Welcome to your weekly guide to everything happening in Prince William County, Virginia.

This page is updated every Monday with the latest restaurants, events, activities, and community news across Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Bristow, and the entire county. Whether you are a long-time resident, considering relocating here, or just visiting for the weekend, this is your go-to resource for living well in Prince William County.

Barbara Jennings & Home and Land Solutions at eXp Realty are your trusted local experts for all things Prince William County. With 20+ years of experience serving Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and across Northern Virginia, we know this community inside and out. If you see something here that sparks your interest, or if you are thinking about buying or selling in the area, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Restaurant of the Week: The Black Sheep, Manassas

This week we are highlighting The Black Sheep: whiskey + wine + noshery, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Prince William County. Housed in the historic Thomasson Barn, a restored two-story dairy barn built in 1929, it pairs a dramatic rustic-industrial setting with farm-to-table American comfort food served with a global twist.

Address	9935 Discovery Blvd, Manassas, VA 20109
Cuisine	Farm-to-table American and Southern comfort with globally inspired small plates, craft cocktails, fine wines, and a whiskey list of 200+ labels
Phone	(703) 420-2028
Known For	A spectacular 1929 dairy barn with vaulted exposed-beam ceilings, plus hand-cut steaks, craft cocktails, and one of the region's great whiskey collections

The Black Sheep regularly tops the county's dining rankings: it holds the number one spot on Yelp's list of best restaurants in Prince William County and is one of Northern Virginia Magazine's four best restaurant picks for the county and the City of Manassas. Expect hearty, well-executed comfort dishes, generous small plates built for sharing, and a bar program that draws whiskey and cocktail enthusiasts from across the region.

The restaurant sits on Discovery Boulevard just off I-66 in Manassas, an easy stop near Manassas Mall and Innovation Park. It is open Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Visit theblacksheeprestaurant.com for menus and reservations.

Updated September 23, 2026

Community Events This Week (September 21-27, 2026)

A full harvest moon, one of the county's signature arts festivals, and a busy weekend in Old Town Manassas highlight the next seven days in Prince William County. Here are the events to put on your calendar:

Occoquan's Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Show

Saturday & Sunday, September 26-27, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Historic Occoquan, Mill Street & Commerce Street

The county's signature fall arts event returns with 300+ artisan vendors lining the riverfront streets of historic Occoquan, plus live music, craft demonstrations at the new Art Park area in Mamie Davis Park, and the Mill Street Draft Garden beer garden at 200 Mill St. Free and open rain or shine.

"No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre at the ARTfactory

Friday, September 25, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 27, 2:00 p.m. | ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St, Manassas

Pied Piper Theatre's production of Sartre's classic existential drama runs three performances this weekend at the ARTfactory in the heart of Old Town Manassas. A compelling, thought-provoking night of live theater.

VA250 Traditional Crafts Series: Central

Saturday, September 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m. | 8601 Mathis Ave, Manassas (Prince William Public Libraries)

A hands-on session exploring traditional crafts with local artisans, part of Virginia's 250th anniversary programming through Prince William Public Libraries. A great way for families to connect with the region's heritage.

Arcadia Run 12th Annual Block Party Festival

Saturday, September 26, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | 11775 Boltonia Road, Manassas

Local vendors, a bounce house, a rock wall, face painting, and live music make this annual neighborhood festival a fun, family-friendly stop on the Manassas side of the county.

PWCS Secondary Specialty Programs Fair

Tuesday, September 29, 5:30-8:00 p.m. | Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas

Prince William County Public Schools families can explore the county's secondary specialty programs all in one evening at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the George Mason University campus. A must for parents planning middle and high school choices.

Pro tip: For the most up-to-date event listings, check the Prince William County Parks & Recreation events page and the Visit Prince William events calendar.

Updated September 23, 2026

Local News and Developments

From a landmark vote on data centers to an infrastructure decision under review and a lively civic debate in Manassas, here are the stories shaping Prince William County this week:

County Board Votes to End Automatic Data Center Approvals

On September 22, the Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously to end by-right (automatic) approval for new data centers in Prince William County. Facilities outside designated opportunity zones will now require Special Use Permits, a significant policy shift that responds to long-running community concerns about noise, power demand, and the pace of tech-driven growth.

Dominion Vint Hill Substation Expansion Under Review

The Board of County Supervisors considered a Special Use Permit on September 23 for Dominion Energy's roughly 23-acre substation expansion at 13405 Vint Hill Road in Nokesville. The project would add new 500-kV and 230-kV equipment, and it drew neighborhood opposition over the facility's size and location. The county's decision will help shape power infrastructure across the western part of the county.

Manassas Debates the Future of First Friday

On September 18, city officials and business owners met to weigh crowd and safety concerns around Manassas's heavily attended monthly First Friday street festival. The event draws thousands to Historic Downtown Manassas, and discussions over its size, safety, and future format are likely to shape how the popular series evolves.

For the latest official updates, follow the Board of County Supervisors news page on the county website.

Updated September 23, 2026

Things to Do This Weekend in Prince William County

The weekend of September 26-27 brings the county's signature fall arts festival, a full harvest moon, and plenty of family-friendly and date-night options across Prince William. Here are our top picks:

Family & Outdoor

Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show More than 300 artisans take over the riverfront streets of historic Occoquan on Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with live music, craft demonstrations, food vendors, and a beer garden at the Mill Street Draft Garden. Free and open rain or shine, it is the weekend's can't-miss family outing.

VA250 Traditional Crafts Series Head to Prince William Public Libraries' Central location at 8601 Mathis Ave in Manassas on Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m., for a hands-on look at traditional crafts with local artisans. A low-key, creative activity tied to Virginia's 250th anniversary.

