Occoquan
The 2024 Fall Arts and Crafts Show in Occoquan, held from September 27 to September 29, wrapped up with positive reviews, high attendance, and valuable lessons learned. Despite challenges, the community and vendors enjoyed a weekend filled with art, crafts, and unique experiences, establishing the show as a beloved event in the town’s calendar.
Organized by town employee Julie Little and her team, this year’s show featured hundreds of vendors offering handmade items, artisanal products, and creative experiences. Many vendors were excited to showcase and purchase items before the upcoming Christmas, recognizing the show as a prime opportunity to kick-start holiday sales and stock up on unique gifts and decorations.
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From Mayor Earnie Porta:
Some of you may have noticed new 20 mph signs on a small stretch of Washington Street in Occoquan. Effective this past July 1, the Commonwealth of Virginia authorized localities to reduce the speed limit to no lower than 15 mph on state roads within a locality’s boundaries.
Update from Mayor Earnie Porta:
Join us Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. for our annual family-friendly Halloween Costume Parade and Contest. Meet at the Riverwalk Shops at 125 Mill Street, from which we will begin our parade down Mill Street to River Mill Park. At the park judging will take place for the categories of cutest, scariest, funniest, most original, and family/group. First place winners in each category will receive $25 gift certificates that can be used at select businesses in town. No advance registration is necessary, there is no fee to participate, and this event is open to everyone. (To accommodate the parade Mill Street will be closed briefly on a rolling basis between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m.). For more information go to the Visit Occoquan web site at https://www.visitoccoquanva.com/costumeparade. Hope that you can join us for this popular annual Occoquan event.
The clerk, Jacqueline Smith, will host this special event for civil celebrant weddings and vow renewals in Occoquan, chock-full of riverfront views and small businesses to enjoy following a ceremony. The event will be held at the Occoquan Town Hall (314 Mill St.) and provide couples the chance to exchange vows in the historic building.
To schedule a marriage license application and ceremony, contact the clerk’s office at 703-792-6036 or at [email protected]. More information on marriage licenses can be found on the county’s website.
Occoquan’s annual haunted maze will spook and thrill visitors again on Saturday, October 26, from 5 to 10 p.m., with net profits benefiting Patriots for Disabled Divers (PFDD).
This unique event, located in the parking lot behind D’Rocco’s on Mill Street, invites volunteers and attendees alike to support a great cause while enjoying a night of Halloween fun. PFDD is a nonprofit that uses scuba therapy to help wounded warriors, and this year’s maze holds special significance, honoring the late Bill Pressly, the maze’s original designer.
Workhouse Haunt is back for its 11th season, delivering spine-chilling thrills with a twisted take on classic fairy tales. Running every weekend from October 4 to November 2, this haunted trail through the historic Workhouse prison will transport guests into reimagined, terrifying versions of Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and more. With pre- and post-trail festivities, including food trucks, Halloween art, and DJ music, it’s a must-see for thrill-seekers.
Special sensory-friendly sessions are available for families on October 20. Tickets start at $25.
There will be several different special guests, performances, challenges and local agencies present at the expo. Read more below for the event schedule.
Schedule
Occoquan Elementary is set to become the first net-zero school in Prince William County Schools and will be located in Woodbridge. The new 120,000-square-foot, three-level building will replace the oldest school in PWCS.
“The new Occoquan Elementary School will be a beacon of progress, embodying our dedication to providing an exceptional learning environment while respecting and preserving our planet,” Babur B. Lateef, chairman of the PWCS School Board, said at the ceremony. “This school will be a place where innovation thrives, where students are inspired to think critically and creatively and where they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to become the leaders of tomorrow. By harnessing the power of the sun and the earth, we are setting a precedent for future generations, teaching them the importance of sustainability and the impact of their choices on the world around them.”