The Great Manassas Campout!

Saturday May 2, 2026 at noon (set up open)
to Sunday May 3, 2026, at 10:00am
Liberia House and Grounds
8601 Portner Ave. Manassas City

The Great Manassas Camp Out
Where History, Nature, and Community Meet

Presented and Hosted by: Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival
Host: Buzz Around Town

***Early Bird Registration: $60 per Camp Site for 4 people or $20 per person. Supply your own camping gear and tents. Includes dinner and breakfast and snacks and activities: Campout Sign Up and Donate

Sponsorships available $150 each: Pay here and email logo or name to ManassasBeeFestival@gmail.com: https://secure.paymentportal.cc/Merchant/Hosted/FullPage/7fb30590-e705-4017-915a-49c2f43d9ffe

Overview:
The Great Manassas Camp Out invites families, nature lovers, and history enthusiasts to experience the outdoors and living history together during Preservation Week at Liberia House and Grounds, one of the most treasured historic and natural sites in Manassas City. Dates: Sat. May 2 to Sun. May 3.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the nation’s largest private nonprofit conservation organization. This event will join the efforts of the NWF Great American Campout initiative, a national movement for 20 years encouraging outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.

Timed to align with America250 and VA250, the 250th Commemoration of our country, the Camp Out will also offer an immersive “Living Heritage” exhibit spanning 250 years of American stories, from 1776 to the present, connecting our shared past to the future of conservation and community.

Event Highlights:

Dates: Saturday, May 2 to Sunday, May 3, 2026
Location: Liberia House Historic Park, City of Manassas
Experiences Include:
Overnight tent camping under the stars on historic grounds.
Living Heritage Tent Trail: 250 years of life in Virginia.
Pollinator & Nature Programs: Hands-on workshops with the Bee Festival’s beekeeper and garden team.
Firepit Story Night: Hot dogs, s’mores, stargazing, and local folklore with fire safety plan in place.
Family Activities: Scavenger hunts, crafts with local artisans, hikes on trails with stream.
Community Showcase: Local heritage guests, and environmental nonprofits.

Purpose and Designation Goals:
The Great Manassas Camp Out will follow the criteria of the Virginia Green initiative:
Promoting sustainable tourism through responsible waste management, pollinator protection, and eco-education.
Celebrating Virginia’s 250 years of history through interactive, family-friendly storytelling.
Supporting local economic and environmental goals through nonprofit
collaboration and nature-based tourism.
Hosted by the Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival (scheduled for June 20, 2026) and sponsored by Buzz Around Town, this program will extend the festival’s mission—connecting history, community, and nature in May, encouraging residents and visitors to rediscover Manassas through outdoor experiences. May is the month for World Bee Day on May 20.

Recognition and Impact:
An educational and fun outdoor event for our community
Strengthening Manassas City as a history and nature destination
Potential recognition as a Virginia Green Event
Inclusion in America250 and Virginia250 Commemorative Calendar
Expansion of Great American Campout participation in Virginia
Promotion through NWF, Virginia Tourism, and local media partners

Contact: Theresa Coates Ellis, Founder
Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival
Buzz Around Town
Mailing Address: 8637 Mathis Ave. Manassas, VA 20110
E: ManassasBeeFestival@gmail.com M: 571-247-6729

Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival and National Wildlife Federation.