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By Wendy Migdal | Sponsored by Historic Manassas Inc.
The air is crisp and leaves are turning . . . it’s the perfect time to stroll through the streets of Old Town Manassas. Put your plaid shirt on and head downtown for these great events.
In Case You Missed It . . .
The Fall Jubilee was a smashing success. Although the rain forced the event to be rescheduled from October 1 to October 8, nature served up a brilliant day that more than made up for the delay. Crowds came by the thousands. “Business was so good that many vendors sold out of their merchandise and went home early,” said Kelly Weinzapfel, assistant event coordinator at Historic Manassas. The crowd was mesmerized by two aerial artists who call their act Shadow Cirque. The women performed astonishing acrobatic accomplishments on silks, which are literally pieces of fabric suspended from a frame. If you’ve never seen such a feat, you can catch their act again at the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays at the Harris Pavilion.
Halloween
The small superheroes and petite princesses had their day on October 29, as Haunted Happenings closee down Center Street for a Halloween celebration. Kids traveled from shop to shop, trick or treating from 10 AM to 12PM, and burned off their energy running safely through the streets. There were games in the street and in the stores, and costume contests. And, for the parents, Chic Events hosted a craft fair called Old Town Manassas Holiday Crafts and Treats.
November’s First Friday
November’s First Friday will be “Gallery Walk: New Beginnings,” a fresh take on a classic event. Upwards of 30 local artists will be displaying their artwork in various stores around town. Street vendors will also display their creations. And not all art will be two-dimensional: one artist will be creating works with body paint, while aerial artists will perform visual art. In addition, the Lovejoy Gallery on Main will be having their opening that night. Visitors will have one last chance to stroll around closed streets with their open containers before winter sets in.
Looking Ahead to the Holiday Season
There’s nothing like the smell of fresh gingerbread to put you in the holiday mood. This year, why not try combining culinary skills and craftsmanship by making a gingerbread house? Entries will be placed in store windows for several weeks while the gingerbread electorate strolls the streets and casts their votes. Photographs are also placed online for those who want to vote from home. Never made a gingerbread house? Don’t feel like you’re that creative? Not to worry, says Weinzapfel. “We do get some historic houses, and things like the Osbourn High School Theater Group making a model of their theater. But we get a lot of classic houses.” And yes, you can round up some family or friends and enter as a group, or as an individual. Children are welcome to enter too, as the categories are broken down by age.
Wendy Migdal is a freelance writer who has lived in the Northern/Central Virginia area since 2000. She has written extensively for The Free Lance-Star and also works for online educational companies. Wendy enjoys traveling around the area to learn about parks, restaurants, attractions, and especially history.
