30th Annual Art on the Avenue
2025-10-04 10:00 - 18:00 UTC | Del Ray
The 30th Annual Art on the Avenue, the region’s top arts festival, takes place Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria.

Held each fall on Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte Avenues, Art on the Avenue strives to reflect the diversity of the Del Ray community through the artists and their work. This year’s festival will feature over 350 local and regional artists, live music, international food, children’s activities, a pie-baking contest, and more.

The event, voted by Virginia Living readers as the best art festival in Northern Virginia, is volunteer-run, with support from the local business community. Art on the Avenue is free and open to all. For more information, visit artontheavenue.org.

Fall Wine Festival at Mount Vernon
2025-10-10 18:00 - 2025-10-12 21:00 | George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Sample Virginia-Made Wines

Bring a blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the beautiful views of the Potomac River.
Sample wines from Virginia wineries and take home your very own commemorative wine glass (guests must be prepared to show identification for wine service).
Throughout the night, enjoy live music by Bruce Ewan and the Solid Senders.

Elevate Your Evening & Reserve Your VIP Table

VIP tables are open-air and include:

Admission for 12 people
Three bottles of Mount Vernon house wine
A charcuterie tray
A fruit tray
A dessert platter
Private waiter service

Friday VIP Tables – General Public $1,500, Members $1,200
Saturday VIP Tables – General Public $1,600, Members $1,280
Sunday VIP Tables – General Public $1,200, Members $960

Take Home Your Favorite Wines

The complimentary Wine Valet Service provides assistance with wine purchases of 3 or more bottles, which you can pick up as you leave for the evening (open until 8:45 p.m.).
To best take advantage of this free service, you must let the attendants at the valet table know when you are done with your bottle purchases before leaving for the evening.
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant will have concessions available.
Credit cards are accepted. No outside food or beverages are allowed, except bottled water. The Shops at Mount Vernon will be closed during the event.

Old Town Oyster Week
2025-10-11 - 2025-10-18 | VA
6th Annual Old Town Oyster week will run from October 11th – 18th 2025
Oyster Shucking Competition will be held the morning of October 11th

Paws in the Park
2025-10-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Pup-kin Spice and Everything Nice! Fall Festival “Paws in the Park” is October 12
Paws in the Park returns to Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town Alexandria on Sunday, October 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and promises to be an even bigger paw-ty than previous years!
This annual event celebrates northern Virginia’s love for animals and offers attendees a one-of-a-kind family and pet-friendly free fall festival featuring vendors, adoptable animals, and a variety of entertainment and live music for kids and adults.
Along with many local artisans, nonprofits, and animal-focused businesses, Paws in the Park will host food and beverage vendors, too. Attendees can pack a picnic and also savor drinks and food from local cideries, breweries, wineries, bakeries, food trucks, and more while enjoying the day’s entertainment and shopping.
The first 1,000 attendees at Paws in the Park will receive a one-of-a-kind swag bag. Paws in the Park is open to leashed, well-behaved pets of all types. More information about this year’s festival can be found at www.PawsintheParkVA.com.

Ethiopian Fall Festival 2025
2025-10-12 13:00 - 19:00 | Chinquapin Park, 3210 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
Join us for our 5th Annual Ethiopian Fall Festival on Sunday,October 12, 2025 in Alexandria, Virginia — a joyful, family-friendly celebration of culture, community, and connection. Enjoy live music, traditional dance, delicious food, local vendors, kids’ activities, and access to vital resources. Everyone is welcome!
Admission: $10 per person. || Free for Children under 10 years old.

