Pumpkins, Parades and Plenty of Fall Fun Across Prince William

IN THIS ISSUE

•           Opening Note

•           Weather

•           The Lead

•           Weekly News Brief

•           New Businesses

•           Community

•           Events & What’s On

•           Save the Date

OPENING NOTE

Happy fall, everyone! This week’s edition is packed with fall fun, from festivals and trunk-or-treats to farmers markets and family events. If you’re looking for an easy outing, check out the pumpkin patch at Lake Ridge Nursery, 3705 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge. Fall hours are 9am–7pm Monday through Saturday and 9am–6pm Sunday. More on the nursery next week.

Thank you to everyone who shared a favorite recipe with us. We’d love to see more! Send yours by replying to this email or writing to [email protected], and we’ll share them in our November newsletters.

WEATHER

The week starts mild and turns warm, with highs in the 80s Tuesday and Wednesday. A few showers arrive Friday, then it turns chilly for the weekend, with highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.

•           ☁️ Mon, Oct 12 — AM Clouds/PM Sun, high 75°/low 55°, 24% rain

•           ⛅ Tue, Oct 13 — Partly Cloudy, high 82°/low 63°, 9% rain

•           ☀️ Wed, Oct 14 — Sunny, high 87°/low 65°, 14% rain

•           🌥️ Thu, Oct 15 — Mostly Cloudy, high 69°/low 60°, 24% rain

•           🌦️ Fri, Oct 16 — Few Showers, high 76°/low 50°, 34% rain

•           ⛅ Sat, Oct 17 — Partly Cloudy, high 57°/low 38°, 22% rain

•           ☀️ Sun, Oct 18 — Sunny, high 58°/low 39°, 11% rain

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THE LEAD

130 Condos Proposed for Former Kaiser Site Near Potomac Mills

A developer wants to replace the former Kaiser medical building on Potomac Mills Road with 130 four-story condominiums, 12 of them affordable. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval Sept. 9, and the Board of County Supervisors may take up the case Nov. 17.

PWC UPDATES

Dumfries Approves Grocery Permits; Publix Unconfirmed

The Dumfries Town Council unanimously approved three conditional use permits on Oct. 6 for a grocery-anchored project on Old Stage Coach Road, covering a drive-thru pharmacy, beer and wine sales and a sign plan. Developer Bridgeline Development plans a 50,325-square-foot grocery store on about 15 acres near Richmond Highway and Potomac Shores Parkway. The grocer hasn’t been named, and Publix is unconfirmed. A town staff report estimates about 200 jobs.

Source: Woodbridge Gazette Staff

A Week of Puppets Comes to the Hylton Center, Ending With a Family Show

Richmond’s Barefoot Puppet Theatre, the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 2026–27 Mason Artist-in-Residence, spends Oct. 20–24 in Prince William County with school programs and two public events. An introductory puppetry discussion with founder Heidi Rugg is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m. The week ends Saturday, Oct. 24, with two performances of Galapagos George, a family show for ages 5–10 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (the 2 p.m. show is sensory-friendly). Tickets are $20 at HyltonCenter.org or 703-993-7759.

Military & Veterans

Interview: Dennis Brant on the Future of the Americans in Wartime Museum

In an interview with Military & Veterans Editor Domenic Clementi, Americans in Wartime Experience CEO Dennis Brant talks about the nonprofit’s plan for a national “living history” museum on the experiences of Americans in war, from World War I onward, including the home front. The planned site is a parcel off Dale Boulevard near I-95 in Dale City, which is the subject of legal disputes. Brant says the group has backup plans, and the article traces the idea back to founder Allan Cors’ military appreciation days at his Nokesville Tank Farm. Cors died in August 2026. Learn more at americansinwartime.org.

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NEW BUSINESSES

Yum Yum Donuts — This independent donut, boba, sandwich and coffee shop is now open at 8780 Centreville Rd., Suite 101, in Manassas, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Owners Kannika Noun and Veasna Young will hold the official ribbon cutting Thursday, Oct. 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Read the Patch story.

