Alexandria’s 29th annual First Night celebration is just around the corner. Here’s what you need to know before the family-friendly event.
First Night runs from 2 p.m. until the fireworks show at midnight at the waterfront on Sunday, Dec. 31.
Tickets cost $10 for daytime activities around town and scale up to $35 per ticket for adults and $50 for a “VIP Fast Pass” ticket to various venues. Kids ages two and below can attend for free.
The alcohol-free event includes performances from Grammy-nominated Culture Queen, a juggling act with local trickster Parris Dineen, and fireworks at 6 p.m. over the Potomac River if you want to take the family home early.
Ticketholders can pick up their wristbands at the venue of their preferred performance.
“At that location you can check in up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the first performance at that venue and receive your wristband for the Pass level that you have purchased,” according to First Night Alexandria.
On parking and transportation, event organizers are encouraging ticket holders to park near the venues of their choice.
“All of the venues are within a 1 mile walking distance from the GW Masonic Temple to the Potomac River,” First Night Alexandria says on its website. “There are lots of parking garages in the area that you can consider as well as street parking, bikes, scooters and the trolley system, which is available until 11 p.m.”
The free King Street Trolley runs every 15 minutes up and down King Street from the King Street Metro station to City Hall/Market Square (301 King Street).
In the event of a washout, the rain date for the fireworks is 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.
The First Night Alexandria schedule of events is below:
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CLEAN COMEDY CONNECTION
|
Comedy
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GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
7:30, 8:30 p.m. |
|
COMMON GROUND BAND
|
Smooth Jazz
|
The Lyceum
|
201 S. Washington St.
|
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 p.m. |
|
CULTURE QUEEN*
|
Kids
|
The Lyceum
|
201 S. Washington St.
|
3:00, 4:30, 5:00 p.m. |
|
GRANDSONS JR.*
|
Rocking Family Dance
|
GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
2:30, 3:15, 4:00 p.m. |
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GROOVY NATE*
|
Kids
|
GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
2:15, 3:15, 4:15, 5:00 p.m. |
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INSPIRA DANCE
|
Country Line Dance
|
Durant Arts Center
|
1605 Cameron St.
|
2:00 p.m. |
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IRISH BREAKFAST BAND*
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Irish,Ceili Dance
|
Durant Arts Center
|
1605 Cameron St.
|
*4:15, 7:00 p.m. |
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JANNIE WILSON with BILLY COULTER & SCOTT McKNIGHT
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Acoustic Roots Rock,Americana,Pop
|
American Legion Post 2
|
400 Cameron St
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7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 p.m. |
|
LINE DANCING DIVAS*
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Urban Line Dance
|
Durant Arts Center
|
1605 Cameron St.
|
3:00 p.m. |
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MIKE ROSE MAGIC*
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Magic,Comedy
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The Little Theater of Alexandria
|
600 Wolfe St.
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*3:30, *4:15, *5:00, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15 p.m. |
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MUSIKANTEN
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Russell Woollen’s Alexandria Suite
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
|
228 S. Pitt St.
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*5:00, 6:30, 8:00 p.m. |
|
PARRIS DINEEN JUGGLING*
|
Juggling
|
GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
2:15, 3:45, 5:00 p.m. |
|
SILENT DISCO*
|
Dance
|
GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
*2:00-5:00; 7:00-11:00 p.m. |
|
THE BOB BAND
|
Bob Dylan Tribute
|
Long & Foster
|
110 N. Royal St.
|
7:15, 8:15, 9:15, 10:15 p.m. |
|
THE STAIRWELLS
|
A Capella
|
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
|
323 S. Lee St.
|
7:00, 8:00 p.m. |
|
THE THRILLS
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50s,60s,70s,R&R,R&B
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Washington St. United Methodist Church
|
109 S. Washington St.
|
6:15, 7:15, 8:15 p.m. |
|
TOBIN JAMES BAND
|
Funk,Alternative Rock
|
GW Masonic Memorial
|
101 Callahan Dr.
|
8:00, 9:00, 10:00 p.m. |
|
VAUGHN AMBROSE TRIO
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Modern Jazz
|
Principle Gallery
|
208 King St.
|
6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 p.m. |
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PRE-FIREWORKS BLOCK PARTY
|
Family
|
Market Square
|
301 King St.
|
4:00-6:00 p.m. |
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TWILIGHT FIREWORKS
|
Family
|
Over the Potomac River
|
|
6:00 p.m. |
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FINALE COUNTDOWN TO 2024
|
Family
|
Waterfront
|
|
11:50 p.m. |
| Midnight Fireworks |
*Matinee performance
