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26 Alexandria restaurants compete in ‘GW Cherry Challenge’ before George Washington Birthday Parade

By James Cullum
George and Martha Washington at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

George Washington’s cherry-filled past will be celebrated this month with the second annual GW Cherry Challenge.

The challenge is sponsored by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate and requires participating venues to create the best “cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, or dessert,” according to organizers.

The contest is being held in the run-up to the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Legend says that six-year-old George Washington was caught chopping down his father’s cherry tree, and when asked about it the future president said: “I cannot tell a lie…I did cut it with my hatchet.”

“This unique event helps generate buzz for Alexandria restaurants, encourages chefs to get creative, and boosts customer traffic,” said Kristen Eastlick, George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee member and chair of the event. “The #GWCherryChallenge lets us offer a tasteful event that keeps George Washington’s memory alive in his hometown. We’re thrilled that historic Mount Vernon has graciously sponsored this whimsical event.”

While the mythical story of young Washington is captivating, Julie Almacy, vice president of communications at Mount Vernon, said that Washington actually had a connection to cherries.

“Last year, we here at Mount Vernon were astonished to find perfectly preserved cherries in bottles buried in the Mansion’s cellar since before the Revolutionary War,” Almacy said. “Sponsoring the George Washington Birthday Parade Cherry Challenge is the perfect way for Mount Vernon to support his annual hometown tribute. And we promise none of the desserts competing are made with 250-year-old cherries.”

Here’s how it works:

Diners—whether dine-in or take-out—will receive QR codes to vote electronically for their favorite cherry entries based on three criteria: taste, presentation, and creativity. Diners will rate each item from one to three cherries for a maximum score of 9 on each ballot. Point totals for each dish are divided by the number of ballots to get the average score. The highest average in each category wins.

Guests are also encouraged to share photos and descriptions of the cherry items on Instagram or X with the hashtag “#GWCherryChallenge” or by posting them to the George Washington Birthday Celebration’s Facebook page.

Participating restaurants:

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.