Throughout the year, there are so many fantastic seasonal events in Alexandria VA. While there are always some new and exciting events, that are several staples of the Alexandria community that occur faithfully year after year. For a sampling of our favorite seasonal events in Alexandria VA, read on! If you’d like to check out events that occur year-round, check out our list of our favorite things to do in Alexandria VA here.

Events in Alexandria VA

February is all about our most famous historical resident, George Washington. We honor his birthday with the a parade, as well as the Cherry Challenge, where local restaurants come up with their best “cherry” dishes. Restaurants also participate this month in the winter Alexandria Restaurant Week with affordable prix fixe pricing.

In March, we have yet another parade – this one celebrating St. Paddy’s Day! With our variety of Irish pubs lining King Street, it’s quite a festive day for sure.

April brings the George Washington Parkway Classic, a favorite local 10 mile race ending in Old Town. Del Ray’s First Thursdays, a series of themed outdoor street festivals along Mount Vernon Avenue begin! On the first Thursday of every month from April through September, you can enjoy food, live music, special events, a great community atmosphere and of course, plenty of people watching!

May ushers in the Mount Vernon Wine Festival at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, another nod to Alexandria’s native son. At the end of the month, Alexandria pools open Memorial Day weekend.

The summer months in Alexandria are exciting indeed. Along with First Thursdays, most months offer outdoor movies at a variety of Alexandria parks in Old Town, Rosemont and Del Ray. Last year, we sponsored Finding Nemo on the Old Town waterfront. It was a fabulous time! Alexandria also celebrates its birthday in July with a fabulous fireworks display. Residents line the waterfront while boats line the river. It’s quite a sight! We round out the summer events in August with another Alexandria Restaurant Week at the local restaurants.

The Fall in Alexandria is busy as well with the King Street Arts Festival every September. The next month in October, Del Ray hosts Art on the Avenue for another artistic street fair with live music. Halloween is enthusiastically celebrated in Alexandria, with ghost tours galore, a fabulous Halloween Parade in Del Ray and frenzied trick or treating on Lee Street in Old Town. Mount Vernon Plantation also hosts another wine festival in October as well.

In November, there is a Turkey Trot in Del Ray as well as the Alexandria Film Festival with lots of new and exciting movies playing at various spaces throughout the city. Don’t forget about the tree lighting at City Hall the day after Thanksgiving!

Of course, our city’s signature events are found in December. Christmas lights are strung on all of the trees lining King Street, giving a cozy and warm feeling to the city’s main drag. We usher in the holiday season in Alexandria with the Scottish Christmas Walk the first weekend of the month. As part of that event, there is a Scottish Christmas Parade, a Taste of Scotland Scotch Tasting Event, a children’s event with Santa, a Heather & Greens sale with wreaths, garland and other Christmas decor, as well as a fantastic tour of historic homes. Held on the same weekend every year is the Old Town boat parade of lights. Local boats sail down the river decked out with their bright Christmas decor! The month and the year are rounded out with a big First Night Alexandria celebration with live music, events for children and a fantastic fireworks display at midnight.

What can we say? We love it here and know you will too! With so many events in Alexandria VA, there is truly something for everyone. Be sure to also check out our post on the best things to do in Alexandria VA that occur year-round. It’s quite a list!

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