Veterans Day 2026 in Northern Virginia: The Manassas Parade and a Military Family's Guide

Veterans Day in Northern Virginia is about to look different this year: on Saturday, November 7, the 18th annual Northern Virginia Veterans Day Parade returns to Old Town Manassas, and Prince William County is honoring its veterans all week. This guide covers the parade, the surrounding observances at Quantico and the county government center, and a late-2026 market check for the military families who make this region home.

I was born on an Air Force base, so serving the men and women who serve our country has always been close to my heart. After more than 25 years helping military families buy and sell around Quantico, Fort Belvoir, and the Pentagon, I know how much these traditions mean to the community, and I know what it takes to buy a home here on a PCS timeline. Let me walk you through both.

The 18th Annual Northern Virginia Veterans Day Parade

The region's signature Veterans Day parade returns to Historic Downtown Manassas on Saturday, November 7, 2026, stepping off at 11 a.m. and running until roughly 12:30 p.m. Hosted by VetPar, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the parade is dedicated to all U.S. Armed Forces, honoring service members past, present, and future. The route forms near Prescott Avenue and Quarry Road, follows Center Street through Old Town, and passes the reviewing stand at the Harris Pavilion. Because the parade is held on the first Saturday of November each year, it anchors Veterans Day weekend across Northern Virginia and draws families from every corner of the region.

This year's Grand Marshal is U.S. Army Colonel Steele McGonegal (Ret.), a Virginia Army National Guard officer who spent most of his career in command and operational assignments with the 29th Infantry Division, the "Blue and Gray Division." He supported national emergency-response efforts across the Commonwealth and concluded his service as the Senior Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. It is a fitting honor for a leader whose career was built around protecting Virginia communities, and it is one more reason to bring the family downtown.

After the parade, Old Town Manassas makes a full day of it: the City of Manassas tourism calendar lists a Fall Gallery Walk on Saturday, November 14, and the farmers market continues in Historic Downtown on Saturday mornings through late November. If you are new to the area, this is a wonderful weekend to see why Manassas families love their town.

Honoring Those Who Served, All Week Long

Veterans Day itself falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and Prince William County marks it in several ways. Over Veterans Day week, the county hosts the "One Community, Many Heroes" Veterans Tribute, a temporary outdoor display of veterans' photos, names, and branches at the Sean T. Connaughton Plaza outside the Prince William County Government Center. County offices and schools are closed on November 11, and the Board of County Supervisors has designated the day in honor of the county's veterans.

Just down I-95, Marine Corps Base Quantico marks the Marine Corps Birthday on Tuesday, November 10 with the traditional cake-cutting ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Quantico National Cemetery also hosts flag-placement and remembrance activities over Veterans Day weekend, a quiet and meaningful way to pay respects. Whether you are active duty, a veteran, or a civilian who simply wants to say thank you, there is a way to participate that fits your family.

A Military Family's Late-2026 Market Check

If your next set of orders is bringing you to the National Capital Region, here is the market context you need as of late October 2026. The official 2027 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates are not published yet; the Department of Defense normally releases them in mid-December, effective January 1, 2027. In the Washington, DC metro area, 2026 rates ranged from $2,409 per month (E-1, no dependents) to $4,770 per month (O-7, with dependents). If you are choosing between renting and buying on a short PCS timeline, your BAH number shapes both calculations, so watch for the December release.

The 2026 military moving season has wrapped: the peak window ran May 15 through August 31, with the full PCS season April 1 through October 1. This was also the first season under the new Personal Property Activity (PPA), the Pentagon agency stood up in May 2026 at Scott Air Force Base that now runs the household-goods move system after the previous moving contract was terminated. For 2027, the big planning note is budget: discretionary PCS funding begins a phased reduction in fiscal year 2027, with a 10% cut this year rising to 50% by fiscal year 2030, and the Army alone is trimming more than 13,000 moves in FY27. The practical advice, from a realtor who has watched this for decades: book your move as early as you can and expect less flexibility in peak-season dates.

For families buying near the bases, the good news is that inventory is up sharply across Northern Virginia. NVAR's September 2026 release showed active listings up 30.7% year-over-year, the highest level in years, and Prince William County buyers have more homes to choose from than at any point in the last half decade, with PWAR's September median at $589,450. Rates are the counterweight: Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed averaged 7.40% for the week ending October 15, so getting a fully underwritten VA pre-approval and locking a rate you can live with matters more than ever.

VA Loan Basics Worth Repeating

The VA home loan remains the most powerful tool a military buyer has in this price range, and a few facts are worth restating for anyone new to the process. Veterans with full VA loan entitlement have no loan limit, meaning you can borrow any amount a lender approves you for with zero down. The VA funding fee for first-time use with zero down is 2.15%, and 3.30% for subsequent use, and both can be rolled into the loan. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients are exempt from the funding fee entirely. For buyers with partial entitlement, the 2026 high-cost loan limit for Northern Virginia counties is $1,249,125.

Two 2026 changes are worth knowing about. First, VA appraisal rules updated May 1, 2026 introduced a new appraisal fee and timeliness schedule, and radon testing is no longer required on post-date VA appraisals. Second, on base, Quantico Middle/High School opened its brand-new building in January 2026, the main public secondary school on the installation. These details matter when you are weighing an offer timeline or choosing between on-base and off-base options. I cover the full process in my PCS relocation guide and my VA loan guide.

Where Military Families Are Landing Right Now

Around Quantico, the most popular off-base communities remain Stafford and Garrisonville, within roughly 15 minutes of the main gate, along with Triangle, Dumfries, and the Dale City, Lake Ridge, and Montclair neighborhoods of Prince William County for families who want established neighborhoods and strong schools. Around Fort Belvoir, Kingstowne and Lorton lead most lists for their combination of newer construction, commuter rail access, and short drives to the gate. With inventory up and prices holding, fall and early winter are a genuine window for military buyers: motivated sellers are listing now, and the federal hiring wave that began October 1 keeps demand steady through the end of the year.

One more calendar note for everyone in the region: Virginia's general election is Tuesday, November 3, with in-person early voting running through Saturday, October 31. If you are a newly arrived family, take a minute to check your registration before the October 23 deadline, and then enjoy the parade on the 7th. It is a great month to feel part of a community.

If you are thinking about buying or selling, whether it is your first home or your third PCS, I would be honored to help. I understand the timeline pressure, the out-of-state house hunt, and the peace of mind that comes from having someone you trust looking out for your family's best interests.

Reach out to me directly at 571-377-8777, GG@MoveMeInVa.com, or schedule a call at your convenience. I know these towns, these neighborhoods, and these military communities well, and I would be glad to help you find your own place in Northern Virginia.