Neighborhood news: Get ready for the Fall Festival

In Manassas Park...

The Fall Festival takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a free event that takes place in the City Hall parking lot (1 Park Center Court).

There will be vendors, entertainment, food, kiddie area, moonbounce and more. Vendors are still needed. Contact Theresa Polk at 703-335-8874 or t.polk@manassasparkva.gov.

Forum

You are invited to hear Dr. Virginia Fields, the curator of pre-Columbian art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, on Oct. 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Colgan Theater on the Northern Virginia Community College Campus, 6901 Sudley Road.

She is a specialist in early Mesamerican art and has taught pre-Columbian and Native American art history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, UCLA and other California state universities. She is a senior fellow in Pre-Columbian Studies at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections in Washington.

Dr. Fields will present an overview of how ancient peoples in Mexico first began constructing monumental architectural sites and large-scale public sculptures. She will also be discussing evidence of the earliest calendar and early writing as important tools for Mexico's first kings.

Please use the event parking lot. A reception follows in the vestibule of Colgan Theater.

Fall craft fair

Parkside Middle School is now accepting vendors for their annual Fall Craft Fair on Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please visit www.parksidepto.com for an application.

The cost is $25 with no electric and $40 with electric. The space is approximately 40 square feet. Setup is from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

In Manassas...

Pecan sale

Once again this year, the Manassas Chorale is offering pecans for sale. These extra large pecan halves have not yet been picked so they will be fresh -- unlike pecans in stores, which are a year old. For $10 each, you can order as many one-pound bags as you would like by Tuesday. The pecans will arrive the second week in November in time for holiday baking. To place your order, see any Chorale member or call 703-368-0883 or 703-791-2474.

Arts festival

The 4th Annual Fine Arts Festival takes place Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harris Pavilion. This is a free event. There will be art exhibits and sales, painting demonstrations, entertainment and more. For more information, call 703-791-5767 or visit www.manassasart guild.org.

Fruit sale

The Osbourn High School Band annual citrus sale is going on through Nov. 5. The citrus comes directly from Florida. Orders can be placed online at FruitOrder.com -- just click the Order Now! button and enter Osbourn's ID, #467315. Click on the picture of the items you wish to order, then proceed to checkout. When you get to the end of the checkout page, be sure to select a student/seller to receive sales credit or select "entire organization." The band is selling small and large boxes of naval oranges ($21/$32) and pink grapefruit ($21/$32), small boxes of tangelos ($21) and mixed oranges/grapefruit ($23). Purchasers need to pick up their fruit Dec. 14 or Dec. 15 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Birthdays

Happy birthday today to Chonghui Hawkins and on Saturday to Caren Leifer.

Brenda Facemire reports your neighborhood news from Manassas and Manassas Park every Monday in the News & Messenger. If you live in a Manassas neighborhood and have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to brendafacemire@verizon.net. If you live in a Manassas Park neighborhood, please send your news to bfacemire@verizon.net.