Occoquan will kick off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting on Saturday, November 21, at 6 p.m. in front of Town Hall at 314 Mill Street, Sarah Burzio of Visit Occoquan said on the Potomac Local Podcast.
Holiday
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Historic Manassas, Inc. will start the holiday season with November Small Business Week promotions beginning around November 20 and continuing into December, Maria Bopp, events and community engagement manager at Historic Manassas, Inc., said on the Potomac Local Podcast.
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A bright gold and purple building on Princess Anne street offers creative twists on a beloved classic – Sprelly specializes in gourmet nut butter spreads and jellies that redefine the traditional PB&J with nearly two dozen exotic flavors.
Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Adrian and Casey Silversmith, Sprelly moved from the Made in Virginia store in downtown Fredericksburg to the Canal Quarter District in 2021.
A family of handmade snowmen, a tree luminary, and hand-sculpted ornaments: Corgi Clay Art Center’s classes this month are focusing on the holidays. Corgi Clay has classes available for a wide range of ages and abilities, from teens learning to spin clay for the first time to advanced sculptors learning detailed techniques. Owner Deb Balestreri said the center is “Stafford County’s first vibrant, creative community that offers ceramics and other art classes, firing services, artist residencies, teaching and exhibition opportunities, and memberships for potters.”
Balestreri, a University of Mary Washington alum, opened Corgi Clay in 2020 after serving as the Director of Visual Arts Education at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. The center is hosting a holiday marketplace through January, featuring unique artwork, apparel, pottery, and more.
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No sound, no touch, no light: Elysian Float Spa offers a sensory deprivation spa experience to take away the stress of the holidays. Located in Fredericksburg, Elysian offers 60 minute or 90 minute float therapy sessions. Owner Debbie Elkins said float therapy has three main targets: athletic recovery, chronic pain,, and mental wellness (anxiety, depression, PTSD).
Two couples, Mark and Debbie Elkins from Stafford and Jason and Christy Ostrander met 15 years ago at a small church group. After a float spa experience in Williamsburg, Mark and Debbie told Jason, a career massage therapist, that this type of wellness experience was needed in the Fredericksburg area.
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Press Release from the City of Fredericksburg:
Guess who is coming to the Fredericksburg Visitor Center?
Stafford County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is hosting its annual Candy Cane Hunt on Government Island on December 14. The family-friendly event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is required in order to receive the activities bag, which contains the scavenger hunt information.
Giant candy canes will be hidden in the woods throughout the island. Participants can use a scavenger hunt map provided by Stafford Tourism to mark off their finds.
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We’ll be featuring local businesses in our holiday gift-giving series. We’ve asked local businesses to tell us about their holidays, and to suggest gift ideas for a wide range of people.
Stafford’s Olde Virginia Gourmet recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Open since 2004, owners Sean and Annabelle Tarallo run a gourmet and gift shop that focuses on Virginia products, including wines, beers, and other gourmet specialties.
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Press release:
Virginia State Parks invites visitors of all ages to experience the magic of the holidays with various festive events across the state. From historic educational programs to enchanting light displays, many parks offer unique ways to create memories and celebrate the holidays amidst Virginia’s breathtaking natural landscapes.
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The program will feature music from the Little Zion Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Gainesville High School Ensemble, and the Gainesville Virginia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others. Traditional carols and seasonal favorites will be performed.
Brief messages reflecting on the Christmas season will be shared by Pastor George Carlisle, Pastor James McCray, and President Hans Carlson, who is hosting the event for the first time. Carlson expressed his enthusiasm, emphasizing the concert’s focus on community and holiday spirit.