Experience the magic of Historic Downtown Manassas every First Friday from February through November. From 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. our streets transform into one big block party filled with live music, family-friendly activities, special events, and exclusive promotions from Downtown shops and restaurants. Sip, stroll, and enjoy local flavor as you explore! Make it a night to remember - bring the whole family, capture the fun, and share your photos with us on Facebook and Instagram. Interested in becoming a part of First Friday? Scroll below for details & applications!
Plan ahead and mark First Friday on your calendar!
February 7 - Souper Bowl • March 7 - Go Green • April 4 - Celebrate Manassas • May 2 - Fiesta de Mayo • June 6 - Beach Bash • August 1 - Dog Days of Summer • September 5 - Flashback Friday • October 3 - Pumpkin Palooza • November 7 - Thanks for Giving
Experience live music and a DJ across Historic Downtown Manassas during First Friday! Here's where to find the action:
West Street: By CJ Finz
Battle Street: By Monza, and by Mariachi’s
Main Street: By Sinistral, and by Doug’s Deli & Taproom
Center Street: DJ by Studio Luxe Boutique
Stroll through downtown and let the music guide your evening!
Parking:
Free street parking is available in marked spaces outside street closure and DORA areas. During First Friday, you can also park for free in the Train Depot Lot, Water Tower Lot, Main Street Lot, Church Street Lot (accessible from Church Street only), and the public Parking Garage located at 9102 Prince William St.
Parking is also available in Prince William Street Commuter Lot. However, the lot is closed on Saturdays from 4am to 4pm for the weekly Farmers Market, so vehicles cannot remain parked overnight.
Street Closures:
• Center Street from Grant to East
• West Street from Church to Railroad Tracks
• Battle Street from Church to Railroad Tracks
• Main Street from Church to Railroad Tracks
Restroom Locations:
Restrooms are conveniently located throughout the event footprint:
• West Street: On the pavilion lawn across from CJ Finz
• Battle Street: Corner of Battle & Church (behind Monza), Parking lot near ARTfactory
• Main Street: End of the walkway across from Sinistral, Across from Grounds Central Station
In addition to porta-johns, restrooms are also available inside the Train Station Waiting Room and at the Harris Pavilion.
Main Kids Zone: Located at the Harris Pavilion, this area features exciting activities that change each month, ensuring a new adventure every time!
Throughout Downtown: Many of our shops and businesses also offer kid-friendly activities scattered across the event footprint.
DORA stands for, "Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area." This is the designated area in which you can purchase alcoholic drinks from a participating restaurant/bar, and freely walk around Historic Downtown Manassas with your drink.
To enjoy an alcoholic beverage while roaming within the DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area), you must have your drink in a clear plastic logo cup purchased from a participating establishment.
Not permitted:
If your alcoholic drink is in anything other than an authorized logo cup, you will likely be asked to discard it and/or take your cooler back home. Virginia ABC DORA rules mandate that alcoholic beverages must be served in an official logo cup. Please help us maintain our DORA license by following these rules and ensuring a positive experience for everyone.
Please see our First Friday Map & Parking for information on locating restrooms during First Fridays.
The last call for on-street alcohol sales is at 9:30 p.m., and all alcohol sales must conclude by 10:00 p.m., when strict police enforcement begins. At 11:00 p.m., on-street alcohol consumption ends, and the streets will begin to re-open.
Alcohol consumption is only permitted within the DORA and must adhere to the event schedule. You may continue drinking until 11:00 p.m., at which point all consumption must cease.
Applications for First Friday can be found at this location. Submit your application between the 1st-10th of each month preceding First Friday.
Since there is limited space at First Friday, we are not always able to approve every application. While First Friday is a wonderful opportunity to connect with a large audience, HMI must consider that the event was founded to support businesses in Historic Downtown Manassas. We strive to feature vendors and food options that complement, rather than compete with, downtown shops and restaurants, while also ensuring the event remains well-rounded.
We take the theme for each First Friday into consideration when evaluating applicants, and sometimes an applicant may not align with that month’s theme. If you have an upcoming event or program you wish to promote, we encourage you to apply again, but please note that participation is not guaranteed.
Approved First Friday participants are not allowed to fundraise or take donations on the street at First Friday.
Businesses located outside of the City of Manassas may participate through sponsorship of the event, if opportunities are available. If you are interested in sponsorship, please send an email to jheanel@historicmanassasinc.org.
HMI does not hire musicians for First Friday. If you're interested in performing, please reach out directly to the businesses hosting live music, including CJ Finz, Monza/Battle Street Live, Mariachi’s, The Bone, Sinistral Brewing, Philadelphia Tavern, Doug’s Deli & Taproom, and Studio Luxe Boutique. These venues independently organize the live music and entertainment in the streets!
Yes! First Friday is a family-friendly event with a dedicated Kids Zone at the Harris Pavilion featuring new activities each month. Additionally, many downtown shops offer their own kid-friendly activities throughout the event footprint. Be sure to explore the area for fun surprises for the whole family!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a First Friday vendor! We look forward to hosting your business or organization during one of Historic Downtown Manassas' most popular events. Please review the vendor guidelines by using the link below before submitting your application.
