Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Sunday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2025. There are 150 days left in the year.
On this day in, 1950, Alexandria residents began complaining about a bad taste in the local drinking water. According to Historic Alexandria, “Alexandria Water Company soon officials determined the cause to be chemicals that had been dumped into a storm sewer by men at Cameron Station, the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster Depot. The affected water had to be drained from the water company’s reservoir and the City’s water supply was impacted for a week”.
⛈️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northeast around six mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
🚨 You need to know
Hundreds of families gathered Saturday on the 100 block of South Alfred Street for the annual Friendship Firehouse Festival, celebrating 251 years of the Friendship Fire Company’s service to Alexandria.
The free event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., drew visitors to explore the historic Friendship Firehouse Museum, built in 1855. For the first time since its return in September 2024, festival-goers could view the newly conserved 1851 Rodgers Suction Engine, a centerpiece artifact that underwent extensive restoration to reveal its original craftsmanship and detail beneath layers of old paint. The museum also displayed its striking 1858 Prettyman hose-reel carriage, showcasing vivid red and blue colors accented with gold leaf.
Children lined up for hands-on water activities designed to simulate firefighting, while parents browsed vendor booths featuring local crafts, books, and woodwork. Live music by the duo Lindsay and Dobbs provided a soundtrack of guitar and fiddle throughout the day. Food trucks, including Roaming Coyote, Mr. Softee, Taste & See Coffee, and Lost Boy Cider, kept visitors fed and refreshed in the summer heat.
The festival, presented by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and the Office of Historic Alexandria, honored the Friendship Fire Company, founded in 1774 as Alexandria’s first volunteer fire company. Representatives from the Alexandria Fire Department, Police Department, and Sheriff’s Office set up community booths with safety displays and interactive exhibits. The celebration culminated at noon with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, marking another year of the company’s continuous service to the city.
The event raised funds through a 50/50 raffle while providing free toy fire helmets to young visitors, continuing the festival’s tradition of combining historical education with family-friendly entertainment.
📈 Saturday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for August 2, 2025.
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- Alexandria police officer charged with reckless driving after pursuit collision
- The Real Housewives of Potomac wraps production for Season 10 in Alexandria
- Notes: Alexandria offers summer weekend mix of markets, music, and family fun
- Alexandria extends Duke Street planning poll to Aug. 18
- Veteran federal judge T.S. Ellis III, who presided over trial of Trump aide Paul Manafort, has died
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
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
- 1 p.m.: Kids Arts & Crafts at Hops N Shine
- 3 p.m.: Summer Sundays Chamber Music at the Lyceum by WMPA
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Live music at 9 p.m.
- Aslin ALX: Super Smash Bros. Tournament at 12 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 10:30 a.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Brian Gaffney at 5 p.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Open Mic at 7:30 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Marvel Trivia Night at 5 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 11:30 a.m., Walt Johnson Trio at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: O’McPub Band at 4 p.m., Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Vincent Ingala & Lindsey Webster at 7:30 p.m.
City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools
- 2 p.m.: Family Day with Young Historians
