After an online celebration last year, Alexandria’s First Night celebration is back, fireworks and all on New Year’s Eve.
“I’m thrilled First Night is back,” said Laverne Chapman, chair of the board of First Night. “It took us two years to come back, and we’re ready to come back.”
On Tuesday, City Council made its proclamation recognizing the upcoming event and thanking its organizers.
“This is the city’s great party and you don’t want to miss it,” said Councilwoman Del Pepper.
Today, Dec 15, the Virginia Department of Health reported 75 new cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria. That’s the most single-day infections reported since January.
“We’ve taken all the COVID precautions,” Chapman said. “Masks will be worn at all the events. We’ll be doing cleaning between the events.”
The First Night schedule starts with activities for seniors and kids from noon to 5 p.m., followed by an evening schedule of events that lasts until the fireworks finale over the Potomac River.
Tickets for each event range from $5 for kids to $20 for adults and seniors.
Below are First Night Alexandria’s daytime and evening schedules:
Daytime schedule
- 12-2 p.m. — Kids celebrate NYE at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive
- 12-2 p.m. — Seniors celebrate NYE at the Oswald Durant Center, 1605 Cameron Street
- 3-5 p.m. — Kids celebrate at the George Washington Masonic Memorial
- 3-5 p.m. — Seniors celebrate at the Oswald Durant Center
Evening schedule
- 6-6:30 p.m. — Welcome and kickoff at Market Square, 301 King Street
- 7-8:30 p.m. — Battle of the buskers, various locations in Old Town
- 7-8:30 p.m. — Early shows at select venues
- 8-10 p.m. — Teen showcase at the Oswald Durant Center
- 9:30-11 p.m. — Late shows at select venues
- 10-midnight — Countdown to 2022 street party at Market Square
- Midnight — Fireworks finale over the Potomac River
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If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
