The Office of Historic Alexandria celebrated the kickoff of America250 last night (Monday), previewing several city events that will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year.
City officials joined leaders of OHA, Visit Alexandria and the local business community at The Lyceum to launch the yearlong commemoration, which will include at least two new museum exhibits, a Revolutionary War history forum and this weekend’s George Washington Birthday Parade, among other events.
“This is a chance to tell our story, a story that has been centuries in the making, but it’s also an opportunity to begin to connect and lift up some of the stories of the present and the future,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins said.
Highlights include the signature Sails on the Potomac event at the Alexandria waterfront from June 12-14. Four tall ships are expected to serve as the backdrop to the 48th annual Alexandria Jazz Fest.
“Alexandria will experience three days of music alongside history and tall ships with a distinct theme each day,” said OHA Deputy Director Liz Williams. “Friday is ‘Americana Roots,’ Saturday will be ‘American Jazz and Poetry,’ and Sunday, ‘Future Sounds of America.'”
Gaskins said it will be the only tall ship event in the D.C. area this summer. It’s also exciting, she said, because “one of the things that we’re doing in order to be very intentional about our history, is we’re going to be making sure that we tell the full story.”
“We recognize that when everyone sees these ships, it doesn’t invoke the same emotions in each person, from the goods that were on those ships, as well as the people who were carried on those ships,” Gaskins said. “We’re going to be inviting you to Freedom House, to Douglass Cemetery, to other places of African American significance across our city, because we know that Alexandria is a place where every story matters.”
The commemoration will also bring new exhibits to Gadsby’s Tavern Museum in March and the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum in June, which are detailed below.
Tourism from America250 is expected to bring thousands of visitors to Alexandria and the region, Visit Alexandria President and CEO Todd O’Leary said, noting both the historical and economic significance for the city.
“The spending generated by these visitors helps support small businesses. It’ll create jobs and generate tax revenues that support key city services,” O’Leary said. “Visitors can walk our streets and unlock their own Alexandria story while they experience a city that honors its past while embracing its present and its future.”
Visit Alexandria has been preparing for America250 for “well over a year,” pitching travel writers, launching a website and readying a “major new destination marketing campaign.” More details will available next week, O’Leary said.
As spring approaches, residents can also expect to see more red, white and blue native plants around the city through a promotion with the Alexandria Beautification Commission, as well as new America250-themed street pole banners on King Street.
The kickoff featured events planned through July, which are listed below with descriptions according to OHA.
Historic Happy Hours
Feb. 12 – June 11
Historic talks at local restaurants, starting at Chadwick’s with a discussion about an upcoming exhibit on women-owned businesses told through Hannah Griffith’s story. Ten percent of proceeds will benefit America250 efforts.
- Feb 12: Chadwick’s, from 5-7:30 p.m.
- March 12: Il Porto
- April 9: Vola’s Dockside Grill
- May 14: O’Connell’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
- June 11: The Wharf
George Washington Birthday Celebration
Jan. 25 – Feb. 18
Month-long celebration, including a Hunt for Washington, cherry-inspired menu items at Alexandria restaurants, and special programming across the city.
George Washington Birthday Parade
Saturday, Feb. 14 from 2-4 p.m. in Old Town
Theme: Virginia’s Son, America’s Founding Father. One of the nation’s oldest and largest tributes to Washington, involving more than 1,000 participants celebrating his legacy in his adopted hometown.
Specialty Tour: Hamilton’s BFF & Frenemies
Feb. 7–28 from 11 a.m. to noon at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Inspired by Hamilton, this tour explores the intersecting lives of Washington, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr and how their decisions shaped Alexandria and the nation.
Alexandria Forum Symposium: “Nothing But Independence”
March 21 at 8:30 a.m. at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Partnering with Emerging Revolutionary War, a scholarly forum examining Alexandria and Northern Virginia’s vital role in the Revolutionary era and the enduring power of its ideas.
Exhibit: Women in Business: We Were Always Here
March at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Through Hannah Griffith’s story, this new exhibit at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum explore ways the American Revolution changed individual’s lives and the legacy of women-owned businesses in Alexandria.
Sails on the Potomac
June 12–14 at the Alexandria Waterfront
The Signature Alexandria250 Event – The only tall ship event in the DC Metro region during America250. As part of the Sail Virginia 2026 Affiliate Harbor program, the City of Alexandria will host Sails on the Potomac, which is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors. Event highlights include:
- Four Tall Ships: Kalmar Nyckel (DE), Gazela (PA), Sultana (MD), Tall Ship Providence (VA)
- Alexandria Jazz Festival
- 250th History Village & Outpost
- Community-Wide Participation from local historic sites, residents, and businesses
- Fireworks Display
Alexandria Juneteenth Festival
June 19
A vibrant, family-friendly event filled with live music, local vendors, food, games, art, and cultural performances, the festival honors the richness of African American heritage and community service.
Exhibit: Stories of U.S. – Collections Capture Our History
June at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
A flagship America250 exhibition at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum draws from all eight Historic Alexandria museums. Explore how collections, preservation, and storytelling reflect who we are past, present, and future.
Independence Day and City Birthday
July 4-13
America’s 250th birthday coincides with Alexandria’s 276th.
1776 Sing-Along & Panel Discussion
July 25 at 7 p.m. at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
In partnership with Emerging Revolutionary War. A participatory sing-along and discussion of the groundbreaking musical 1776 (1972), examining Revolutionary politics and its influence on modern storytelling, including Hamilton.
