The African American Foundation of Manassas City and Prince William County is hosting its 31st annual African American Heritage Festival tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 3). at Metz Middle School from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This festival has been a staple in the community for over three decades, each on the first Saturday of August. It is also a free event.
“[The festival is] a cherished tradition that brings our community together in celebration of our shared culture and history,” Curtis O. Porter, vice chairman of the festival, said. “Through art, music, food and fellowship, we pay tribute to the resilience and achievements of African Americans while also giving back to our neighbors in need. We invite everyone to join us for a day filled with joy, unity and empowerment.”
This year, the festival will present two initiatives: distributing school supplies to local children and Empowering S.E.L.F., a nonprofit, is offering more than 500 free books.
There will also be a wide array of activities and entertainment at the festival, including live music, interactive exhibits, cultural demonstrations and food. Pop Middle Male Chorus from Ebenezer Baptist Church, True Soul Band, 7-Step Hand Dance Academy and Jimi Smooth and Hit Time Band are some of the acts lined up.
Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-Large DeShundra Jefferson will be in attendance.
The schedule of the event is below.
- 10:55 a.m.: Introduction by Curtis Porter with David-Younger and Jefferson
- 11 a.m. to noon:Â Rev. Isaac Howard and Singers, Howard Ministries Church (Centreville)
- 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.:Â Pop Middleton Male Chorus, Ebenezer Baptist Church (Woodbridge)
- 1 to 1:20 p.m.:Â Posh Hair Studio (Gainesville)
- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.:Â True Soul Band
- 2:45 to 3 p.m.:Â Classic Car Show awards
- 3 to 3:30 p.m.:Â 7-Step Hand Dance Academy (Manassas Park)
- 3:40 to 3:55 p.m.:Â Martial Arts, Premier Martial Arts (Manassas)
- 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.:Â Jimi Smooth and Hit Time Band
If you go to the event, feel free to send in your photos to [email protected] to be featured on Potomac Local News!
Fredericksburg’s annual Agricultural Fair kicks off Friday, July 26 and runs until Sunday, Aug. 4. The Miss Fredericksburg Fair Pageant will be held Thursday, July 25.
The Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair’s website says it was established in 1738 and is the oldest fair in both Virginia and the United States. The range of entertainment has varied over the years, from Williamsburg comedians in 1752 to horse racing by the Fredericksburg Jockey Club in 1774, then hot air balloons in the 1880s. The fair has weathered interruptions with no events from 1881-1886 and during the Great Depression in the mid-1920s. It was revived in 1948 by a group of local farmers and the Jaycees, a non-profit community organization.
The fair has hosted a variety of entertainment over the years, including circuses, hot air balloons, and performances by notable artists like Tammy Wynette and George Jones in the 1960s. The fair moved to its current location on Routes 2 and 17 in 1949.
Gene Rowell played a pivotal role in the fair’s revival and management for 47 years, earning the title “Granddaddy of the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair.” The fair has seen many dedicated volunteers and continues to host popular events like the Miss Fredericksburg Fair beauty pageant, which produced Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron.
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The fair is open from 1 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and 5 to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. The full catalog lists Student, Teacher, Military and First Responder appreciation dates.
The Fredericksburg SPCA Fur Ball Gala will be held Aug. 24 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center.
This year’s theme is Old Vegas, in the style of the Rat Pack. In addition to a silent and live auction, the 6 p.m. event will feature specialty cocktails and entertainment casino games.
As of July 20, approximately 100 tickets were left. Last year’s event brought in almost 500 attendees.
This is the ninth year of the ball, which has brought in over $1 million for the animal shelter. Fredericksburg Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) took in 1,180 animals in 2023. They were able to adopt 1,144 and return 21 to their owners.
Tickets for the gala can be purchased online.
The Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Prince William County Parks & Recreation will host a special event at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre. The event marks the 15th anniversary of the Centre’s appearance on an episode of the television show Ghost Hunters.
The event will occur at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow. The evening begins with a free screening of the “Ghost Hunters” episode from 7 to 8 PM. Following the screening, there will be a ghost tour from 8 to 9 p.m. The tour costs $15 per person, and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets will be available starting August 6th at pwcparks.info/hptickets.
The Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is on a 28-acre plot and is home to a historic preservation society. The site includes five historic buildings and several archaeological sites. Notable buildings include the 1822 Courthouse, an 1850 Jail, the 1853 Haislip-Hall House, Union Church, and the 1928 one-room Schoolhouse. Some buildings are said to be haunted, including the jail, where phantom voices have been reported, and the courthouse, where ghostly figures have been seen through the windows.