Literary Libations | October Book Club
2025-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Morrison House Hotel, 116 S Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join fellow book lovers for Literary Libations, a free monthly book club hosted in the Parlor Room at The Study at Morrison House. Taking place one Wednesday each month, this gathering offers a relaxed and welcoming space to dive into your next read—whether it’s a timeless classic, a trending release, or the latest must-read from BookTok.
Sip on themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by the book of the month, pair them with small plates from The Study’s bar menu, or linger after the discussion to indulge in a seasonal tasting menu.
Literary Libations isn’t a formal, structured discussion—it’s a cozy salon for mingling, exchanging ideas, and diving into new worlds together. Conversation starters and thoughtful prompts will be scattered around the room, but the conversation is all yours to shape.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: North Woods by Daniel Mason
A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become home to an extraordinary succession of inhabitants . An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins survive war and famine, only to succumb to envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave, but finds the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle; as each one confronts the mysteries of the north woods, they come to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.Traversing cycles of history, nature, and even literature, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space. Written along with the seasons and divided into the twelve months of the year, it is an unforgettable novel about secrets and fates that asks the timeless how do we live on, even after we’re gone?

HallowQueen Drag Brunch
2025-10-25 11:00 - 14:00 | King & Rye, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Get ready for a spellbinding morning of drag, drama, and delicious bites at our HallowQueen Drag Brunch!
Things are getting spooky with our favorite queens. CAKE POP is back again as host with special performances by Druex Sidor and Daya B. Tease!
🧛 Dress Code: Come dressed in your Halloween best! Unleash your inner monster, diva, or mythical creature. We’re rolling out the red carpet for our costume contest, where creativity reigns supreme. Whether you’re a classic ghoul, a pop culture icon, or something entirely out-of-this-world, we want to see your best Halloween looks! Gift card prizes will be awarded to the top two costumes!
Tickets are $30.00 with a $25 food & beverage minimum at King & Rye.
We recommend buying your groups tickets together to ensure your party will be sat together. Note, smaller parties may be seated with other small parties.

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
2025-10-25 14:00 - 17:00 | George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Visit Mount Vernon in Costume

Collect candy in your special Mount Vernon treat bag around the historic grounds. This bag is required to collect candy.
Snap a selfie at our straw bale selfie station in front of the Mansion on the bowling green. Share your snapshot with us on social media using #MVHalloween.
Watch your children in a Costume Parade on the historic grounds at 4 p.m.
Stop by the Discovery Cart on the north lane.
Greet Lady Washington in the upper garden.

Celebrate Halloween with 18th-Century Entertainment

Watch a Punch & Judy puppet show, one of Washington’s favorites, on the bowling green.
Watch 18th-century conjuror Mr. Peter Gardiner present his magic show.
Hear Music of the Revolution, featuring the fife and drums, at 2:30 p.m. on the bowling green.

Participate in Activities on the 12-Acre Field

Help with soap-making using 18th-century techniques.
Watch sparks fly in demonstrations at the blacksmith shop in the historic area.
Learn about Mount Vernon’s horses and how we care for them.
See an 18th-century bake oven demonstration with Justin Cherry from Half Crown Bakehouse.

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine.
Please note that candy may contain peanuts or tree nuts. Supplies are subject to change. While supplies last.

29th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
2025-10-26 14:00 - 17:00 | VA
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions, the 29th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, takes place on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2pm along Mount Vernon Avenue, beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue. Children, pets, and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes! This parade ends with live music and an award presentation at the Mount Vernon Rec Center field. This hometown favorite event is a must-see!
BEST DECORATED HOUSE & BUSINESS CONTESTS: For over 30 years, local residents and businesses have gone all out decorating for Halloween, competing for bragging rights for best decorated house and business. NEW THIS YEAR: special awards category — Best Use of a Small Space. Stay tuned for details on entering. Thank you to The Jen Walker Team for sponsoring this favorite tradition!
HALLOWEEN PARADE STROLLER/GROUP CONTEST: Registration for the Stroller/Group Contest will be done prior to the parade start. Stroller registration takes place starting at 1pm at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Howell Avenues; look for signage. All strollers must be registered by 1:30pm; strollers will then line up on Howell to be judged prior to the parade. There is no fee to register. Stroller Competition Categories: Creative, Humorous, Best Group or Family, Less is More, and Overall. Thank you to Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga for sponsoring this spirited competition!
HALLOWEEN PARADE PET COSTUME CONTEST: Registration for the Pet Costume Contest will be done prior to the parade start. Pet entries must be registered by 1:30pm at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Howell Avenues; look for signage. Pets will be judged immediately at the end of the parade route. There is no fee to register. Pet Costume Categories: Creative, Team, How Could You Do This To Me?, and Vola Lawson Best of Show. Special thanks to Your Dog’s Best Friends/The Dog Store for sponsoring this pawsome contest!

HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT: Walk the Avenue (in costume or not!) and find Halloween-themed items in Del Ray’s decorated businesses and hand-painted windows; five winners (randomly selected from all entries) will receive a $50 gift card to their favorite Del Ray business. Stay tuned for more details!

DONATE A COSTUME FOR LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED: Every year, the Del Ray Business Association works with local non-profits to ensure that all neighborhood children have a Halloween costume. Stay tuned for more details!

This Halloween fun would not be possible without the support of our small business sponsors. Be sure to thank them!

Poe in Alexandria
2025-10-29 20:00 - 2025-10-30 21:30 | Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Don’t miss an unforgettable evening with America’s earliest master of the macabre – Edgar Allan Poe! Actor David Keltz returns to The Lyceum’s lecture hall to re-create Poe’s visit to Virginia in 1849, shortly before his death. This year’s performance will include short stories, poems, musings, and literary criticism. Mr. Keltz’s performance has been lauded by The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, The Poe Museum in Richmond, and the Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia. Reservations strongly recommended. Doors at 7:15 p.m., performance begins at 8 p.m. Wine and beer bar will be available before the show (credit and cash accepted).

Literary Libations | November Book Club
2025-11-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Morrison House Hotel, 116 S Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join fellow book lovers for Literary Libations, a free monthly book club hosted in the Parlor Room at The Study at Morrison House. Taking place one Wednesday each month, this gathering offers a relaxed and welcoming space to dive into your next read—whether it’s a timeless classic, a trending release, or the latest must-read from BookTok.
Sip on themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by the book of the month, pair them with small plates from The Study’s bar menu, or linger after the discussion to indulge in a seasonal tasting menu.
Literary Libations isn’t a formal, structured discussion—it’s a cozy salon for mingling, exchanging ideas, and diving into new worlds together. Conversation starters and thoughtful prompts will be scattered around the room, but the conversation is all yours to shape.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous World War II firebombing of Dresden, the novel is the result of what Kurt Vonnegut described as a twenty-three-year struggle to write a book about what he had witnessed as an American prisoner of war. It combines historical fiction, science fiction, autobiography, and satire in an account of the life of Billy Pilgrim, a barber’s son turned draftee turned optometrist turned alien abductee. As Vonnegut had, Billy experiences the destruction of Dresden as a POW. Unlike Vonnegut, he experiences time travel, or coming “unstuck in time.”
An instant bestseller, Slaughterhouse-Five made Kurt Vonnegut a cult hero in American literature, a reputation that only strengthened over time, despite his being banned and censored by some libraries and schools for content and language. But it was precisely those elements of Vonnegut’s writing—the political edginess, the genre-bending inventiveness, the frank violence, the transgressive wit—that have inspired generations of readers not just to look differently at the world around them but to find the confidence to say something about it.
Fifty years after its initial publication at the height of the Vietnam War, Vonnegut’s portrayal of political disillusionment, PTSD, and postwar anxiety feels as relevant, darkly humorous, and profoundly affecting as ever, an enduring beacon through our own era’s uncertainties.

WICKED Drag Brunch at King & Rye
2025-11-15 11:00 - 14:00 | King & Rye, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
We might not have hallowed halls and vine-draped walls like Dear Old Shiz, but we do have fabulous drag queens who plan to Defy Gravity and themed cocktails that will have you Dancing Through Life! For One Short Day in Old Town Alexandria, we’re bringing the Emerald City to life to fill King & Rye with our favorite dynamic duo, Glinda and Elphaba!
Come dressed in your Shiz best or maybe something more suited for the Ozdust Ballroom! Either way, we hope to hear your best “Ahhhh- Ahhh- Ah-Ahhhhh!” because at this event, you are that girl!
We expect tickets to be Popular so don’t wait to buy! Tickets are $30.00 with a $25 food & beverage minimum at King & Rye.
We recommend buying your groups tickets together to ensure your party will be sat together. Note, smaller parties may be seated with other small parties.