Arcadia Run Block Party The 12th annual block party at 11775 Boltonia Road in Manassas runs Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with local vendors, a bounce house, a rock wall, face painting, and live music. An easy, free-style afternoon of neighborhood fun for kids.

Date Night

An Evening in Old Town Manassas Catch "No Exit" on Friday or Saturday night at the ARTfactory on Battle Street, then pair it with dinner at a favorite Old Town spot and a stroll down historic Center Street. A polished, close-to-home date night to ease into fall.

Moonlight note: The full harvest moon peaks Saturday night, September 26. Traditionally the moon that helped farmers work late into harvest season, it is a beautiful excuse for an evening walk along the Potomac or through one of the county's parks.

Updated September 23, 2026

Market Spotlight: Prince William County Real Estate Update

Prince William County's housing market keeps adding inventory for buyers while home prices hold steady. Here is the most recent verified data from the Prince William Association of Realtors (PWAR), compiled from Bright MLS for the May 2026 reporting period:

$599,450

Median Sold Price (May 2026)

+3.4% vs. April 2026 & May 2025

628

Closed Sales (May 2026)

+17.2% vs. April 2026

891

Active Listings (End of May 2026)

+19% vs. May 2025

Average Days on Market (May 2026)

Sellers Received ~99.4% of List Price

Prices hold steady: The countywide median sold price reached $599,450 in May 2026, up 3.4% from both April 2026 and May 2025, according to the PWAR market report. That stability extends across the active $500,000 to $650,000 band that dominates Prince William's sales.

Sales momentum: Closed sales totaled 628 homes in May 2026, up 17.2% from April, while sitting 7.0% below the same month a year earlier. New listings reached 658, up 12.5% year over year, steadily feeding the county's growing selection of homes.

Inventory keeps climbing: Active listings hit 891 at the end of May 2026, up 12.5% from April and 19% from May 2025. Buyers now have noticeably more choice than they did a year ago, and inventory has continued to grow through the summer into the fall selling season.

Days on market: Homes sold in about 18 days on average in May 2026, with sellers receiving roughly 99.4% of their original list price. Well-priced and well-presented homes are still drawing strong offers.

Key takeaways for buyers: Rising inventory means more time to compare communities and negotiate. In the county's most sought-after neighborhoods, being pre-approved and ready to act still matters.

Key takeaways for sellers: With more inventory on the market and buyers taking slightly longer to decide, pricing accurately and marketing aggressively are more important than ever. The 100-Point Marketing Plan is designed to help sellers maximize exposure in this market.

Full details are in the PWAR May 2026 market statistics report. For a deeper dive into your specific neighborhood or a free home valuation, call Barbara Jennings at (540) 840-1133.

Updated September 23, 2026

Community Spotlight: Prince William County Community Foundation

This week we are highlighting the Prince William County Community Foundation (PWCCF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that fights food insecurity across the county. Its signature program, C.H.O.W. (Combating Hunger on Wheels), uses a retrofitted mobile pantry, the "C.H.O.W. Wagon," to deliver nutritious meals directly to neighborhoods where residents may lack transportation or easy access to a food pantry.

More than 14,000 children in Prince William County face food insecurity, and the foundation now distributes food from 22 school locations across the county on Tuesdays and Fridays through its school-based pantry network. Its Backpack Buddy Box program sends students home with up to six meals, including weekend meals. Volunteers and donations keep the entire network running, making PWCCF an easy and high-impact way for residents and businesses to give back close to home.

Contact: (800) 455-4773 | info@pwccfoundation.org | pwccfoundation.org | P.O. Box 5148, Woodbridge, VA 22194

Know a business, nonprofit, or community group we should feature? Email us at Yourexpertadvisors@gmail.com and tell us about the great work you are doing in Prince William County.

Updated September 23, 2026

Seasonal Highlights: Late September in Prince William County

Fall is fully arriving in Prince William County, with pumpkin patches opening, the county's biggest fall festival on the horizon, and a full harvest moon lighting up the sky this weekend. Here is what we are watching:

Pumpkin Patch Season Begins Yankey Farms in Bristow (11812 Bristow Rd) offers pick-your-own pumpkins on a working farm, Lake Ridge Nursery in Woodbridge brings pumpkins, mums, and fall decor, and St. Paul UMC's long-running pumpkin patch returns to 1400 G St in Woodbridge later in October. Burnside Farms brings Halloween in Haymarket for the spookier side of the season.

Manassas Fall Jubilee Returns October 3 The 43rd annual Manassas Fall Jubilee fills Historic Downtown Manassas on Saturday, October 3, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., with 100+ craft and community booths, live music, food, and kids' activities. It is the county's largest fall street festival and officially kicks off the autumn calendar. See it on the Historic Manassas events page.

Fall Expo at Pfitzner Stadium Prince William County Fire & Rescue hosts its 3rd Annual Expo & Fall Festival on Saturday, October 3, noon-5:00 p.m., at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, with apparatus displays, safety demonstrations, and family fall fun.

Full Harvest Moon This Weekend The full corn (harvest) moon peaks on Saturday, September 26. Named for the time of year when farmers relied on its light to keep working late into the evening, it is a beautiful excuse for an outdoor family walk or a quiet evening on the water.

Updated September 23, 2026

Thinking About Buying or Selling in Prince William County?

Contact Barbara & Douglas Jennings — Phone: 540-840-1133

(540) 840-1133 Book a Consultation

Or email us at Yourexpertadvisors@gmail.com

Sources & Methodology

Data points in this article are sourced from Bright MLS, county property records, local planning commissions, and published municipal reports. Market trends and pricing data reflect information available as of the date of publication. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Square footage, lot sizes, and tax assessments should be independently verified. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.