Events

News

Stafford Shelter Hosts Sixth Annual Clear the Shelter Adoption Event

By Kelly Sienkowski
Dasher, a male husky

On Saturday, Aug. 10, the Stafford County Animal Shelter will host its sixth annual “Clear the Shelter” adoption event. This summer, the shelter has been overwhelmed by the number of pets surrendered by owners for many reasons, including increasing costs of pet care.

The shelter is legally required to take in all animals brought to them. Stafford County Sheriff’s Capt. Joseph Bice, who oversees the shelter, said, “We’re getting dogs at a rate of three to one compared to the rate of adoption.” He added, “We want to provide care and a place for them to stay, but the problem is space…In 2014, we took in around 330 dogs. Last year, we took in over a thousand, and this year we’re on track to take in 1,200 to 1,400.”

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Prince William

Events Around Prince William County in August

By Caitlyn Meisner
Ringmaster Jimmy Earhart shows off the talents of his animals during the Sea Lion Splash show at the Prince William County Fair on Aug. 15, 2022.

August will be a busy month around Prince William County with several events and activities scheduled. The Board of County Supervisors won’t be meeting this month due to the month-long recess; their first meeting back will be Sept. 3.

Take a look at some highlighted events.

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News

Join the Fun: Stafford County Fair Brings Family Activities and Local Culture to Fredericksburg

By Kelly Sienkowski
Stafford County Fair

The Stafford County Agricultural and Homemaking Fair will return Oct. 17 through Oct. 20 at the UMW Stafford Campus (121 University Boulevard). The fair features family-friendly activities like a children’s power wheel derby and tractor pull, a petting zoo, and carnival rides. Attendees can enjoy live music, explore a variety of vendor stalls, and experience displays from first responders. This year’s fair continues the legacy of a community-focused event that celebrates local culture, agriculture, and togetherness.

The roots of the Fair trace back to October 1922, when it was first held at Stafford High School. The inaugural event, organized by the School Board and fair officers, featured a school parade and a range of exhibits highlighting agricultural achievements, domestic arts, and educational displays. Over the years, the fair has faced interruptions, including a cancellation in 1930 due to drought and a hiatus during World War II. It was revived in 1948 at Falmouth High School, where it continued for several more years before coming to an end. 

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Prince William

African American Foundation Hosting 31st Festival Tomorrow

By Caitlyn Meisner

The African American Foundation of Manassas City and Prince William County is hosting its 31st annual African American Heritage Festival tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 3). at Metz Middle School from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This festival has been a staple in the community for over three decades, each on the first Saturday of August. It is also a free event.

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Fredericksburg

America’s Oldest Fair Opens July 26

By Kelly Sienkowski
2023 Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair (Instagram: FxbgFair)

Fredericksburg’s annual Agricultural Fair kicks off Friday, July 26 and runs until Sunday, Aug. 4. The Miss Fredericksburg Fair Pageant will be held Thursday, July 25.

The Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair’s website says it was established in 1738 and is the oldest fair in both Virginia and the United States. The range of entertainment has varied over the years, from Williamsburg comedians in 1752 to horse racing by the Fredericksburg Jockey Club in 1774, then hot air balloons in the 1880s. The fair has weathered interruptions with no events from 1881-1886 and during the Great Depression in the mid-1920s. It was revived in 1948 by a group of local farmers and the Jaycees, a non-profit community organization.

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Fredericksburg

Viva Las Vegas: Fredericksburg SPCA’s Fur Ball Gala Returns

By Kelly Sienkowski
SPCA Fur Ball Gala 2023 (Bryant Cox Photography)

The Fredericksburg SPCA Fur Ball Gala will be held Aug. 24 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center.

This year’s theme is Old Vegas, in the style of the Rat Pack. In addition to a silent and live auction, the 6 p.m. event will feature specialty cocktails and entertainment casino games.

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Features

Ghost Story: Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre to Host 15th Anniversary Event

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation

The Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Prince William County Parks & Recreation will host a special event at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre. The event marks the 15th anniversary of the Centre’s appearance on an episode of the television show Ghost Hunters.

The event will occur at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow. The evening begins with a free screening of the “Ghost Hunters” episode from 7 to 8 PM. Following the screening, there will be a ghost tour from 8 to 9 p.m. The tour costs $15 per person, and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets will be available starting August 6th at pwcparks.info/hptickets.

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Prince William

Prince William County Sells Out ‘Dad’s Pool Day’ Relaunch

By Caitlyn Meisner

Prince William County sold out the first event of their Fatherhood Initiative relaunch this weekend following a pause from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prince William County Department of Social Services aims to relaunch this initiative to “help fathers more effectively engage with their children.”

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Prince William

Restored Historic Brentsville Jail Offering Sleepover Program

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Courtesy of Prince William County]

“Guests will take part in a mock trial where we take court cases from the 1800s and we give everyone different roles,” Paige Gibbons Backus, historic site manager at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre & Lucasville School, said in a press release. “They go through the court case, hear the evidence and then decide if someone is innocent or guilty and we tell them if they changed history or not.”

The jail was built in tandem with the Brentsville Courthouse in the 1820s and served as the “center of law and order” for the county until 1893, the release stated. The county seat moved to Manassas, so the jail transitioned to a women’s dorm for the teacher’s college in the defunct courthouse. It was then renovated to become a private residence then the county park authority’s jail space.

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News

‘Meet-Up with the Mayor’ Series Returns Friday at Manassas Museum

By Caitlyn Meisner

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger is kicking off the third year of her mid-day summer meet-ups on Friday at noon, this time at the newly renovated Manassas Museum.

The meet-ups kick off Friday and will run through Aug. 30. They will be held on the patio of the Museum from noon to 1 p.m., but may me moved inside depending on the weather.

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