Old Town heralds season

  • 2021-11-20
Three holiday happenings are scheduled for the first weekend in December.

Merry Old Town will begin the Manassas holidays with its yearly Santa Lights Manassas. This will be a tree lighting event, with holiday musical performances beginning at 5:15 pm, and Santa’s arrival at the depot on a VRE train about 6:00 pm.

After that, Santa will light the tree and visit the children. Free wagon rides and ice skating at the Harris Pavilion Ice Rink will be available for the evening if the weather permits. Visitors may also enjoy free carriage rides from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Gingerbread Houses entered into this year’s contest will be on display in Historic Downtown Manassas shops. Judging in three categories, Expert, Novice and Children, will begin November 25. Passers-by can vote for their favorites. The contest will end at 5:00 pm on December 18, and winners will be announced Monday, December 21 on the Historic Manassas website and Facebook page.

The next morning, December 4, the 75th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade will step off at 10:00 am. More than 100 entries, including about 2,000 participants, will be marching through Old Town. Spectators can expect, among other entries, high-flying balloons, floats, and marching bands. Bands often get holiday banner printing done before the big day when events like this come around.

The tree lighting will be on December 3 at 6:00 pm.