During the partial shutdown of the federal government, D.C.-area national parks will remain as accessible as possible, while still following all applicable laws and procedures, according to a news release from the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

Off the Wall student art show and competition has returned to Center for the Arts on Battle Street across the tracks from the historic train station in Old Town Manassas for its 15th year through Jan. 25.

On Jan. 15 at 7 p.m., RELIC is hosting the program Revealing the Carnage and Chaos of the Hospitals of First Manassas, a talk hby historian Paige Gobbons-Backus about how unprepared the Union and Confederate armies were to handle the deluge of wounded after the Battle of First Manassas. RELIC is the Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center at Bull Run Regional Library, and is a genealogy and history service offered by the Prince William County Public Library System.

RELIC will host two programs in January to show residents how to find, identify and use Census records, church records, old family histories, county and city directories, specialized farm, professional and school directories and yearbooks to get started down the path to tracking their ancestry. RELIC, or the Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center, is a genealogy service offered by the Prince William County Public Library System.

With a “little bit of luck," you can start the new year off with a role in My Fair Lady. Fauquier Community Theatre (FCT) has announced January auditions for its production which will be on stage May 3-19.

City of Manassas needs volunteers at the Winter Wonderland Train Show at the Center for the Arts. It’s a fun opportunity for all including teens age 16+. The show is Dec. 12-14 from 5-8pm, Dec. 15 from 10am-5pm and Dec. 16 10am-4pm.

A team of about 100 people spends about 10,000 hours decorating Busch Gardens near Williamsburg for the holidays. Here are some of the team's success secrets.

The Un Trim A Tree Holiday Gift Program is in full swing and needs help to provide toys and warm clothes to needy kids in our community. There are 550 little people who are waiting to be “adopted!”

With the holiday season upon us, it’s easy to hold a party where all guests — with and without disabilities — feel welcomed, respected and have fun. All it takes is some planning. With some help from Alie Kriofske Mainella, a Wisconsin-based expert on working for inclusion of people with disabilities, here are some tips to ensure your parties are inclusive, thoughtful and welcoming to all.

Join Occoquan residents and merchants this Saturday, December 1, to welcome Santa Claus to Occoquan!