Bebop Korean-Mexican Grill — Bebop held its grand opening Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1 p.m. to midnight at Stonebridge (15101 Potomac Town Pl., Suite 140, Woodbridge). The menu builds bowls, burritos, quesadillas and tacos around Korean chicken, chipotle chicken, spicy shrimp or a veggie option, with burgers, wings, churros and boba drinks. The restaurant says its meats are 100% halal. Follow @bebopstonebridge on Instagram. Read the full story

KIDSUNITED Lake Ridge — This youth soccer center for ages 18 months to 9 plans to open Friday, Nov. 13, at 12545 Dillingham Square in Lake Ridge. Classes run about 45 minutes, with parents taking part in the youngest programs, and the center plans classes seven days a week. The website lists a free intro class. Learn more at kidsunited.com/lakeridge or 571-405-1187. Read the full story

COMMUNITY

•           Are you a local business owner? Reply to this email — we’d love to feature you.

•           Business Spotlight: CrossFit 271 — Two years in, this Woodbridge gym (13586 Richmond Hwy., Woodbridge Shopping Center, owned and coached by Kathy and Dan Friend) welcomes first timers and longtime athletes alike, with a free trial class and consultation. crossfit271.com

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Mon, Oct 12

•           Free Beginner-Friendly Community Workout — CrossFit 271, 13586 Richmond Hwy., Woodbridge, 9–10am; register online at crossfit271.com

•           OmniRide Columbus Day Service — OmniRide Express has no service; Metro Express, Local and East-West Express run regular service. Info: 703-730-6664

Tue, Oct 13

•           Beyond the Storm Drain: B.E.S.T. Lawns and Landscapes Program — City of Manassas Community Center, 8750 Sudley Rd., Manassas, 6:30–7:30pm; fall stormwater series continues Tuesdays through Nov. 10

Thu, Oct 15

•           Yum Yum Donuts Ribbon Cutting —    8780 Centreville Rd., Suite 101, Manassas, 10:30–11:30am; the new independent shop serves donuts, boba, sandwiches and coffee, 5am–8pm daily

•           Factory of Fear: Outbreak — ARTfactory, Factory of Fear: Outbreak — ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St., Manassas, 7–10:45pm; also Oct. 16–17 and 22–24; $28.29 with fees, and $3 off on Thursdays with code THURSDAYSCARIES; tickets at virginiaartfactory.org/tickets

Sat, Oct 17

•           Haymarket Day — Downtown Haymarket, 15000 Washington St., 10am–4pm; the town’s biggest event of the year kicks off with a 10am parade from the QBE parking lot, followed by more than 250 vendors, live music and activities for all ages. Road closure and neighborhood access details are on the town’s website

•           Falloween — 🎃 Join us for Falloween — a spooktacular, family-friendly celebration filled with fun for all ages! Enjoy an aerialist show, escape room, puppet show, drum performance, pumpkin judging, live music, and more. Come celebrate the season with a day of spooky fun you won’t want to miss! 👻Park Central Plaza, Manassas Park, 11am–3pm

•           5th Annual Hunger is Scary — Northern Virginia Food Rescue, 10535 Battleview Pkwy., Manassas, noon–3pm; free, register on Eventbrite; family-friendly fall event with rescued food cooking demonstrations, games and family fun, food and music, warehouse tours and community resources

•           W.E. Fest Fall Music & Craft Festival — Water’s End Brewery – Lake Ridge Taproom, 12425 Dillingham Square, Lake Ridge, noon–10pm

•           Gallery Talk with Bly Straube on Jamestown archaeology — Manassas Museum, noon, free

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SAVE THE DATE

•           Haunted Happenings — Sat, Oct 24, 10am–2pm, Historic Downtown Manassas; trick-or-treat stroll through participating shops and restaurants

•           Woodbridge/Stonebridge Fall-O-Ween — Sat, Oct 24, 11am–4pm, Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge; free, pet friendly, rain or shine; kids and pet costume contests and holiday arts and crafts vendors

•           PWC Trunk or Treat — Thu, Oct 29, 4–6pm, Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center, 13025 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge; free, ages 6 months–12 years; staff from several county agencies will greet families at the trunks

•           Trunk or Treat — Sat, Oct 31, 5–7pm, Garrison Park, 17749 Main St., Dumfries; free, candy while supplies last

•           OmniRide Halloween Bus — Sat, Oct 31, noon–3pm, Triangle Plaza (18050 Triangle Shopping Plaza, Dumfries) and Prince William Plaza (14490 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Woodbridge); giveaways, snacks, candy, games, face painting

•           Mall-O-Ween Boo Bash — Sat, Oct 31, 1–3pm, Potomac Mills, 2700 Potomac Mills Cir., Woodbridge; mall-wide, store-to-store trick-or-treating (look for the pumpkin sticker in participating retailer windows), roaming Halloween characters and a photo station in Grand Court

THANKS FOR READING

See you next week.

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