Around Town

PHOTOS: Alexandria’s 277th birthday fireworks proceed on the waterfront despite rain

By James Cullum
The grand finale fireworks display at Alexandria’s 277th birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 11, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s 277th birthday ended with a bang and a fizzle on Saturday (July 11), as the evening of entertainment at Oronoco Bay Park was capped with a dazzling fireworks show and a brief rainstorm.

Raindrops started to fall just before 9:30 p.m. as the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra started to play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, sending hundreds of people under cover of tents and umbrellas at the very start of the fireworks. The evening was otherwise overcast and cool, and city leaders, the town crier and poet laureate rang in the annual celebration onstage and handed out birthday cupcakes from Wegmans.

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News

JUST IN: Dog may have accidentally started fire at West End home, owner says

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum
Fire in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street, July 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A kitchen fire may have been accidentally set off by a dog this morning (Monday) at a West End home, according to the owner.

The Alexandria Fire Department responded around 9:31 a.m. after a resident reported the smell of smoke from a neighbor’s home in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street. Units encountered a fire on the stovetop and confirmed it was out as of 9:50 a.m., according to scanner traffic.

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News

Alexandria average home price tops $850K as sales rise during 2026’s first half

By Scott McCaffrey
Real estate home interior (via Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

Despite a relatively weak June report, Alexandria saw a 6.2% year-over-year increase in home sales during the first six months of the year.

A total of 1,063 residential properties changed hands from January to June, up from 1,001 in 2025, according to figures reported July 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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News

Morning Notes for July 13, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Ceremonial cannons from the Presidential Salute Battery at Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Wrap on Alexandria Birthday Celebration — “We celebrated Alexandria’s 277th birthday and commemorated the nation’s 250th anniversary at Oronoco Bay Park! Despite a little rain, the party went on! There were cupcakes, fireworks and cannons!” [Mayor Alyia Gaskins/Facebook]

Cat Rescued on Woodrow Wilson Bridge — “Maryland National Capital Park Police officers responded to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail on Sunday after a concerned citizen reported witnessing the incident. Police said they located and rescued the frightened cat, which was not injured and is now receiving care.” [WTOP]

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Event

Mayor’s Cup Rugby Send-off Party

Fraternal Order of the Eagles

1015 Cameron St.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Website Contact

Join Mayor Gaskins and the community for a celebration send-off as Alexandria’s Mayor’s Cup Rugby team prepares to compete against Dundee, Scotland!

This free, family-friendly event is a chance to meet the players, learn about the sport, and show your support before the team takes the pitch overseas.

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News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 10, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria birthday fireworks show leads July 10-12 weekend events (557 views)
  2. Poll: The best food truck in Alexandria (456 views)
  3. School Board elects two Alexandria City High School alumni as chair and vice chair (375 views)
  4. Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA (366 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Police: Alexandria child with gun in backpack was left by mom at Reagan National Airport (24360 views)
  2. More details released on $35K jewelry smash-and-grab in Old Town (7205 views)
  3. Alexandria to celebrate its 277th birthday and America’s 250th with fireworks (6164 views)
  4. Alexandria to rededicate street to honor church founder instead of Confederate leader (3318 views)
  5. Alexandria entrepreneur launches app to help men beat the ‘friendship recession’ (3230 views)
  6. UPDATE: Fireworks suspected in fire that displaced ARHA residents in Braddock Metro neighborhood (2956 views)
  7. New school boundaries and walk zones go into effect in Alexandria (2704 views)
  8. JUST IN: Resident revived, taken to hospital amid house fire in North Ridge (2605 views)
  9. 25-year APD veteran Courtney Ballantine now leads Georgetown University Police Department (1509 views)
  10. French restaurants in Alexandria line up special menus, events for Bastille Day (1447 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with rain likely in the afternoon and a high near 85°F. Winds from the north at 5 to 7 mph and a 60% chance of rain, with under a tenth of an inch of new rainfall, though higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms. In the evening, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 8 PM, tapering off to a chance until 11 PM, with a low around 68°F. Light northeast winds and similar precipitation conditions as throughout the day are expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”
– Mark Twain

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

News

From Capitol Hill to Richmond: Inside the political reset of Alexandria Del. R. Kirk McPike

By James Cullum
Del. R. Kirk McPike in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

After climbing through Alexandria’s political spheres, it’s almost as if R. Kirk McPike is starting over.

The new 5th House District delegate to Virginia’s General Assembly resigned his seat on the Alexandria City Council just before winning a special election in February to fill the seat vacated by now-state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39). In order to comply with state law, the Democrat also had to quit his full-time job as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA).

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Around Town

Alexandria birthday fireworks show leads July 10-12 weekend events

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria’s birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A fireworks show tops the list of events happening around Alexandria for the city’s birthday weekend.

While many communities around the D.C. region held their fireworks last week, Alexandria’s event falls on the weekend after July 4. This year, Alexandria celebrates its 277th birthday and America’s 250th birthday. Alexandrians have the option to attend the full event with performances and vendors at Oronoco Bay Park or catch the fireworks in a less crowded spot.

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News

Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA

By James Cullum
Duke Street and Cameron Station Boulevard (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, on Thursday (July 9) unanimously approved a $15 million allocation toward the Duke Street Transitway Project.

With the allocation, NVTA has funded $102 million for the $102.5 million project, which will add more than four miles of bus rapid transit lanes along Duke Street between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and the city’s border with Fairfax County near the former Landmark Mall site. The project has been in the works for years and is in the design phase. The estimated completion date for the new lanes is Dec. 31, 2029.

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News

Sidewalk closure for City Hall renovation project extended through rest of July

By Emily Leayman
Construction progress at City Hall and Market Square, June 25, 2026 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Pedestrians will have to keep taking a detour when walking around Alexandria City Hall and Market Square.

The city government extended the north sidewalk closure in front of City Hall along King Street between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets through July 31. The sidewalk has been closed since June 15 for City Hall and Market Square renovations.

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