Variety. This is one of the reasons why Old Town Manassas Farmers Market is considered one of the best in the region. It’s open twice a week all year-round, but during late spring, summer, and early fall is when it really shines. You can find some real gems here beyond the usual produce.

Case in point: Artisan pickles sold in mason jars. Once you’ve gobbled up all of your pickles, bring back the empty jar for a discount on the next batch. Also keep an eye out for potted herbs, local honey, fresh baked goods including cookies, bread, and muffins.

But the highlight of the Old Town Manassas Farmers Market is still the fresh fruits and vegetables. The sheer variety is staggering, so take your time wandering around. On Thursdays, the market is located in the Harris Pavilion in Historic Downtown Manassas and on Saturdays it’s in Parking Lot B behind Harris Pavilion. Thursday is strictly local farmers, and Saturday it’s a mix of local and regional. So, visit both and see what the vendors have to offer. Since it’s not far from The Courts at Historic Manassas, it makes for a convenient trip.

Old Town Manassas Farmers Market
Harris Pavilion (Thursdays) and Parking Lot B Behind Harris Pavilion (Saturdays)
7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days
9431 West St.
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 361-6599
visitmanassas.org/listings/farmers-market/
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-manassas-farmers-market-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr YellowGreenFarmersMarket

In modern day Manassas, a hearse signifies a funeral. But 50 years ago, a hearse meant help had arrived. You see, back before the town had any formal type of rescue squad, the Baker Funeral Home's hearse served as a makeshift ambulance. It would respond to calls for help and transport people to the hospital. Before the 1950s, it wasn't just paramedics the town was lacking—it also had no fire response team and was seriously lacking in its police force.

You can learn all about the development of these important entities at Protecting Manassas, a new exhibit hosted by the Manasass Museum. The museum is a little less than a mile away from your apartment at The Courts at Historic Manassas, so you can easily visit in a single afternoon. While you're there, you'll likely develop a new appreciation for the formal firefighting, rescue, and police teams in place today after learning about how citizens were required to step in during emergencies in years past.

Protecting Manassas
Manassas Museum
Through July 15
9101 Prince William Street
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 368-1873
manassasmuseum,org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr nan palmero

When it opened in 2013, Heritage Brewing Company in Manassas set itself apart from other area breweries in a few ways. First, it’s owned and operated by veterans. Second, the ingredients are 100 percent American, and most of the organic ingredients come from Manassas-area sources. Third, it has a social conscience — it’s committed to reusing, recycling, and reducing, plus 1 percent of all profits go to charity.

So, what about the beer? Beer lovers have embraced the flagship beers as well as its seasonal releases and experimental beers. The star of Heritage’s lineup is probably the King’s Mountain Scotch Ale, followed by the Freedom Isn’t Free IPA. The most recent flagship release is the American Expedition, a light wheat ale. Heritage is also starting to experiment with brewing its beer in oak barrels, with more varieties on the horizon.

The best way to learn about how Heritage makes its beer is by going on a brewery tour. Two tours are held every Saturday, at noon and 1 p.m. The taproom, which is just 15 minutes from The Courts at Historic Manassas, is open Thursday to Sunday, where you can have your feel of Heritage beer while hanging with friends.

Heritage Brewing Company
Brewery tours, noon and 1 p.m. Saturdays
9436 Center Point Lane
Manassas, VA 20111
(571) 358-8463
heritagebrewing.com
www.yelp.com/biz/heritage-brewing-co-manassas

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr brownpau