Hello Prince William County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Free July 4 buses, a Jurassic Park escape room, and a 10-acre retreat with a pool and barn + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Holiday travel made easier: OmniRide will run free round-trip buses to the Pentagon Metro on July 4 from Woodbridge and Gainesville, with registration required, while VRE Fireworks Trains offer another option for travelers -- get all the details.
Community hunger support grows: Microsoft donated $50,000 to ACTS in Prince William to bolster its food assistance center’s infrastructure and inventory, helping serve nearly 11,000 households a year amid rising countywide food insecurity -- see how ACTS is helping.
Celebrating workforce milestones: Project SEARCH at Prince William Medical Center celebrated new graduates, highlighting workforce pathways with UVA Health and schools, and 116 alumni since 2011, including 14 employed at UVA Health -- meet the new graduates.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Pickleball, pups, and paths: Dean Park packs eight permanent pickleball courts, a lighted futsal court, a skate park, dog-friendly fun at Lucky’s Dog Park, and access to the scenic Winters Branch Trail, plus fields and picnic spots, so you can burn energy, walk the pup, then claim a shady table.
Time to tame the jungle: Because the weeds didn’t get the memo, give your beds a quick win this week with a swing through Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscape in Manassas. From healthy plants and fresh soil to pots and statuary, you’ll find what you need plus friendly advice that saves Saturday sanity.
Level up your weekend: Time Mission - Manassas, VA / Manassas Mall turns hanging out into a real-life video game with 25+ mission rooms where teams of 2-5 race the clock through brainy puzzles and full-body challenges. Grab the kids, your work crew, or that competitive friend and see who actually has the smarts and speed.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎡 Manassas Mall Carniva @ Manassas Mall | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:00 PM – Heads up, Manassas Mall’s carnival is back for five days of rides, games, and fried everything. Park by Walmart, bribe the kids with kettle corn, then pretend the Tilt-A-Whirl is your thing. It’s loud, cheerful, and the summer chaos you secretly love.
🦖 Jurassic Park Escape Room @ Haymarket Gainesville Library | Thursday (6/25) at 1:00 PM – If your budding paleontologist narrates breakfast in T. rex facts, this Jurassic Park escape room is their moment. Tweens team up on puzzles, trivia, and sneaky clues to crack the safe room and beat the dinosaurs, all brains, no teeth. Grades 4-6, registration required.
🎨 Artist Workshops: Rock Painting @ Sharron Baucom Dalecity Recreation Center (Woodbridge) | Friday (6/26) at 9:30 AM – Give your budding Picasso a creative outlet that doesn’t involve your living room walls. Rock Painting for ages 7-12 at Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center turns plain pebbles into pride, patience, and very heavy keepsakes, with real techniques, real mess, and real smiles.
🎪 PlayPalooza Kids Festival @ Potomac Festival (Woodbridge) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – PlayPalooza lands at Potomac Mills with free family fun, from obstacle courses and foam parties to a truck touch zone that lets kids climb on purpose. TLE Potomac Shores brings crafts, sensory play, face paint, and Bubbles the Elephant. Tired kids, tidy house, happy parents.
🏃 Field Day 2026 @ Nokesville Park | Saturday (6/27) – Hams are setting up outdoors, running on emergency power for a 24-hour Field Day that shows how to reach the world when the internet taps out. Bring the kids, curiosity, and a healthy respect for antennas. Family friendly, hands-on, open to all.
🌮 Sazón Latin Food Festival 2026 @ Eavesdrop Brewery (Manassas) | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – This family-friendly outdoor fest is the DMV's annual celebration of sabor, with curated bites from across Latin America, live music, and actual sunshine. Eat your way from arepas to pupusas without leaving the Beltway, let the kids dance themselves tired, and call it culture.
🦁 Disney’s The Lion King JR @ Hylton Performing Arts Center (Manassas) | Sunday (6/28) at 2:00 PM – Whether you can still belt Hakuna Matata or just want a night where the kids do the roaring, Disney’s The Lion King JR brings Simba, Nala, and the Circle of Life to the savanna of our stage. Big heart, small performers, zero wildebeest traffic.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Prince William County report Weather forecastToday — High: 82°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind 2 to 6 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 88°F — Low: 66°F — Precip: 2%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 2 to 12 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. This house is wildThis 10-acre Manassas retreat pairs estate-style living with rare freedom, no HOA, gated entry, and a long private drive. A 20-foot foyer, soaring ceilings, and three fireplaces set the tone inside, while the pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, barn, riding ring, and stream-fed parkland backdrop turn the grounds into a true everyday getaway.
Take a peek inside → |
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