For more information, contact 703-365-7895.
Prince William County sold out the first event of their Fatherhood Initiative relaunch this weekend following a pause from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Prince William County Department of Social Services aims to relaunch this initiative to “help fathers more effectively engage with their children.”
“The initiative educates fathers on how to support the mothers of their children, spend quality time with their children and build strong relationships with them,” the department stated in a release.
The initiative was established in 2012 following a review by the state’s Department of Social Services of the county, which demonstrated that the father’s voice was “not heard when making decisions” about children; the county decided to launch this program to ensure fathers became actively involved.
In addition to hosting events, the initiative sponsors support groups to help fathers with any questions they have about becoming more involved in their children’s lives.
“Empowering fathers to actively engage in the lives of their children is crucial for building strong families and a thriving community,” Â Prince William County Department of Social Services Deputy Director Phyllis Jennings-Holt said. “The relaunch of the Fatherhood Initiative holds the promise of not only strengthening individual family units, but also contributing to the overall wellbeing and success of Prince William County.”
“Guests will take part in a mock trial where we take court cases from the 1800s and we give everyone different roles,” Paige Gibbons Backus, historic site manager at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre & Lucasville School, said in a press release. “They go through the court case, hear the evidence and then decide if someone is innocent or guilty and we tell them if they changed history or not.”
The jail was built in tandem with the Brentsville Courthouse in the 1820s and served as the “center of law and order” for the county until 1893, the release stated. The county seat moved to Manassas, so the jail transitioned to a women’s dorm for the teacher’s college in the defunct courthouse. It was then renovated to become a private residence then the county park authority’s jail space.
Since those days, the jail has been restored by the Office of Historic Preservation to return to its original appearance. A museum is now the main occupant of the building, detailing its own history and that of Brentsville.
Up to five people can sleep in a single, air-conditioned cell and attendees will receive a light breakfast on Sunday morning, which is included in the $120 registration fee.
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger is kicking off the third year of her mid-day summer meet-ups on Friday at noon, this time at the newly renovated Manassas Museum.
The meet-ups kick off Friday and will run through Aug. 30. They will be held on the patio of the Museum from noon to 1 p.m., but may me moved inside depending on the weather.
At these informal lunch events, the mayor talks with residents, answers questions and brings city officials as guest speakers. Guests will be kept a surprise and will present for 30 minutes and will engage with residents for 30 minutes after, Davis-Younger said in another article.
The city encouraged residents to bring a packed or to-go restaurant lunch to the event.
“I am looking forward to this event returning; it really is a great time of networking and info gathering,” Davis-Younger said in the city’s July 2024 newsletter.
Fredericksburg Main Street has announced “Downtown Movies in the Park,” which will take place at Riverfront Park. This community event invites residents and visitors to enjoy movies under the stars with family-friendly films, themed activities, and more.
Starting at 6:30 PM, attendees can engage in activities before the movies begin at 7:00 PM. The series offers a lineup of movies and themed events to enhance the experience.
The event is in partnership with the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. “We are ecstatic to bring the Downtown Movies in the Park series to our vibrant community,” said Christopher Allen, Executive Director of Fredericksburg Main Street. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to come downtown, explore our amazing shops and boutiques, grab a bite to eat together, then head to Riverfront Park to enjoy great movies, and create lasting memories.”
Information about participating vendors and other accompanying activities will be updated online and on the Fredericksburg Main Street Facebook page before each movie.
Summer Movie Lineup:
July 18th: Trolls: Band Together
August 15th: Monsters Inc.
September 19th: Jumanji (Original)
October 19th: Hocus Pocus (Original)
In case of inclement weather, rain dates will be announced on the morning of each scheduled movie night. The park is located at 701 Sophia Street.
The Manassas Museum will host a lecture on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., focusing on the critically acclaimed book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson.
The lecture will delve into the themes explored in Wilkerson’s book, which examines historical social hierarchies and how perpetuating this dehumanizes vast sections of society. The book emphasizes that caste is not solely about race or class, but about power — who holds it and who does not.
This event follows a significant discussion held on June 16, as part of the city’s Juneteenth celebration. Attendees of the lecture are invited to participate in the conversation and get inspired to take action for positive change in their community. The event is free to the public, with complimentary books and lunch provided.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of this discussion and gain a deeper understanding of the social dynamics that shape our world. For more information, visit the Manassas Museum website or contact the museum directly.
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