Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just around the corner, which means holiday closures and changes are planned around the city.
All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on MLK day — Monday, Jan. 15 — as will Alexandria City Public Schools.
On Monday, DASH buses will operate on a Saturday Schedule. The King Street Trolley will run from the King Street Metro to City Hall every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with adoptions beginning at noon.
A reflection on King’s life and legacy is scheduled for Monday from 4-6 p.m. at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (101 Callahan Drive).
Photo via National Park Service/Flickr
Sunday isn’t just New Year’s Eve in Alexandria; the city has its own special celebration called First Night Alexandria.
The event returns at various venues across Old Town starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, and running to midnight.
Tickets are available for the event online, but those not attending should still be aware of road closures caused by the event this weekend.
According to a release from the city:
On Sunday, December 31, 2023, the following road closures will be in effect for First Night Alexandria. Please plan your travel route accordingly and drive alert and aware of heavy pedestrian traffic in the Old Town area.
Road closures for December 31, 2023, in the Old Town area include:
- 100 block N. Royal Street – closed from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- 200 and 300 block of King Street – closed from 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- 100 block of N. Fairfax Street – closed from 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Union Street between Duke and Prince – closed between 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Christmas is right around the corner and with that comes closures and changes to service schedules around the city.
Here’s a look at what’s open, closed, or has an altered schedule thanks to the upcoming holidays:
- As parents hopefully know, all Alexandria City Public Schools are closed this week and next week, returning on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
- Alexandria’s DASH but network will be operating on a Sunday schedule on Christmas (Monday, Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Monday, Jan. 1).
- The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (Sunday, Dec. 24)Â and New Year’s Eve (Sunday, Dec. 31) but closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- The DMV will also be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- All Alexandria libraries will be closed from Sunday, Dec. 24, through Tuesday, Dec. 26, as well as New Year’s Day.
The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces and residential permit parking districts from Christmas through Tuesday, Dec. 26, as well as on New Year’s Day.
“This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces and does not permit parking in any normally prohibited location,” the police department warned. “Temporary no-parking signs will be enforced.”
Veterans Day is this upcoming Saturday, but the holiday is also observed on Friday, so the mix of what’s open and closed around Alexandria is a little more muddled than it usually is on a holiday.
For Alexandria City Public Schools, for example, it’s a school day as usual.
Reminder: We have school on Friday. We are not closed for Veterans Day. pic.twitter.com/Eq9Vu4T4v8
— JamesKPolkElementary (@JKPolkACPS) November 8, 2023
However, the courts, libraries, DMV and city government will all be closed tomorrow (Friday).
Parking enforcement will also be suspended for some locations tomorrow. According to a release from the city of Alexandria:
Friday, November 10: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces and residential permit parking districts. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces and does not permit parking in any normally prohibited location. Temporary no-parking signs will be enforced.
We will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen on Saturday, November 11. pic.twitter.com/PmFyz8npWW
— Alexandria Library (@alexlibraryva) November 9, 2023
Photo via Friends of Rocky Versace/Facebook
It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day honoring and celebrating Native American history and culture, and in Alexandria, there are several closures or changes to services.
Alexandria’s DASH bus network is operating on a Saturday schedule today. The King Street Trolley is running from the King Street Metro station to City Hall every 15 minutes from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Alexandria’s recreation centers are closed except the Charles Houston and Patrick Henry rec centers, which are open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
October 9, 2023 (Monday) – Indigenous Peoples' Day Hours of Operation
Charles Houston and Patrick Henry: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
All Other Facilities: Closed pic.twitter.com/3y05n2n6vE— RPCA, Alexandria VA (@RPCA_AlexVA) October 9, 2023
All of Alexandria’s libraries are also closed today.
All Alexandria Library branches are closed today in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. https://t.co/NdSe97f3f9 pic.twitter.com/94hKgCS6wT
— Alexandria Library (@alexlibraryva) October 9, 2023
The courts, DMV, impound lot and schools are all closed today, except for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today.
The Freedom House Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Stabler–Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open from 1-5 p.m., but all other City museums are closed.
Parking enforcement is suspended today at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts, and other areas with time limits.
“This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones, or spaces for persons with disabilities),” the city said in a release.
For those hoping to use the day to learn a little more about Native American history in Alexandria, the City’s website covers the history of indigenous peoples in the city.
“Despite the past 250 years of construction and development, remnants of the Native American past still remain buried within the city,” the city’s website says. “To date, archaeologists have identified more than 30 sites containing Indian artifacts and features and have registered them with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The types of artifacts discovered in Alexandria indicate that Indians visited the area beginning about 13,000 years ago.”
Photo via Running Strong for American Indian Youth/Facebook
The upcoming Monday is Labor Day, so those sticking around town for the weekend should be aware of some closures ahead.
