Oh What Fun It Is To Ride ...

Step into a one-horse open sleigh for a magical ride through Historic Downtown Manassas!

Carriages will be parked at the Manassas Railroad Depot waiting to give passengers free Holiday Carriage Rides for the next two Sundays: Dec. 11 and 18 from 1-4 p.m. (No reservations needed, rides are on a first-come, first-serve basis.)

Then walk over to the Harris Pavilion Ice Rink for a spin on the ice. Click HERE to reserve and purchase your 2022-2023 skating session (sessions are 90 minutes). Last skating day is Feb. 26, 2023.

See you there! (Don't forget your gloves.)

Click here for info on ice skating hours, skate rentals, and pricing

Other Events

-Elf on a Shelf Scavenger Hunt Dec. 2-24 Stroll Historic Downtown to find Santa's 25 elves hiding throughout shops

-VRE Santa Train Rides Dec. 10, 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m. at Manassas Railroad Depot

-Manassas Holiday Market Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Manassas Railroad Depot

-Winter Market Saturdays through March 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Prince William Street Commuter Lot

-NO 1st Friday in January

Harris Pavilion

Hylton Center

ARTfactory

Manassas Museum

Heart Beat Gift Card

Making a list, checking it twice?

Our digital Heart Beat Gift Card is the perfect holiday surprise for family, friends, colleagues, co-workers, team players – anyone on your list. (Maybe even some on the naughty list!)

Use this gift card at one of 30 participating retailers in the City of Manassas: restaurants, shops, services, and entertainment. Click HERE to see the list of businesses that accept this card. 

Make someone's day or treat yourself!

Click here to purchase Heart Beat Gift Cards

Hints of History

Christmases of yesteryear.

All fired up.

Since 1946, Manassas has been hosting Christmas parades through its Historic Downtown. On Dec. 3 2022, we celebrated the 76th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade.

This black-and-white photo is from the Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 16, 1949 showing two fire engines from the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company turning the corner from Church Street onto East Street. Twelve youth are riding on the lead engine, no doubt, making a lasting memory.

The following week, the Dec. 22, 1949 issue of The Manassas Journal published an article titled, 'Large Crowd Sees Parade Held Friday,' stating:

"In what is believed to be the largest Christmas parade held in Manassas, in the number of entries, Manassas businessmen were hosts last Friday afternoon [Dec. 16, 1949] to several hundred persons who watched the parade and to the children who assembled at the auditorium and gymnasium of Osbourn High School. There were three Santas in all who visited the schools in this area and gave away candy. Visitors to Manassas included 60 children from Woodbridge, who came down to see Santa."

Ol' Santa still draws a crowd.

Manassas Museum Online Collections