Spooky season will be in full swing throughout Alexandria this weekend.
Led by the return of Del Ray’s popular Halloween parade for its 30th year, the next few days will also bring Old Town’s annual trick-or-treat event, an exploration of 18th-century mourning at Carlyle House, and even themed improv comedy shows and fitness crawls.
The Alexandria Choral Society is returning for its 57th season next month, and offering a “pay-what-you-can” pricing model for its performances in the city.
ACS will return on Oct. 15 in a show partnering with the American Classical Contemporary Orchestra under conductor Jeffrey Dokken. The show, Dreamweaver, focuses on Ola Gjeilo’s choral work inspired by the medieval folk poem “Draumkvedet,” which tells the story of Olav Asteson, who tells the story of being asleep for 13 days. The show will be held at the Miracle Theatre (535 8th Street SE) in DC and ticket prices range from $15 to $47.
The Alexandria Choral Society is collaborating with the Alexandria Children’s Chorus later this month for a concert that invites audiences to listen “with your heart, mind, and spirit.”
The “Do You Hear What I Hear” concert will explore sound and silent spaces in musical pieces such as “The Sound of Silence” and “Ain’t No Grave” at Westminster Presbyterian Church (2701 Cameron Mills Road). The concert will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Alexandria’s fall music calendar is packed with performances from Sept. 22 through Dec. 21, featuring Grammy winners, breakthrough artists, and community events across the city. Here are the standout shows:
The Birchmere
Get your tickets now, because the Alexandria Choral Society just announced its 2025-26 season.
It’s the 55th season for the ACS, and the five performances in this year’s program are being held at venues across the city. Season tickets cost $125, and individual event tickets are suggested $30 apiece.
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.
The Alexandria Choral Society is getting ready to hit the road for an exciting tour of Ireland and Scotland. Before they go, they’re putting on a special concert called “To the Road” on June 14, at 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (100 W Luray Ave.).
The concert’s lineup is inspired by their upcoming trip, featuring music from Mendelssohn, Tallis, Alice Parker, and Alexandria’s own B.E. Boykin. They’re also throwing in some traditional Irish and Scottish tunes for good measure.
Eight local choirs are coming together for the first-ever One Voice Alexandria Choir Festival on May 9, 2025. The event, hosted by the Alexandria Choral Society, kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall.
This festival marks the end of Alexandria Choral Society’s 55th season with a bang, bringing together about 450 singers from across the city.
It was a festive Sunday with holiday music at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and the Alexandria Choral Society performed their sold-out “Holiday Dreams” concert.
