The City of Manassas is considering changes to future First Friday events after the Sept. 4 shooting, but City Council did not vote Monday on whether the downtown event will return in November.
During a Sept. 21 work session, council members discussed a possible Nov. 6 event that would run from 5 to 9 p.m. without the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, which allows alcohol purchased from participating businesses to be carried within designated downtown boundaries.
The October event remains canceled. No November event has been approved.
2-Minute Brief
WHAT HAPPENED: City Council discussed possible changes to future First Friday events during its Sept. 21 work session.
OCTOBER: The Oct. 9 event remains canceled.
NOVEMBER: Council discussed a possible Nov. 6 event but took no formal action.
PROPOSED CHANGE: The possible November event would not include DORA.
PUBLIC SAFETY: Police discussed the Sept. 4 shooting as Council considered future downtown events.
WHAT’S NEXT: A decision on whether First Friday will return in November, and under what operating plan, remains pending.
A Possible November Event
The proposal discussed Monday called for a Nov. 6 event from 5 to 9 p.m. without DORA.
Council took no formal action on the proposal.
Public Safety Discussion
Manassas Police Chief Douglas Keen told Council that the Sept. 4 shooting investigation remains active and that three arrests had been made.
Keen said police view the shooting as unrelated to First Friday other than where it occurred.
The shooting happened near the end of the Sept. 4 event in downtown Manassas. A 16-year-old girl who police said was an uninvolved bystander was killed. Tasheem Douglas, 21, whom police identified as one of three shooters, was also wounded and later charged with second-degree murder and two firearm offenses.
The Sept. 21 discussion came as the City considers whether and how future First Friday events should resume.
What Happens Next
The City has not yet approved a November First Friday or announced a final operating plan.
Any decision to move forward will need to establish whether the Nov. 6 event will be held and what rules will govern its operation.
The Manassas Journal will continue following City records for the next formal action.
Sources / Reference Links
City of Manassas City Council Work Session, Sept. 21, 2026
City of Manassas Sept. 21, 2026 work session agenda, including “October 9th First Friday Discussion”
Manassas Police Department public statements and Sept. 21 City Council remarks concerning the Sept. 4 shooting
Manassas Journal: First Friday Goes Retro in Downtown Manassas
Manassas Journal: 16-Year-Old Girl Killed, 21-Year-Old Man Wounded in Old Town Manassas Shooting
Manassas Journal: Police: All Three Suspects in Custody, Three Shooters Identified in Old Town Manassas Shooting
