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.
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.
This recurring Most and Least Expensive Home feature is sponsored by Adrianna Vallario of Compass. Based in the North Ridge area of Alexandria City, Adrianna is more than just a real estate agent – she is a trusted advisor, relocation expert, and community advocate.
In October 2026, 26 detached homes sold, 50 condos sold, and 41 townhomes sold. Detached home sales are down 40% when compared to the same time period last year, condos are down 52%, and townhomes are down 18%.
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.
Join artist Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’p’o Owenge ([Santa Clara Pueblo]), creator of Always Becoming, and the community that cares for the museum’s ephemeral outdoor sculpture family, to learn about the project’s evolution over the past two decades, and what the future holds.
Learn about the art of clay, traditions of sustainability in Pueblo building techniques, and more. Visitors can enjoy family-friendly art activities, dance performances by the Zuni Olla Maidens, watch a short film, and multiple opportunities to hear from the artist, her family, and museum experts that have contributed to the care and revitalization of the sculptures.
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]
Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
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
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).
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.
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.
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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