This is the last full weekend before Halloween, and the calendar shows it. Trunk-or-treats are spread across Woodbridge, Manassas Park and Haymarket, two haunted attractions are running in Manassas, and there is plenty for people who would rather skip the scares: a free colonial living history day at Rippon Lodge, a new art exhibit at Annaburg Manor, and a Thai food festival on the Manassas Museum lawn. Times and details can change, so check with each organizer before you go.
Friday, Oct. 23
Great Pumpkin Party — Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, 14300 Minnieville Rd., Woodbridge, 10:30 a.m.–noon. A costume party for ages 2 to 8 and their parents, with games, music, crafts and snacks. Every child must be registered in advance at pwcparks.info/pumpkin.
KABOOM! Build Week celebration — George Hellwig Memorial Park. Volunteers have spent the week preparing the site for a new playspace, and Friday is the Build Week celebration, with equipment assembly and mural painting.
Visions Across America opening reception — Annaburg Manor, 9201 Maple St., Manassas, 5–7 p.m. The City of Manassas opens its fifth art exhibit at the manor, with proceeds supporting renovations of the historic house. The exhibit is open to the public Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Boonanza: Baldwin Elementary PTO Fall Festival — Baldwin Elementary School, 1978 Eagle Way, Manassas, 6–8:30 p.m. A carnival-style night with an inflatable obstacle course, a new haunted maze, a black-light dance party, games, crafts, face painting and police-escorted hayrides through downtown.
Cemetery Tours — Manassas City Cemetery, 9317 Center St., Manassas, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Guides introduce some of the notable residents buried at the City Cemetery. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children, and sign-up is through the City of Manassas.
“Ghost Hunters” screening and ghost tour — Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, 7–9 p.m. The courthouse appeared on Ghost Hunters in 2009. Bring a blanket for the free outdoor screening from 7 to 8 p.m., then take the ticketed candlelight ghost tour from 8 to 9 p.m. Tickets are at pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Factory of Fear: Outbreak — ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St., Manassas, 7–10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This year’s haunted house turns all four floors of the ARTfactory into a virus-outbreak nightmare. Tickets: virginiaartfactory.org/factory-of-fear.
Tunnel of Terror — Tommy’s Express Car Wash, 9850 Liberia Ave., Manassas, 7–9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The car wash tunnel becomes a haunted drive-through, with masked employees and jump scares. You leave with a clean car.
Saturday, Oct. 24
IWALK for ACTS — Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 15001 Potomac Town Pl., Woodbridge, 7:30 a.m. A fundraising walk for ACTS. Register at runsignup.com/Race/VA/Woodbridge/IWALK.
Running with the Saints 5K — All Saints Catholic School, Manassas, 8 a.m.–noon. A family-friendly 5K that starts and ends at the school and winds through the neighborhoods near downtown Manassas, benefiting students and teachers.
Virginia Gateway Farmers Market — Gainesville, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Meat, seafood, produce, dairy, baked goods and prepared foods, with live music and family activities.
Trick or Treatment — H.L. Mooney Advanced Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 1851 Rippon Blvd., Woodbridge, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Prince William Water’s fourth annual Halloween event pairs trick-or-treating and activities with a look at how wastewater is treated.
Haunted Happenings — Historic Downtown Manassas, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Kids in costume trick-or-treat at participating shops and restaurants, with a photo booth, carnival games and pumpkin decorating. The costume contest starts at 1 p.m. sharp in front of Totally Vintage with a parade, then judging for best individual costume, runner-up and best family costume. Hours are longer this year than in the past.
Woodbridge/Stonebridge Fall-O-Ween — Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, from 11 a.m. A Halloween event at the Stonebridge shopping center. Organizers have posted few details so far, so check the event listing before heading over.
Galapagos George — Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Barefoot Puppet Theatre performs a family show inspired by the last Pinta Island tortoise, using puppetry, music and storytelling. Tickets are $20 and the recommended ages are 5 to 10. Dabble Creative Reuse Center leads a craft activity an hour before each show, and the 2 p.m. performance is sensory-friendly. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org.
Road to Victory at Rippon Lodge — Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. A free day of Revolutionary War living history, with historical vignettes, civilian camp followers, enslaved soldiers and indigenous scouts, plus colonial crafts and games. Donations are welcome.
Trunk or Treat — Manassas Park Community Center, 99 Adams St., Manassas Park, noon–2 p.m. Decorated car trunks line the parking lot and hand out candy to costumed kids.
Halloween Weekends: The Big Bash — Water’s End Brewery Lake Ridge Taproom, Lake Ridge, costume contest 5–8 p.m., live music 6–9 p.m. Joe Downer plays live, the Cali Bites food vendor is on site, and costume contest winners are announced at 9 p.m. Both the Lake Ridge and Potomac locations are giving away stadium cups, stickers and candy while supplies last. A second Halloween Saturday on Oct. 31 brings candy giveaways and kids’ slushies.
Beef & Brats Fundraising Dinner — Bishop Russell Hall, 9290 Stonewall Rd., Manassas, 6:30–9 p.m. House of Mercy and the Knights of Columbus host a dinner of grilled bratwurst, German-style potato salad, braised red cabbage, a giant pretzel and hot autumn crisp, with beer and live music. Tickets are $25 per person, paid at the door by cash, check or card.
Sunday, Oct. 25
Haymarket Farmers Market — 15000 Washington St., Haymarket, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. The market took Oct. 18 off for Haymarket Day and returns this Sunday. The season runs through Nov. 15.
NVA Thai Food & Street Culture Festival — Manassas Museum Lawn, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thai street food, live performances and crafts. Entry and parking are free.
Trunk or Treat at Park Valley Church — 4500 Waverly Farm Dr., Haymarket, 4–6 p.m. Parking is at Battlefield High School, 15000 Graduation Dr., Haymarket, with a shuttle to the church.
Dale City Farmers Market — Dale City, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. The producer-only market, in operation since 1987, runs every Sunday.
Early Next Week
Salute to the Armed Forces — Wednesday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The Prince William Chamber Foundation’s annual luncheon honoring those who have served. Reserve a spot at bit.ly/SalutetotheArmedForces.
Sleepy Dragon Books Book Club — Honey + Ivy, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6–7:30 p.m. The club is reading Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu at the gluten-free café. Tickets are $8 and include snacks and drinks, at honeyandivygf.com.
Halloween Story Time and Parade — Dale City Library, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m. The first of the county library system’s Halloween story times, which continue at other branches through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Like what you read? Get The Gazette.
The Woodbridge Gazette is independent, hyperlocal news for Prince William County and surrounding communities, free in your inbox every Monday. Subscribe here