Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
The Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its Lolli-Pops concert, an interactive program designed to introduce young audiences to the world of classical music, to James Monroe High School on March 15. The concert's theme is "A Salute to Mother Earth."
The Lolli-Pops concert is aimed at children from toddler age and up, offering a kid-friendly format that features well-known tunes such as "America the Beautiful," "Over the Rainbow," and selections from Disney’s Moana. More mature audiences can look forward to hearing "Variations on a Shaker Melody" from Appalachian Spring and The Moldau, among other pieces.
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The Occoquan Town Council is set to hold its first FY2026 budget work session on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting will review the town’s Strategic Framework and discuss proposed budgets for the eSummons Fund and the Mamie Davis Fund.
Key Topics for Discussion
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Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away.Â
On February 22, 2025, Micah Ecumenical Ministries will host its annual CNOY fundraising walk. Participants will meet at the downtown Riverfront Park at 4 p.m. to begin check-in before the walk starts at 5 p.m.
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On Saturday, February 1, local musicians and bands are gathering at Strangeways Brewing for the Eric Becker Memorial Concert benefiting the Fredericksburg SPCA.Â
A member of Radar Theory, bandmate Johnny Boothe said Becker was known for being genuinely caring to everyone in his life. He “loved his friends, his family, and his wife Kathleen deeply,” Boothe said. Becker and Boothe met in 2021 at an Adventure Brewery Open Mic night and decided to form a band called Radar Theory. In the fall of 2022, Becker noticed chest pain during a rehearsal and went to the hospital a few days later. He was diagnosed with cancer and began aggressive treatment immediately. Becker had several months of treatment and seemed to be doing well for a few months in 2023 before his cancer returned.  Becker proposed to his girlfriend Kathleen in October and they married in November. After an illness and brief hospitalization, Becker passed away shortly after Christmas. Booth said “Playing and writing music with Eric was a gift. There's a bond in creating something with others, sharing it with the outside world and risking the world telling you how awful it is. But sometimes, they also tell you how it meant something to them. You take that ride together.”Â
After 17 years as a teacher, Spotsylvania's Leslie Robinson has learned how to make her students laugh. In almost two decades, Robinson has taught every grade level from pre-school to adult high school, and currently teachers High School Family and Consumer Sciences in Spotsylvania County Public Schools. She is also a popular social media content creator, with thousands of followers and views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Robinson said she loves bringing comedy into her classrooms, saying it helps students retain more information and also lets them find enjoyment in learning. Making the jump from the classroom to the public was a logical next step - Robinson said, “it only made sense to share that same energy and approach with fellow teachers.” Robinson honed her comedy skills in the classroom, saying, "Teenagers are the toughest audience out there," and finding the ability to both connect with them and make them laugh is akin to "surviving 'audience boot camp.'"Â
