The free Railway Festival was June 6, 2026, downtown, with VRE excursion rides to Clifton. The 2027 date is not out; the last two were early June.

Last checked Oct. 20, 2026. This page is updated each year. Dates, prices and closures come from the organizer, Historic Manassas Inc. (HMI), the city’s downtown Main Street group, and its event calendar.

The Historic Manassas Railway Festival fills downtown on a Saturday in early June. The 32nd festival was Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and HMI’s page now says see you in 2027. The 2027 date has not been announced. The festival is free; the scenic VRE excursion train to Clifton and back is ticketed. Questions: HMI’s visitor center at the train depot, 9431 West St., 703-361-6599.

What this means for you

  • When: expect the first Saturday in June 2027; HMI has not confirmed it.
  • Cost: free. Train rides were $9 cash or $10 by card in 2026; buy early.
  • Closures: in 2026, roads by the depot and four downtown lots closed 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Parking: the downtown garage stays open.

When and where

Year Festival Date Hours
2025 31st Saturday, June 7 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2026 32nd Saturday, June 6 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2027 33rd Not announced

The festival centers on the Manassas train depot and visitor center at 9431 West St., spreading into the depot lots and Historic Downtown Manassas. Sponsors in 2026 included Norfolk Southern and VRE.

The excursion train

The big draw is a ride aboard a Virginia Railway Express excursion train from Manassas to the historic Town of Clifton and back.

  • Departures (2026): 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., from the Manassas depot.
  • Price: $9 cash or $10 by credit card in 2026, up from $8 cash and $9 by card in 2025.
  • Where to buy: online through the ticket link on HMI’s festival page, or at the depot. HMI says the tickets are popular and recommends buying ahead.
  • Characters on board: in 2026, troopers from the 501st rode the 10 and 11 a.m. trains, and Mirabel and Belle rode the noon and 1 p.m. trains.

What else there is

The 2026 festival had:

  • Model railroad layouts from clubs including National Capital Tracker, Northern Virginia NTRAK, Piedmont Railroaders, the Potomac Module Crew, the Prince William County Model Railroad Crew, the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club and the Washington, Virginia and Maryland Garden Railroad Society
  • train memorabilia, specialty and craft vendors, food vendors, ice cream and a live DJ
  • the Fun Zone, free to enter: a free Trains off the Tracks scavenger hunt, plus barrel train rides and inflatables for a fee
  • raffles and entertainment

The Historic Manassas Farmers Market runs down the street on Saturday mornings, and downtown shops and restaurants are a block away.

Road closures and parking

HMI published a downtown parking map for the 2026 festival. It showed:

  • Roads closed around the depot from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Lots closed: the Harris Pavilion lot, the Water Tower lot, the Train Depot lot and the Candy Factory lot.
  • Parking restrictions on nearby streets from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The parking garage open. The map’s key says all garage levels are free to the public on weekends.

HMI asks visitors to arrive early and mind the closures. The 2027 map will be posted on the same page.

What to know

  • Vendors apply through HMI; the 2026 application window closed in the spring. HMI’s page will carry the 2027 link.
  • Volunteers sign up on HMI’s volunteer form.
  • Weather: HMI has not published a rain plan for the festival.

More ideas: the free Manassas Bee Festival at Liberia is also in June, and our Historic Downtown Manassas guide covers food and parking downtown.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Manassas Railway Festival in 2027?

Historic Manassas Inc. has not announced the 2027 date. The last two festivals were on the first Saturday in June: June 7, 2025, and June 6, 2026, both from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Is the Manassas Railway Festival free?

Yes, the festival is free to attend. The VRE excursion train ride to Clifton and back costs extra: $9 cash or $10 by card in 2026. Barrel train rides and inflatables also carry a fee.

How do I get tickets for the Railway Festival train ride?

Buy them online through the link on the Historic Manassas Inc. festival page or at the Manassas train depot, 9431 West St. Trains left at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. in 2026, and HMI recommends buying ahead.

Where do I park for the Manassas Railway Festival?

In 2026 the Harris Pavilion, Water Tower, Train Depot and Candy Factory lots and the roads by the depot were closed from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. The downtown parking garage stayed open and is free on weekends.