Around Town | ALXnow

Things to do this Labor Day weekend in Alexandria: Aug. 28-Sept. 1

Published August 28, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated August 28, 2025 at 12:51PM

Shopping in Old Town Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria residents and visitors have plenty to choose from this weekend as the city’s popular Summer Restaurant Week extends through Labor Day weekend, offering diners special menus and pricing at participating establishments. The long weekend features a mix of outdoor markets, cultural events and live entertainment across the city’s neighborhoods.

Saturday highlights include the weekly Old Town and Del Ray farmers markets, while Sunday adds the West End and Four Mile Run markets to give shoppers multiple opportunities to browse local produce and crafts. Music lovers can catch performances ranging from jazz at The Birchmere to traditional Irish sessions at Daniel O’Connell’s, while families can explore history at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s Family Day with Young Historians on Sunday.

Where to watch NFL and college football in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 28, 2025 at 8:19AM

Murphy's Grand Irish Pub at 713 King Street [Photo via Murphy's/Facebook)

Numerous venues in Alexandria are ready for football fans as the 2025 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 4.

Need a go-to spot this season? These local sports bars and restaurants offer happy hour deals and screens aplenty for watching with friends, in addition to hosting local fanbases and alumni groups.

Cancer survivor, Komen leader to share children’s book at Alexandria event

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 6:00AM

Author and Komen leader Paul Schneider to share "Love Stays Strong" during in-person event in Alexandria (Contributed image)

Paula Schneider, a breast cancer survivor and leader with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, will discuss her new children’s book “Love Stays Strong” during a Sept. 3 event at Old Town Books.

The 7 p.m. presentation will feature Schneider alongside Karin Purugganan, a licensed professional counselor in Alexandria. The event will take place at Old Town Books, 130 S Royal St.

Alexandria Children’s Chorus seeks new singers for milestone 10th season

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 25, 2025 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Children's Chorus at Once Voice Alexandria (Credit: Alexandria Children's Chorus)

The Alexandria Children’s Chorus is accepting new members for its 10th season, with rehearsals beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26, and no audition required for participants.

The community chorus welcomes children in kindergarten through sixth grade to join its non-competitive singing program, which aims to develop musicianship skills while enriching the local community. Students do not need to live in Alexandria to participate.

Bestselling children’s authors to appear at Alexandria bookstore event

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 21, 2025 at 5:00AM | Updated August 21, 2025 at 6:04AM

Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds (Credit: Old Town Books)

Two award-winning children’s authors will appear together at an Alexandria event next month to celebrate reading and the launch of a new middle-grade mystery.

Old Town Books Junior will host bestselling authors James Ponti and Jason Reynolds on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center on Jefferson Street.

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House to host Lafayette bicentennial tribute Sept. 7

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 16, 2025 at 12:00PM

New Program at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Commemorates the close of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 – 1825 Farewell Tour of the United States. (Credit: Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House)

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House will commemorate the close of Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824-1825 farewell tour of America with a daylong event Sept. 7.

“Farewell to Lafayette: A Bicentennial Tribute,” organized in collaboration with the American Friends of Lafayette, will take place during the final weekend of bicentennial celebrations honoring Lafayette’s historic visit to the United States.

Bands and Brews, Port City beer festival highlight Alexandria’s action-packed weekend

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 15, 2025 at 12:00PM

The 5th Annual Bands & Brews is set for Saturday, Aug. 16 (Credit: Del Ray Business Association)

Alexandria’s weekend calendar is packed with activities for residents and visitors, featuring a diverse mix of outdoor markets, craft workshops, live entertainment, and family-friendly events across the city—with improving weather conditions as the weekend progresses.

While Friday afternoon brings a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms and sweltering heat index values reaching 101°F, conditions look much more pleasant for weekend activities. Saturday starts mostly cloudy but clears to sunny skies with a comfortable high of 87°, perfect for the Old Town Farmers’ Market at 7 a.m. and Del Ray Farmers’ Market at 8 a.m. Sunday promises beautiful weather with sunny skies and highs near 93°.

Poll: Which is the best playground in Alexandria?

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 13, 2025 at 12:00PM

Chinquapin Park (via City of Alexandria)

With summer winding down and students preparing to head back to school, many Alexandria families are making the most of these final weeks with visits to the city’s playgrounds. Now’s your chance to weigh in on which city playground deserves the top spot in our latest ALXnow Readers’ Choice poll.

Alexandria boasts more than 40 city playgrounds scattered across its neighborhoods, from tot lots perfect for toddlers to adventure-filled play areas that challenge older kids. Whether you’re drawn to the sprawling equipment at Ben Brenman Park, the scenic waterfront views at Jones Point Park, or the convenient neighborhood charm of smaller spaces like Mason Avenue Mini Park, each playground offers something unique for Alexandria families.

Del Ray’s fifth annual Bands & Brews bar crawl set for Saturday

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 11, 2025 at 10:00AM

The 5th Annual Bands & Brews is set for Saturday, Aug. 16 (Credit: Del Ray Business Association)

The Del Ray Business Association will host its fifth annual Bands & Brews summer bar crawl on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 12:30 to 6 p.m., featuring live music at more than 20 restaurants along Mount Vernon Avenue.

The event, sponsored by the Jen Walker Team, will benefit InspireLit, a local nonprofit that works to inspire a love of reading and promote literacy by increasing access to engaging books.

Around the World Cultural Food Festival returns to Alexandria Aug. 23

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 11, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated August 11, 2025 at 9:42AM

Savor the Flavors of the World at the 9th Edition of the Around The World Cultural Food Festival at Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town on August 23, 2025 (Contributed photo)

The ninth annual Around the World Cultural Food Festival will return to Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering free admission to what organizers call the largest outdoor cultural food festival in the Washington metro area.

This year’s event will feature authentic cuisine from 24 countries, with one food vendor per country providing what organizers describe as a curated tasting experience. More than 150 traditional dishes will be available from countries including Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, among others.

Alexandria Choral Society names Victoria Benson new Executive Director

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 9, 2025 at 10:00AM

Victoria Benson has been named the new executive director of the Alexandria Choral Society (Credit: Alexandria Choral Society)

The Alexandria Choral Society has named Victoria Benson as its new executive director, effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season.

Benson succeeds Megan Yingst and brings experience in both arts management and commercial real estate operations to the 55-year-old organization. She previously served as board chair, producer and director at Fresh Squeezed Opera Company in New York City, where she produced dozens of musical events and increased donor engagement and revenue.