Summer may be winding down, but Alexandria is heating up with an eclectic mix of events this week that showcase the city’s vibrant arts scene, family-friendly attractions, and thriving nightlife. From outdoor book clubs soaking up the last rays of summer sunshine to indoor poetry readings perfect for cozy September evenings, there’s something for every interest and age group across the city’s neighborhoods.
Music lovers will find plenty to celebrate, with live performances ranging from bluegrass jams at Port City Brewing Company to jazz trios at local restaurants. Meanwhile, families can enjoy everything from library storytimes and robotics workshops to farmers markets and outdoor yoga sessions. The week also brings several unique experiences, including antique appraisals in Del Ray, a hot wings showdown, and the second annual Chalk-A-Block festival that will transform Old Town North into an outdoor art canvas. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, support local artists, or simply unwind with friends, Alexandria’s packed calendar ensures you won’t be short on options.
Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Things To Do
- 10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers – An outside book club at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Fables and Fun at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Playtime at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 4 p.m.: Bilingual Storytime at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 4:30 p.m.: Tuesday We Play (ages 5-12) at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 5:45 p.m.: Common Ground – Documentary Screening and Discussion at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m.: Teen Volunteer Orientation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: BeerYoga at Port City Brewing Company
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen Trio at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Chad Price Peace Coalition w/friends at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
- Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Joe Chiocca & John DC at 6 p.m.
- Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Trivia at 8 p.m., Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Garden: Trivia at 7 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- 1:30 p.m.: Commission on Aging – Executive Committee Meeting
- 6 p.m.: Planning & Zoning Virtual Community Update
- 6:30 p.m.: ACPS Operational Excellence Committee
- 7 p.m.: Arts Commission Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Things To Do
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher’s Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 1 p.m.: SWaM Certification Workshop at Beatley Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Paws to Read at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: September Sewing – Zenkis at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
- 7 p.m.: Love Stays Strong book signing at Old Town Books
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Steve Ragsdale at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Port City Brewing Company: Bluegrass Jam Night at 7 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- 5:30 p.m.: Rescheduled: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group
- 6:30 p.m.: Special ATC Board Meeting
- 7 p.m.: Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing
- 7 p.m.: ACPS Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 4
Things To Do
- 12 p.m.: Line Dancing at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 1:30 p.m.: Thursday Afternoon Book Discussion – “The House of Broken Angels” by Luis Alberto Urrea at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 2 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at Montgomery Park
- 2 p.m.: Film Series – “Thelma” at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 3 p.m.: Carefull Knitting – Knitting and Crochet for Good at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 4 p.m.: TCG Library League at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 4 p.m.: Preschool Storytime at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central League
- 5 p.m.: Intro to Robotics for Kids at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: Sit & Stitch at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 6 p.m.: First Thursday: Antique Appraisals on the Avenue in Del Ray
- 6 p.m.: Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds at Nannie J. Lee Rec Center
- 6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons: Teen Group at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 6 p.m.: Coding Game Night at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Nerdy Knotters at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m.: CatRad Charm Bar at Stardust Vintage
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends at 9 p.m.
- Alexandria Bier Garden: Open Mic Comedy at 7 p.m., Trivia at 7:30 p.m.
- Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Rap Is Poetry Open Mic Night at 8 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick Trio at 6 p.m.
- Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Gigi MacLaughlin at 6 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Murphy’s Pub: Pat Garvey & Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Fantasma Some Nobodies and Muta at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- 9 a.m.: Recovery Month Celebration
- 4:30 p.m.: Commission on Aging Economic Committee
- 6 p.m.: ACPS School Board Meeting
- 7 p.m.: Housing Affordability Advisory Committee
- 7 p.m.: Planning Commission Public Hearing
Friday, Sept. 5
Things To Do
- 10:30 a.m.: HomeFit Workshop at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Coffee Porter returns to Port City Brewing Company
- 3:30 p.m.: Lego Competition at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 6 p.m.: Sip & Sway Music Series Under the Stars at Hummingbird
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night O’Connell’s Run at Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant
- 7 p.m.: Del Ray Poetry Reading at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub
- 7 p.m.: Cocktail Theory Course at Trademark
- 7 p.m.: Second Time Around Art Exhibit Opening Reception at Del Ray Artisans
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Sol Roots at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Tory Grace at 5 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: DeadEye Stare at 9 p.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Druid Stone, Making Friends As Adults, Stubborn Stubborn, and more at 7 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Live music at 6 p.m.
- Hummingbird: Eric Scott at 6 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Quartet at 7:30 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: The Moondaddies at 6:30 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Garvey and Powers & McLaughlin at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Crowbait Blues at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm at 7:30 p.m.
- The Light Horse: Practically Einstein at 9 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- No events or meetings are scheduled.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Things To Do
- 7 a.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Market Square Plaza
- 8 a.m.: Del Ray Farmers’ Market at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
- 10 a.m.: Fitness At The Brewery at Aslin ALX
- 10 a.m.: Del Ray Historical Preservation Workshop at Duncan Library
- 10 a.m.: Borrow a Board Game at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Pedals & Pints at Handy Bikes
- 10:30 a.m.: The Sky Tonight – Live Planetarium Show at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum – Northrop Grumman Planetarium
- 10:30 a.m.: Teen Advisory Group – Monthly Meeting at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Public Safety Reads Storytime at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Alexandria Black Family Reunion at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Meet the Artist at Multiple Exposures Gallery
- 12 p.m.: Carlyle House Family Fun Day – Read-a-Book Revel at Carlyle House Historic Park
- 12 p.m.: Fall Makers Market with Made in ALX at Port City Brewing Company
- 12 p.m.: 2025 Writers-In-Residence Reading at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
- 3 p.m.: Spanish Conversation Club at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 5 p.m.: Scoville Showdown: A Hot Wings Showdown at Port City Brewing Company
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Alexandria Bier Garden: The Carter Farm Band at 9:30 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: Bravenoise at 9 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Sharon Clark Trio at 7 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Negussie & Nani at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Garvey at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Austin Miller and The Old Towne Killers at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band at 7:30 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- 10 a.m.: Specialty Tour: Fort Ward & Lewis Cass White
- 11 a.m.: Annual Dog Swim
Sunday, Sept. 7
Things To Do
- 8:30 a.m.: West End Farmers Market at 4800 Brenman Park
- 9 a.m.: Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market at Four Mile Run Park
- 10 a.m.: Farewell to Lafayette: A Bicentennial Tribute at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
- 10:30 a.m.: Takoma Park Folk Festival in Maryland at Takoma Park Middle School
- 11 a.m.: 2nd Annual Chalk-A-Block at Salon deZEN and other sites throughout Old Town North
- 1 p.m.: Writers Group at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 2:30 p.m.: Preschool STEAM Sundays at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 3 p.m.: Summer Sundays Chamber Music at the Lyceum by WMPA
- 3:30 p.m.: Kol Ami Hebrew School Open House at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
- 5 p.m.: Rocky Your Asana: Yoga + Beer at Port City Brewing Company
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Kev Powe Thang at 9 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 10:30 a.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Open Mic at 7:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 11:30 a.m., Walt Johnson Trio at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Al Stewart with Livingston Taylor at 7:30 p.m.
- Vermilion Restaurant & Bar: Will Baskin Live and Unplugged at 7 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