Literary Libations | December Book Club
2025-12-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Morrison House Hotel, 116 S Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join fellow book lovers for Literary Libations, a free monthly book club hosted in the Parlor Room at The Study at Morrison House. Taking place one Wednesday each month, this gathering offers a relaxed and welcoming space to dive into your next read—whether it’s a timeless classic, a trending release, or the latest must-read from BookTok.
Sip on themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by the book of the month, pair them with small plates from The Study’s bar menu, or linger after the discussion to indulge in a seasonal tasting menu.
Literary Libations isn’t a formal, structured discussion—it’s a cozy salon for mingling, exchanging ideas, and diving into new worlds together. Conversation starters and thoughtful prompts will be scattered around the room, but the conversation is all yours to shape.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.
An international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.

Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
2025-12-20 17:30 - 2025-12-21 20:30 | George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Experience an Evening of Illuminations & Fireworks

Join Mount Vernon for a family-friendly celebration of the holiday season with an enchanted evening of Christmas Illuminations.
Historic spaces throughout the estate will be aglow and illuminated, creating a festive atmosphere that will delight guests of all ages!
Watch a Nighttime Fireworks Show
Enjoy spectacular holiday fireworks, choreographed to music, over the Potomac River. The fireworks program begins at approximately 8 p.m.

Meet George Washington
Enjoy a special holiday greeting from General Washington on the east lawn.
Savor the Season with S’mores & Treats
Warm up with food, including s’mores kits and holiday drinks from the Mount Vernon Inn Food Truck.
Shop an Artisan Winter Market
Visit with artisan sutlers who produce hand-crafted 18th-century wares, available for purchase at the Winter Market.

Discover 18th-Century Holiday Traditions

Learn about past holiday traditions in the Ford Orientation Center as you prepare to enter Washington’s world.
Listen to people from Washington’s world and speak about what preparing for twelfth night was like in the Interpretative Center.
Play games in a tavern-style tent on the west end of the bowling green. Dance to colonial music in the greenhouse (last dance called at 7:45 p.m.).

Meet Aladdin the Camel
Meet our holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel, continuing the tradition of George Washington bringing a camel to Mount Vernon in 1787.
Chat with Revolutionary War Soldiers
View an 18th-century winter encampment and learn about the life of Revolutionary soldiers.
Explore a Straw Bale Maze
Wind through a straw bale kids’ maze filled with Christmas lights.

Play “I Spy” & Look for General Washington
Search for General Washington, hidden among the lights and enchanted spaces of the estate, and see how many you can find!
Join Us for Children’s Storytime
Visit the Interpretive Center for story time.
Visit the Museum
Discover the history of Mount Vernon and its landscape with our exhibit, Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon.

Seating & Safety Information

Lawn Seating
Guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the east lawn, but please be courteous to those around you. Oversize chairs, large strollers, stroller wagons, tables, tents, carts, and coolers are not permitted. Seating is not provided.
Please note that all guests must go through Bag Inspections upon entrance.
Bag Inspections
Please be aware of the potential long line for entry at the beginning of the event, and help the line move faster by packing lightly.
Accessibility
Christmas Illuminations is an outdoor experience at night. Be prepared for low temperatures, varying light levels, and uneven walkways.
The event also includes moving lights, amplified music, and musket-firing demonstrations, which can be heard throughout the evening in the historic area.
Please contact events@mountvernon.org for more information.
The interior of the Mansion is closed during Christmas Illuminations for preservation work.
Pet Policy
Please note, while we enjoy our four-legged friends during the daytime, pets are not allowed on the grounds for evening events.

