The City of Manassas’ most holiday coveted events, Santa Lights Manassas and the Greater Manassas Christmas Parade are returning on Friday and Saturday.

The holiday season will kick off at 5:15 p.m. Friday with Santa Lights Manassas, an annual event for more than 30 years. The tree lighting ceremony takes place the evening before the city’s big holiday parade.

According to the event website, the evening will begin with musical performances. Santa is expected to arrive around 6 p.m., then will greet children and listen to their holiday wishes. Free wagon rides will be available, as well as ice skating at Harris Pavilion.

A 78-years-long staple of the city’s holiday celebrations, the Greater Manassas Christmas Parade is returning Saturday starting at 10 a.m. More than 100 organizations, teams, businesses and bands from the city and Prince William County are expected to participate in the parade.

This year’s parade is themed “Christmas in Candyland.” It will be grand marshaled by Lucky Whitehead, a Manassas native and Osbourn High School graduate, a former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver. Currently, Whitehead plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a Canadian Football League team.

Donna Sechler will be honored as the TD Bank Woman of the Year. Sechler is a Prince William County native and has remained in the area. She’s volunteered with the parade committee for more than 13 years.

Joe Martin will be honored as the Man of the Year. Martin is a Manassas native and has spent his career serving local businesses and organizations. Most recently, in December 2022, Martin was appointed the director of business development with MP Copiers.

On Wednesday, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting of a 22-year-old female on the 8100 block of Cherry Tree Drive around 7 p.m.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene to find the female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, provided “immediate medical attention.” Fire and Rescue transported the female to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition.

The case is currently being investigated and does not appear to be a random act of violence, according to the Thursday release. Those with information can contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 800-928-5822 or 540-582-5822 and visiting them online.

Mauricio Antonio Mayorga, 48, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Nov. 21 for a March 2023 murder in the Hoadly Road Food Lion parking lot.

Judge James A. Willett found Mayorga guilty of one count of second-degree murder following his guilty plea on the charge. Willett also sentenced Mayorga.

Prince William County Police responded to a reported shooting on Hoadly Road in Manassas in the early morning hours of March 20, 2023. The female caller reported she arranged a meeting between herself and her estranged significant other, Ricardo Del Cid, 37 of Manassas, at the Food Lion.

When police responded, they found Del Cid in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. Security camera footage showed Mayorga arrived at the parking lot before 1 a.m. and fired multiple gunshots at Del Cid, according to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case.

Mayorga was married to the female caller and was charged on April 5, 2023.

“This case was such a horrible tragedy. Our community lost a valuable member to senseless gun violence. Excellent police work allowed us to resolve this case without putting the victims’ families through a trial. Mr. Mayorga accepted responsibility for his actions by entering a guilty plea to the second-degree murder charge,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth said.

The Prince William County Fire & Rescue and Office of Historic were recently recognized by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) for “outstanding initiatives” that enhance the community.

Founded in 1934, VACo aims to monitor state and national laws that will impact local governments and recommend actions at the annual conference in November. According to its website, VACo often represents local governments in the Commonwealth at both the state and national levels.

“These VACo awards exemplify Prince William County’s dedication to preserving our rich cultural heritage and creating meaningful career pathways for our youth,” County Executive Chris Shorter said. “They reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant, resilient community where history is honored, and opportunities are accessible to all.”

The county received two achievement awards in 2023 for its gun safety program through the Office of Professional Standards and for the Prince William County Child Advocacy Center through the Department of Social Services.

The Fire & Rescue Department was awarded an achievement for its Firefighter Cadet Program, which was developed in 2020 to provide Prince William County high school students with hands-on experience. Despite facing early challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has prevailed and graduated its first class in 2023, with two graduates joining the department.

“In addition to studying fire science, students will receive training in CPR and hazardous materials.  Students will be taught skills in team-building, leadership, respect, discipline, problem-solving and decision-making,” the program’s website states. “… Cadets participate in training fires and are given instruction in advanced first aid/CPR. Successful completion of the program will result in the opportunity to sit for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs Firefighter I and II certification exam.”

According to a press release from the county, the program plans to expand in the coming years to include a certification and a second-year option. These enhancements will help students graduate with advanced qualifications, making job searching easier.

The Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, also received recognition for its online exhibit, Historic Thoroughfare. The exhibit chronicles the history of a small post-Civil War community that was established in the western part of the county.

“Piecing together these research efforts more accurately documents the stories of individual Thoroughfare residents, both past and present, and illustrates over a century of change in this small corner of Prince William County. The preservation of this community is essential, but public interpretation of these preservation efforts is even more important,” said Lauren Maloy, the OHP communities coordinator.

The exhibit includes recorded oral histories from community members, audio clips, historical maps, archival photographs and a virtual tour. Once Thoroughfare Historic Park is completed, the exhibit and physical park will serve as “complements,” as stated in the press release.

The Nokesville Community Christmas Tree Lighting took place on Friday evening following Thanksgiving, officially welcoming in the Christmas holiday.

