Less than half a mile from The Courts at Historic Manassas, you'll find a wealth of information about (what else) historic Manassas: the Manassas Museum. Local history always stars at this nearby museum, but from now until Feb. 28, there will be a special spotlight on Civil War soldiers.

What the Civil War Soldier Carries is a limited-time exhibit that sheds light on what life was like for the men who fought the Civil War. After the museum briefly closed last month, it reopens with a bang with this exhibit brought to you from the private collection of Dr. Charles Poland. He began collecting Civil War-related items at the ripe young age of 12 when he received a biography of Abraham Lincoln as a gift. Dr. Poland's fascination for all this Civil War continued into adulthood, and at the exhibit you can see some of the artifacts he collected over the years.

What the Civil War Soldier Carries
Manassas Museum
Through Feb. 28
9101 Prince William Street
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 368-1873
visitmanassas.org/event/what-the-civil-war-soldier-carries
www.yelp.com/biz/manassas-museum-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Wendy Piersall

Throughout the month of February, the Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory hosts visual art classes of all sorts, from sessions for tots to classes for fully developed artists. Classes also range from month-long workshops to one-day classes, so there is something for all attention spans.

Available classes in February include a step-by-step acrylics class for adults, a Valentine art paper workshop for kids, an intro to Chinese brush painting class, and a Kumihimo necklace class.

Classes range in price, depending on the event that you choose. Admission fees are required for all classes and can be paid online.

Can’t make it in February? No worries, classes continue all year round. Plus, the visual arts classes take place just half a mile from The Courts at Historic Manassas. So get in tune with your inner artist at this hands-on classes at the Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory.

The Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory
9419 Battle Street
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 330-2787
center-for-the-arts.org/classes/visual-arts/children

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr dominicotine

There's no one better than a native Scotsman to teach you a thing or two about Scotch, and that's precisely what will happen Jan. 23 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, less than four miles from The Courts at Historic Manassas. The aforementioned Scot is Dougie Wylie, a man who grew up farming and coaching rugby in a tiny little hamlet in Scotland.

Lucky for you, he now lives in D.C. That's why he's able to host the Scotch Whisky Master Class this weekend. He'll lead guests down the Scotch Whisky Trail, offering nips of Scotch from all over his homeland. Dougie will explain the nuances of each whisky as you sip. Expect rare, upscale whiskies from the likes of the Red River Distillery, Bladnoch, Glenscotia, and other masters scattered across Scotland. Sign up before it sells out!

Scotch Whisky Master Class
Hylton Performing Arts Center
5 p.m. Jan. 23
10960 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20110
(888) 945-2468
www.hyltoncenter.org/calendar/757
www.yelp.com/biz/hylton-performing-arts-center-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr comedy_nose