Literary Libations January Book Club
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Morrison House Hotel, 116 S Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join fellow book lovers for Literary Libations, a free monthly book club hosted in the Parlor Room at The Study at Morrison House. Taking place one Wednesday each month, this gathering offers a relaxed and welcoming space to dive into your next read—whether it’s a timeless classic, a trending release, or the latest must-read from BookTok.
Sip on themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by the book of the month, pair them with small plates from The Study’s bar menu, or linger after the discussion to indulge in a seasonal tasting menu.
Literary Libations isn’t a formal, structured discussion—it’s a cozy salon for mingling, exchanging ideas, and diving into new worlds together. Conversation starters and thoughtful prompts will be scattered around the room, but the conversation is all yours to shape.

BOOK OF THE MONTH: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. Her passionate story prompted Alice Walker to say, “There is no book more important to me than this one.”
When first published in 1937, this novel about a proud, independent black woman was generally dismissed by male reviewers. Out of print for almost thirty years, but since its reissue in paperback edition by the University of Illionois Press in 1978, Their Eyes Were Watching God has become the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature.
With haunting sympathy and piercing immediacy, Their Eyes Were Watching God tells the story of Janie Crawford’s evolving selfhood through three marriages. Light-skinned, long-haired, dreamy as a child, Janie grows up expecting better treatment than she gets until she meets Tea Cake, a younger man who engages her heart and spirit in equal measure and gives her the chance to enjoy life without being a man’s mule or adornment. Though Jaine’s story does not end happily, it does draw to a satisfying conclusion. Janie is one black woman who doesn’t have to live lost in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, instead Janie proclaims that she has done “two things everbody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.”

Alexandria Restaurant Week
2026-01-23 - 2026-02-01 | VA
Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week will take place January 23 – February 1, 2026. Stay tuned for news about participating restaurants.
Alexandria Restaurant Week showcases the creativity of local chefs and breadth of international cuisine in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Old Town, Old Town North, Del Ray, Carlyle and Eisenhower, Arlandria-Chirilagua and the West End. This event highlights the city’s vibrant food scene and encourages visitors and locals alike to discover new neighborhoods and tastes.

Preservation of Carlyle House: What if we could do it over?
2026-01-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, United States
Four years after the passage of The National Historic Preservation Act, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) began a daunting task: the restoration of the Carlyle House, an Aquia creek stone building in Alexandria, VA. Fauber Garbee, Inc., Architects directed the extensive restoration and research of Carlyle’s 1753 home and the long forgotten stories associated with the house.
Join members of the original restoration team Sharon Park, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP and Baird M. Smith, FAIA FAPT along with other preservation professionals to examine the specific conservation, repair and restoration steps undertaken 50 years ago. Then delve into a dialogue exploring whether the same paths would be taken today and why or why not.
The presentation begins at 4 pm followed by a panel discussion, moderated question-and-answer session, and the opportunity to network with other professionals while enjoying light refreshments.

$12 per person. Friends of Carlyle House members: $6 per person with code.
Space is limited and reservations are required.

This program is non-refundable unless cancelled by the museum. Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org

Literary Libations February Book Club
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Morrison House Hotel, 116 S Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Join fellow book lovers for Literary Libations, a free monthly book club hosted in the Parlor Room at The Study at Morrison House. Taking place one Wednesday each month, this gathering offers a relaxed and welcoming space to dive into your next read—whether it’s a timeless classic, a trending release, or the latest must-read from BookTok.
Sip on themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by the book of the month, pair them with small plates from The Study’s bar menu, or linger after the discussion to indulge in a seasonal tasting menu.
Literary Libations isn’t a formal, structured discussion—it’s a cozy salon for mingling, exchanging ideas, and diving into new worlds together. Conversation starters and thoughtful prompts will be scattered around the room, but the conversation is all yours to shape.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened.
Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.
Sweeping yet intimate, rich with piercing observation and the warmth that comes from profound understanding of the human spirit, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and for goodness.

