Alexandria will get a long holiday weekend packed with Juneteenth festivities, Father’s Day events, Pride Month celebrations and summer solstice events.
As some workers get a day off for the federal Juneteenth holiday, Alexandria will host events like the Juneteenth Festival at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church and Memorial at Douglass Cemetery.
For those not heading to D.C. for Capital Pride events, Alexandria will have its own with Pride in the West End and Old Town North Pride.
As the Croatian National Football Team continues to use Alexandria as a home base in between World Cup matches, Alexandrians can get in on the World Cup excitement with the Alexandria Soccer Association’s World Cup Watch Party, Old Town Boutiques’ Shop the Checkers Boutique Week and ongoing promotions at select restaurants.
Here’s a guide to what’s going on around the city this weekend:
Memorial at Douglass Cemetery
When: 10-11:15 a.m. Friday, June 19
This memorial event features keynote speaker Elgin Klugh, a professor and chair of the Department of Applied Social and Political Sciences at Coppin State University who has researched heritage, cultural landscapes, community revitalization and genealogy.
1421 Wilkes Street
Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert
When: 1-3 p.m. Friday, June 19
Visitors will enjoy traditional African American storytelling and song at this concert hosted at Shiloh Baptist Church. During the performance, the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will highlight each of the four Alexandria churches established during the Civil War — Shiloh Baptist Church, Beulah Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church and Third Baptist Church.
1401 Jamieson Avenue
Pride in the West End
When: 2-9 p.m. Friday, June 19
This event by Port City Brewing Co. and the West End Business Association will include a mini market with LGBTQ+ vendors from 2-6 p.m., La Tingeria food specials, DJ Thunder Bunny, beer and yard games. A drag show will follow at 6:30 p.m.
3950 Wheeler Avenue
Juneteenth Festival
When: 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 19
The free event at the Charles Houston Recreation Center will feature live music, food vendors, cultural exhibits and activities for all ages. Some of the activities include the event kickoff with Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Shiloh Baptist Church Health Fair, tours of the African American Hall of Fame, TikTok dance competition and Inova blood drive.
901 Wythe Street
Alexandria Soccer Association’s Family World Cup Watch Party at Gustave
When: 3 p.m. Friday, June 19
The Alexandria Soccer Association will host a World Cup Family Watch Party at Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie as the U.S. team plays Australia. The association asked for RSVPs by June 15. A $5 donation will get an entry to the watch party raffle for prizes like a limited-edition World Cup jersey.
2213 Mount Vernon Avenue
Specialty Tours: Tell Me Your Name
When: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, June 19
Carlyle House staff will host a tour focused on the experiences of the enslaved community at Carlyle House and its plantations. It will provide context on Alexandria’s history of slavery and insights into ongoing research. Reservations are required due to limited space.
121 N. Fairfax Street
Old Town North Pride
When: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 20
This Pride Party Old Town North will feature a Pride Dance Party with DJ Thunder Bunny at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub; ZEN Lounge with free glitter roots, temporary tattoos, and coloring from the Queer Crayon Club at Salon deZEN; raffle prizes from St. Elmo’s, Salon deZEN, Scuttlebutt Bakeshop, CatRad Creative and more; and vendors like Old Town Girlies and Vida Women’s Health. Tickets include a glass of welcome bubbly and featured drink from St. Elmo’s. A portion of proceeds will support Safe Space NOVA.
529 Montgomery Street
Manumission Tour Company’s Old Town Roots: 250 Years of Resilience Bus Tour
When: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20
Join Councilman John Taylor Chapman’s Manumission Tour Company for a 90-minute bus tour on Alexandria’s Black history. The tour meets at the Alexandria Black History Museum.
902 Wythe Street
Alexandria Pride Bar Crawl
When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, June 20
Join this bar crawl with food and drink specials at participating restaurants. Some venues may feature live music.
710 King Street
Friends of Duncan Library Pop-Up Book Sale
When: 10 a.m. to. 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20
This pop-up sale will feature children’s books and adult reads, as well as a petting zoo with a llama, donkey and mini cow. All proceeds support Duncan Library programming.
2501 Commonwealth Avenue
Voices of Motown Father’s Day Celebration at The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21
Tarsha Fitzgerald presents the Voices of Motown for this special Father’s Day performance featuring songs from The Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Commodores, The Dells, The Marvelettes and more. The ensemble includes a horn section has experience performing with Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Barry White, The Dells and The Temptations.
3701 Mt Vernon Avenue
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden’s Summer Solstice – Yoga in Historic Garden
When: 8-9 a.m. Sunday, June 21
Celebrate the longest day of the year, with an outdoor yoga practice in the Lee-Fendall House’s garden. A Radiance Yoga instructor will lead the session, and the first 20 people signed up will get a complimentary guided tour of Lee-Fendall House following the class. Participants should bring their own mat and water bottle.
614 Oronoco Street
Shop the Checkers Boutique Week
When: Through Sunday, June 28
During this ongoing shopping event by Old Town Boutiques, participating retailers will display special Croatian red-and-white checkerboard crest flags at their storefronts and offer promotions and experiences drawn from Croatian culture. Specials include window displays and Croatia-inspired décor to sip and shop promotions, match-day discounts, soccer-themed activities and Adriatic-inspired food experiences. Shoppers can receive a special “Goal Getter” tote bag with a purchase while supplies last.
Throughout Old Town
