City sets plans for heritage day

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: July 27, 2008

For the past 17 years, a group of local residents have been organizing and sponsoring a festival to "commemorate and celebrate the rich heritage of the Manassas area."

This year will be no exception, and chairman Brenda Lewis said it will be the largest ever.

The event is the Manassas African American Heritage Day Festival on Aug. 2. The time is noon to 6 p.m. located on the parking lot of Grace E. Metz Middle School on Wellington Road.

"We have a record number of vendors—more than 100—who will be at the event along with many family and education activities," said Lewis, who was part of the original planning group and chairman for the past 15 years.

Events for the day include vendors selling arts and crafts, community organizations passing out information brochures, an author corner, entertainment, classic cars, health fair, storytellers, hair and fashion show and food vendors. Trophies will be awarded to the top cars on display.

"We will have a wide variety of food booths, selling everything from fried fish and barbecue to hot dogs and hamburgers to smoked chicken and ribs to funnel cakes," Lewis said. Baked goods will also be available. Children's activities will include a moon bounce.

Entertainment will include step dancers and youth choir, Voices of Tomorrow from the First Baptist Church, a hand dancing group, rhythm and blues singer and a theater production from CAPAC, all performing a stage set up in the middle of the activities.

The event normally draws upward of 3,000 people. High temperatures last year kept crowds down.

"It's wonderful seeing the community come together and enjoying the day, communicating with one another. It's also a great exposure for the organizations and businesses to promote their wares and services and we have received very positive feedback in the past," Lewis said.

The event is free, but those attending are requested to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to a local church food bank.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.