The Final Rally of Obama's historic campaign is tonight in Northern Virginia. I wrote the other day about what I view as the tremendous symbolic importance of the choice of the Manassas venue, given the Civil War history and modern immigration and racial conterversies boiling there, but this diary is about the logistics of getting there.
First of all, register on the Barack Obama website. The campaign needs to calculate expected attendance numbers. As of yesterday they were expecting about 40,000.
The Prince William County Fairground where the rally will be held is located outside Manassas, about 45 minutes from DC.
Here is the address:
10624 Dumfries Road
Manassas, Virginia 20112
United States
The Obama campaign says that doors will open at 5:00 p.m., and the program will begin at 9:00 p.m. -- The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required but an RSVP (see above link) is encouraged. Please note:
For security reasons do not bring bags or umbrellas. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.
General Directions from DC:
Take I395 south to I495 north; follow I495 north to I66 west: follow I66 west to Virginia Route 234 south (Bypass), exit 44; follow Virginia Route 234 south (Bypass) to the fifth traffic light (Business 234), turn left; proceed approximately one mile to the Fair Grounds entrance on the left.
Here's a link to find driving directions from your zip code, and some great tips from barbwires on traffic and alternate routes.
In case you get lost, fairground office phone number is: (703) 368-0173 (no, you can't have mine).
The Orange Line Metro will get you to Vienna if you have friends in Northern Virginia to hook up with, or you can arrange to rent a car.
Now a bit about the Fairground. When not hosting the next President of the United States:
The Prince William County Fair is Virginia's largest County Fair. It began in 1949. The average attendance over the past 10 years is over 93,000. The fair has livestock, commercial exhibits, a midway, a Civil War encampment, circus and magic shows, truck and tractor pulls, a rodeo, demolition derbies, baby contests, pet shows and darn tasty food
Obligatory Demolition Derby video here
If you can't get to the rally, there will be a JUMBO TV Screen at Market Square, City Hall 301 King Street, Alexandria VA that will broadcast the rally live.
Now, let's muster attendance and turn-out in force for Obama tonight
And let's all wear some organge article of clothing, to show we are kossacks!