Coordinated by the Nokesville Community Christmas Parade — which will take place on Dec. 14 — dozens attended to see the neighborhood’s tree lit up for the first time this holiday season. One of those attendees was Virginia State Del. Ian Lovejoy (R-22), who represents parts of western Prince William County.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were also in attendance, speaking to residents and many children throughout the evening.

The Lifelong Learning Institute-Manassas (LLI), an educational and social organization geared toward senior citizens, is offering two free programs on Dec. 9 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

The programs are both being held at George Mason University’s Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas. The programs focus on different topics and presented by two experts in their own right.

LLI offers two programs each year in the fall and spring for adults aged 50 and over, drawing on members, local college faculty and residents’ expertise. Classes are typically held at the Hylton Center, as well as local churches, mosques, the Manassas Park Recreation Center and the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

The first presentation from 10:30 a.m. to noon will be given by Gene Schmiel, a retired U.S. Department of State foreign service officer, former history professor and Civil War lecturer at LLI before, on the steamboats traversing the Mississippi River following the Louisiana Purchase.

The second presentation, held from 1:30 to 3 p.m., will be given by Judge Craig Johnston, a semi-retired Prince William County Circuit Court Judge and lawyer in Manassas for more than 30 years. Johnston will discuss when and how the Constitution is applied in cases in Virginia Courts.

Registration is not required, and more information on these programs and upcoming ones can be found on LLI’s website.

December is going to be a festive month around Prince William County and Manassas with several events and activities scheduled. Take a look at some highlighted events.

Monday (Dec. 2)

• Board of County Supervisors Joint Legislative Meeting, 9 a.m. (Woodbridge)
• Holiday Gift Bringers Scavenger Hunt, All day through the month (Bull Run Library)
• Festival of Trees, All day through the month (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Ornament Take & Make, All day while supplies last (Independent Hill Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (Manassas City)

Tuesday (Dec. 3)

• Cardboard Gingerbread House Contest, through Dec. 8 (Manassas Park City Library)

Friday (Dec. 6)

• Holiday Through the Ages, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Santa Lights Manassas and Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:15 to 7 p.m. (Manassas City)
• Holiday Walk of Lights, 5:30 to 9 p.m. until Dec. 22 (Woodbridge)
• Kids Night Out, 6 to 9 p.m. (Woodbridge)

Saturday (Dec. 7)

• West County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Manassas)
• Holiday Market, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Greater Manassas Christmas Parade, 10 a.m. to noon (Manassas City)
• Elementary School Strings Holiday Performance, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Craft & Create: Coffee Filter Snowflakes, 2 to 3 p.m. (Manassas Park)

Sunday (Dec. 8)

• Holiday Carriage Rides, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday until Dec. 15 (Manassas City)

Dec. 9

• Chinn Park Library reopens (Woodbridge)
• Woven Wall Hangings Take and Make, All day (Dumfries Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (Manassas City)

Dec. 10

• Homeschool Hangout, 1 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Busy Hands Social Club, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Central Library)

Dec. 11

• Coffee with a Cop, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Gainesville)
• Pajama Story Time, 7 to 7:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

Dec. 12

• Holiday Illustrated Poems, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Dumfries Library)
• Teens Create: Holiday Picture Frames, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Manassas Park)

Dec. 13

• Kids Create: Play-Doh Snowmen, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Manassas Park)

Dec. 14

• Santa Trains 2024, various times and locations
• Family Gingerbread House Building Contest, 10 a.m. to noon (Woodbridge)
• Mistletoe Holiday Craft Festival, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Building Emergency Kits for a Safer Tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Yuletide Yoga, Noon to 1:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Teddy Bear Picnic, 2 to 3 p.m. (Bull Run Library)

Dec. 16

• Ribbon Rendezvous, 4 to 7:30 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Teen Gingerbread Challenge, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Recording in Progress, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Bull Run Library)

Dec. 17

• Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Adults Create: Clothespin Snowflake Ornament, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Manassas Park)
• Winter Snowflake Making, 6 to 7 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

Dec. 18

• AARP Smart Driver Course, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Crochet and Coffee, 11 a.m. to noon (Nokesville Library)

Dec. 20

• Memory Café with Comfort Keepers of Greater Prince William, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Taverns & TTRPGs, 6 to 9 p.m. (Great Mane Brewery)

Dec. 21

• BRAVA Handbells Holiday Concert, 2 to 4 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

Dec. 22

• Bad Art, 3 to 5 p.m. (Great Mane Brewery)

Dec. 23

• Bad Art Night, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)

Dec. 30

• Brit Lit Book Club, 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)

Dec. 31

• New Year’s Eve Pre-Party Palooza, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Central Library)
• Countdown to Noon, 11:45 a.m. (Bull Run Library)

The Prince William County School Board (PWCS) adopted the 2025-2026 school year calendar at the body's Nov. 19 meeting in a 7-1 decision.

The Board approved Option A, which has students starting school on Aug. 19 and finishing on June 12. Teacher workdays in this option begin on Aug. 11 and all major holidays — including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Presidents Day and Memorial Day, to name a few — will be observed.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.