2026 George Washington Birthday Parade
2026-02-14 14:00 - 16:00 | VA
Saturday, February 14, 2026
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
2026 Parade Theme
George Washington: Virginia’s Son ~ America’s Founding Father
In honor of George Washington’s leading role in the founding of our country
during its 250th Anniversary Year
2026 Grand Marshals
Michael J. Elston, Esq., National President General, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
Ginnie Sebastian Storage, National President General, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
For Parade Unit Registration, click here.
For upcoming events honoring Washington’s birthday in his adopted hometown, click here.
For 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities, click here.
For all donation opportunities, click here.
For Grand Marshal bios and photos, click here.
Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade features over a thousand participants from a wide variety of organizations who are known for their dedication and high spirits, rain or shine. It commemorates Washington’s legacy in his adopted hometown, creating a vibrant atmosphere that strengthens the bonds that tie the community together year after year.

ALX Dog Walk
2026-04-18 07:00 - 11:00 | Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
The ALX Dog Walk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, strives to educate people in the DC/MD/VA region about plastic free and sustainable living through an annual event featuring a 2-mile dog walk and community/sustainability festival. We call this educational approach, #funactivism!
The beloved ALX Dog Walk annual event returns on April 18, 2026 with an exciting new collaboration and an expanded mission. Next April, we’re partnering with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria to unite two powerful causes – sustainable living and animal welfare – for one joyful celebration of pets and the planet.
HERE’S THE SCOOP!
– When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7 AM – 11 AM.
– Where: Oronoco Bay Park, Alexandria, VA.
– The Walk: Join 2,000+ dog lovers and their adorable pups for a scenic 2-mile walk through historic Old Town Alexandria. The route follows down Union Street, loops along the breathtaking Waterfront Walk, and ends with a celebration at Oronoco Bay Park. Along the way, walkers enjoy fun surprises—including pop-up performances from local favorites like The Alexandria Singers!
Sustainable Goodie Bags: Walkers receive a drawstring backpack filled with eco-friendly treats, including a sustainably sourced t-shirt, a dog bandana, and other plastic-free goodies.
Adoptable Dogs & Park Activities: Enjoy a wide range of fun including adoptable dogs, a dog obstacle course, DJ music, kids’ play stations, park games, and even a puppy tattoo artist and portrait artist!
– The Dog Show: Three lucky winners take home a prize in our “Twinsie” contest—the dog that most resembles its human!
– Sustainability Festival: Explore a bustling festival with vendors showcasing and selling eco-goods and services for everyday living.
– Plastic Art Competition: Local artists display creative works made from plastic waste—highlighting both awareness and artistry. Awards are given, and additional artwork is available for purchase.
– Nonprofit Village: Meet incredible local nonprofits making a difference, just ahead of ACT for Alexandria’s annual Spring2ACTion Giving Day.
– Free Coffee for Reusables: The first 500 walkers with a mug receive a free cup of Hypergoat Coffee Roaster’s ethically sourced coffee.
– Special Discounts: We providecomplimentary registration to the first 150 active/retired military participants. Students and groups receive discounts, and kids 12 and under walk for free!

Festival of Speed & Style
2026-05-17 | VA
The Organizing Committee is already preparing for the Seventh Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026, with exciting new features planned to enhance the experience, elevate the event, and raise even more funds for Alexandria charities.
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style weekend begins with the High Octane Ball on Saturday night with an exceptional evening of sophistication and philanthropy at our Black & White–themed charity event. Guests will be treated to a premier culinary experience, including gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a thoughtfully curated dinner, expertly crafted cocktails, fine wines, and an indulgent selection of desserts—setting the stage for meaningful conversations, new connections, and unforgettable moments.
This annual weekend-long celebration is held in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, along the lower blocks of King Street between Saint Asaph and Lee Street, just steps from the waterfront. Each year, the festival welcomes more than 40,000 car enthusiasts and spectators and has become one of the East Coast’s premier automotive showcases, attracting national and international attention and positioning Old Town Alexandria as a destination for unforgettable experiences.
