They were among America's first millionaires and emancipators. They lived amid a swirl of controversy and extreme wealth worthy of reality TV. Their Virginia backyard included half a million acres. This famous family is the focus of a new joint exhibit, "New World Aristocracy: The Carters of Virginia" now on exhibit at the Manassas Museum.

Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. and the Weems-Botts Museum in Dumfries need volunteers and are offering volunteer training Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. Call 703-221-2218.

Touch a Truck event sponsored by and to benefit emerging Discovery Junction Children’s Museum will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., (11 a.m.-1 p.m. especially for those sensitive to horns and lights) in the parking lot of Freedom Center at George Mason University, Manassas.

Manassas National Battlefield Park will hold its second Saturday at the Park on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Brownsville Picnic Area, Groveton Road, Manassas. Join park rangers as they host an array of free hands-on activities for children.

Woodbridge Flute Choir's 25 flutes will perform A Jazz Journey through America on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Chinn Park Regional Library in Lake Ridge with guest singer Kiki Ebsen.

Among volunteers needed this week are those who can help Habitat move to a new location in Manassas, facilitate parenting classes for Va. Cooperative Extension, teach literacy skills to adults, help a Brain Injury Services client learn to do email and web searches, help weekdays at the SERVE food pantry and help Project Mend-A-House.

The third Saturday in September spells festival time in Haymarket, because in this one- square mile of a town, Sept. 19 marks the 27th annual Haymarket Day. That’s the day when locals and visitors come out of the woodwork to celebrate Haymarket, which dates to 1799, the second oldest town in Prince William County.

Prince William County Animal Shelter is turning 40! To mark this anniversary, a public celebration is planned for Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Animal Shelter, 14807 Bristow Rd., Manassas (20112).

Stewardship Virginia promotes waterway adoption, trail improvement, the planting of riparian buffers, invasive species control, habitat improvement and landscaping for conservation. The campaign encourages people to connect with land and water to better understand their value.

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra will return to the Hylton Performing Arts Center Oct. 3 with a soaring celebration of two of America’s greatest inventions – jazz and aviation – in the world premiere of Paul Glenshaw’s “To Swing Through the Sky.”