Celebrate 4th of July in Manassas Park, Virginia

Manassas Park is a town of 10,000 in Northern Virginia, located approximately 30 miles west of Washington D.C. It is situated between Interstate 66, and Route 28, in the outskirts of Prince William County. While it is most commonly known for being the place where John Bobbitt lost an item, this town is famous for its down home hospitality and barbecue restaurants. It moves at a slower pace than the rest of this metropolitan area, and a lot of the town is accessible without an automobile. This is why it is a good place for a family to spend the Fourth of July, as there is a wonderful fireworks celebration at Signal Hill Park.

This park is huge, as it covers 100+ acres at the intersection of Signal View Drive, which is close to the main drag of Manassas Drive. There is a water facility that children love, which is fully equipped with a huge pool and slides. If you want to play a game of softball, there are four fields on the premises, and a mile long trail provides for a scenic hike. Trees surround this trail, and if you want to cook some hot dogs or burgers, there are plenty of picnic grills available for usage. Remember to bring some charcoal briquet's for these, as well as some lighter fluid. Covered shelters are in limited supply, so be sure to arrive early if you want to eat under a roof.

The Fourth of July Celebration in this park is excellent. At 5:00 p.m. the festivities begin, with family friendly events such as face painting, arts and crafts, and a magic show. Children will like the clowns and jugglers that make appearances, and if you want to see a lot of American flags, they are everywhere at this park. The Manassas Park High School band plays patriotic tunes every year, and I have been impressed with their level of skill. These students are mature, and play with standards of sophistication and enthusiasm. In addition to this band, a couple of local groups entertain the crowd with classic country and rock songs, that will put everyone in a spirited mood. Police cars and firetrucks are on exhibit, which will keep the little ones occupied, while you enjoy this wonderful music.