The wheels on a Del Ray preschooler’s birthday party bus went round and round Alexandria last week.
Four-year-old Rowan Gilbart celebrated his best birthday yet with a DASH charter bus ride and tour of the system’s facilities on Friday. The Del Ray kid “loves riding the bus,” mother Erica Toler told ALXnow, and the duo regularly take Line 33 to get to preschool and other places around town.
“So when I told him, ‘Hey, we’re actually going to do a DASH birthday party for you,’ he was thrilled,” Toler said. “He was so excited. Just the idea of having all of his friends on the DASH bus together made him so happy.”
Toler, a self-employed political consultant, booked an electric charter bus that picked them up near their Del Ray home and transported them and about 60 friends and family members to the “DASH hospital” for a tour.
DASH offers “limited charter service based on availability,” hosting events like weddings, sightseeing and other “group outings,” according to the bus system’s website.
As it roved throughout the city, the bus displayed a special “Happy Birthday: Rowan DASHes into 4!” message to passersby.
Once they arrived, Rowan and his friends got to see the inner workings of the transit facility, including the charging station and bus wash at 3000 Business Center Drive.
“They actually gave little special kids’ safety vests, and the kids all got to keep their vests,” Toler said, adding that Rowan “wore his vest to dinner [Friday] night.”
Party planning started in November when Toler tagged DASH in a social media post, inquiring about the possibility of a kid’s party. She first heard about the system’s tours and events through a ridership party in September.
@dashbusva.bsky.social if I wanted to bring some toddlers and parents over to go through the bus wash for a kids party, is that possible? Dash bus facility birthday! Make this kid's dream come true!
— Erica Toler (@egilbart.bsky.social) 2025-11-09T15:45:33.362Z
The party was confirmed on Dec. 12. It was a meaningful experience for Toler, who said she appreciates the bus system’s friendly service and convenience.
“If [Rowan is] tired, and even if we’re only at the playground six blocks away, it’s easy to hop on the bus and come home,” Toler said. “That convenience factor of the free ridership is really wonderful.”
Rowan’s favorite part of the party was riding the bus with his friends.
“He’s still talking about it,” Toler said. “I mean, he’s obsessed. It was great. Everyone had a great time, and the DASH team was so easy and wonderful to work with … they really went above and beyond in making sure everyone was taken care of.”
