Winter Break is almost here in the Potomac region, here are the dates for the schools in our area.

---

Stafford County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Thursday, December 19th, students will return Wednesday, January 8th

Fredericksburg City Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Tuesday, January 7th.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Prince William County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Manassas City Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Manassas Park City Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, December 30th.

The George Washington Foundation:

Past, present, and future bumped into each other. It was a tense moment.

Gingerbread House Contest Theme is Holidays: Past, Present, and Future

Along those (time)lines, Ferry Farm’s 38th Annual Gingerbread House Contest Exhibitors met the theme challenge with entries that were out of this world, so to speak.

Three intrepid judges had the time of their lives as they took a few moments from busy schedules to choose first, second, and third place winners each, from among six categories. They did hard time, as the clock was ticking, but in the end, they came out ahead of their time with some deserving winners.

This year’s judges were B101.5’s Ted Schubel, three-time Olympic gold medalist Jeff Rouse, and Cessie Howell, a leader in the effort to save Ferry Farm from development. Entries had to be completely edible, on a firm base, and on-theme. With intriguing titles like “Christmas Planet Party,” “Peppermint Dragon Kingdom,” and “Nuclear Winter Wonderland” (Complete with its own radiation-detecting blacklight!), judges analyzed the angles of each entry, remarking on creativity, engineering, and ingenuity.

In the end times, 16 winners were selected – with more to come – as exhibit visitors can vote for “People’s Choice” while playing a compelling game of Gingerbread House iSpy. It will be nothing but a good time.

2024 Winners:

Age 2-5

1. Entry #14 Old Time Candy & Futuristic Christmas by Lauren
2. #3 Tiny Hands Make Big Plans by FXBG Preschool
3. #30 Christmas Trees Past, Present, & Future by Noah

Age 5-10

1. #24 Viking Christmas by Teague
2. #15Snow Bowl by Dana
3. #23 Dinosaur Christmas by Lilah

Age 11-14

1. #22 White House by Sophia
2. #4 Little House on the Prairie Christmas by Harper
3. #26 Peppermint Dragon Kingdom by Eva

Age 18+

1. #13 Nuclear Winter Wonderland by Sam
2. #20 Santa’s Garage by Nicholas
3. #2 Vintage Christmas Tree by Missy

Family

1. #16 Freddy Bear Fotos by the Ridout Family
2. #27 Celebrating Christmas Through Time by Kalvin & Drama
3. #17 Past, Present, Future by Lauren & Family

Special Needs

1. #6 Gingerbread Paradise by PEOPLE LLC

Exhibit runs through December 30, during museum hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sundays 12 -4 p.m. Visitors may purchase exhibit tickets on-site: $6 for adults, $3 for students (ages 6-17), children 5 & under free. The George Washington Foundation holiday events, including Historic Kenmore’s Wee Christmas Dollhouses and Miniatures Show, are sponsored by Burke & Herbert Bank.

Gingerbread House Exhibit Event Address:

Ferry Farm’s 38th Annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit

268 George Washington Way (Formerly 268 Kings Highway)

Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Historic Kenmore’s 10th Annual Wee Christmas and Dollhouses Show

1201 Washington Ave.

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Event Questions:

Contact Allison Ellis, [email protected], 540-370-0732 x11

Contact Lori Pikkaart for event photos, [email protected]

Santa will visit the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on select dates for Pictures With Santa 2024, offering families a chance to meet him and take photos. Tickets are $5 per family, with each visit lasting 5 minutes.

Press Release from the City of Fredericksburg:

Guess who is coming to the Fredericksburg Visitor Center?

If you guessed our favorite holly jolly, red-suited fellow, you would be correct! Over the next month and a half, Santa will be making his yearly rounds to visit all of the children of Fredericksburg during Pictures With Santa 2024! If your family would like a chance to meet Santa, tell him your Christmas wishes, and snap a few photos, book your tickets to visit Santa at the new Fredericksburg Visitor Center at 601 Caroline Street on any of the following four dates:

• Saturday, November 9 – 12pm to 4pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Saturday, November 30 – 10am to 4pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Friday, December 6 – 3pm to 7:30pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Sunday, December 15 – 10am to 3pm (Get Tickets Here)

Tickets: $5 per family
Each family will have 5 minutes with Santa during their reserved time.

Make sure to reserve your spot early—we sell out every year!

This event is bring your own camera! Volunteers will be on hand to assist with photos, and kids can enjoy a special chat with Santa.

Check out our events page for more family fun for this holiday season!

Domino’s stores in Greater Woodbridge are partnering with Ghostbusters Virginia to collect Toys for Tots until Dec. 8, offering a large one-topping pizza for $6 in exchange for toy donations. Customers can drop off new, unwrapped toys at participating Domino’s locations in the region to support the holiday initiative.

Press Release:

Domino’s stores across Greater Woodbridge are teaming up with Ghostbusters Virginia to collect Toys for Tots from now through Dec. 8 at participating locations. Domino’s hopes to help bring the joy of the holiday season to children in need through donations from community members.

Customers who wish to donate can drop off new, unwrapped toys in donation bins in the lobbies of the following Domino’s stores:

• 16430 Navigation Drive in Woodbridge
• 14402 Richmond Highway in Woodbridge
• 5892 Mapledale Plaza in Woodbridge
• 2886 Dale Blvd. in Woodbridge
• 1395 Old Bridge Road in Woodbridge
• 556 Garrisonville Road in Stafford
• 2606 Jefferson Davis Highway in Stafford
• 338 Potomac Ave. in Quantico
• 5159 Waterway Drive in Dumfries
• 13448 Dumfries Road in Manassas

Customers who bring in one or more toys to donate will receive a large one-topping Hand Tossed Pizza for $6, now through Dec. 8. The offer will be applied once an in-store team member verifies a customer’s toy donation.

“Engaging with community giving opportunities such as collecting Toys for Tots donations is so fulfilling for our store teams,” said Nona Sonnier, Domino’s director of corporate operations in Virginia. “Domino’s is so much more than a pizza company; we are a company that deeply cares about its communities, and we are pleased to provide our customers with a chance to donate to a special cause.”

Toy donation bins will be collected and dropped off at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico on the afternoon of Dec. 8.

To locate and order from a participating Domino’s location, visit www.dominos.com.