We expected 300 to 500 guests and logged in with up to 2,500 visitors to our City of Manassas from all over Northern Virginia and Maryland as per our Committee Chair! Our Manassas Bee Festival on Sat. June 26th 10am-2pm was just an amazing family and community celebration for our new national Bee City USA designation for our City. Folks came from all over Northern Virginia!

I spent almost 2 years buzzing around the area, meeting with many committees and city staff, and ended with an unanimous vote from Council to put our City on the map — as the first “City” in Northern Virginia, followed by the town of Vienna. Education, animals, pollinators, art, food, music, fun — something for everyone!

Thank you to all who supported this effort — we all came together to make this event special! Our Beautification Committee with Chair Mark Olson and I worked for months to include our garden, bee, educators, non-profits, and entrepreneurs and businesses.

Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis
Patron, Bee City USA and Manassas Bee Festival