Most city services are impacted by the holiday, from the local animal shelter to courts.
On the bright side: parking enforcement is suspended for metered spaces, residential permit parking districts, and other areas with signed parking time limits. Note: this suspension of enforcement does not apply to areas where parking is normally prohibited, like no parking zones, loading zones, or spaces for persons with disabilities.
- DASH: The DASH bus network will be operating on a Sunday schedule on Monday. The King Street Trolley will be running, but only every 15 minutes, from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA): The AWLA will be closed on Monday. For animal emergencies or wildlife concerns, call 703 746 4444.
- Libraries: All Alexandria library branches are closed on Monday
- City Services: All Health Department and most recreation centers will be closed on Monday. The Impound Facility will also be closed.
- Water Facilities: The Old Town and Warwick pools will be open from 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on Monday. The Potomac Yard Park Interactive Fountain will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Courts: All of the Alexandria courts are closed on Monday.
- DMV: All DMV locations are closed on Monday.
- Historic Alexandria: The Gadsby’s Tavern Museum; Freedom House Museum, and the Stabler–Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday. All other city museums will be closed.
- Schools:Â All schools and administrative offices are closed on Monday.
- Torpedo Factory: The Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Also, ALXnow won’t be reporting on Monday, so if you want to do something and not have it be reported on: Monday is the day to do it.
Independence Day is coming up this Monday, so here’s a look at what’s open and what’s closed that day.
On the bright side for those looking to visit Old Town or see some historic sites, a few local museums will still be open.
“On Monday, July 4, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal Street); Freedom House Museum (1315 Duke Street); and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (105-107 S. Fairfax Street) will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.” the city said in a release. “All other City of Alexandria museums will be closed.”
The city’s outdoor pools will also be open. The Memorial Pool (901 Wythe Street) will be open from 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m., while the Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron Street) and Warwick Pool (3301 Landover Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Potomac Yard Park Interactive Fountain (2501 Potomac Avenue) will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Alexandria Police Department will suspend some parking enforcement.
“On Monday, July 4, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions for metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits,” the release said. “This suspension of enforcement, which applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, does not permit parking in any location where it is normally prohibited (for example, ‘no parking’ zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities). Temporary ‘no parking’ signs will be enforced on July 4.”
Trash, yard waste and recycling will not be collected on Monday, with collection delayed by one day next week.
The city’s bus service, DASH, will operate on a Sunday schedule. The King Street Trolley will be operating every 15 minutes from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
For other closures:
- All city government offices will be closed
- The various city courts will be closed
- The all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices in the region, including the one at 2681 Mill Road, will be closed
- The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) will be closed, but anyone with an animal emergency or wildlife concern can still call 703 746 4444
- The Health Department and Teen Wellness Center will be closed
- All Alexandria library branches will be closed
- The city’s impound facility (5349 Eisenhower Avenue) will be closed
- All recreation, art and nature centers will be closed
- All ACPS schools will be closed
New Year’s Day is right around the corner, and a number of Alexandria government offices are closing early on Friday (Dec. 31).
The city’s New Year’s Eve celebration has been canceled due to rising COVID numbers, but if you’re looking to get out on Friday, the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as will the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics facility.
The city has listed the following closures and other changes planned for this week:
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA): On Friday, December 31, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only, for both virtual and in-shelter animal visiting opportunities. To make an appointment, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-by-Appointment. The shelter will be closed Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1. For animal emergencies or wildlife concerns, call 703.746.4444.
Courts:Â The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will be closed Thursday, December 30; and Friday, December 31. The Court Service Unit will be closed Friday, December 31.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): All DMV customer service centers in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Rd.) will be closed Friday, December 31 and Saturday, January 1, 2022.
Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria City High School (3330 King St.) will be closed Friday, December 31.
Historic Alexandria: All City of Alexandria museums, with the exception of the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, will be closed on Friday, December 24; Saturday, December 25; Friday, December 31; and Saturday, January 1. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum (105 N. Union St.) will be open Friday, December 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, December 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 703.746.4554 or visit alexandriava.gov/Historic and follow Historic Alexandria on social media.
Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703.746.4911; the emergency mental health services or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703.746.3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1.888.832.3858; and the sexual assault hotline at 703.683.7273.
Impound Facility: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed on Thursday, December 23; Friday, December 24; and Friday, January 1. Fees will accrue while the facility is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but will not accrue on holidays.
Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library (520 King St.) will be closed Thursday, December 23 through Saturday, December 25, December 31 and January 1. Visit alexlibraryva.org for more information.
Old Town Farmers’ Market: The Old Town Farmers’ Market will be open Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, from 7 a.m. to noon with free parking at Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax St.), under Market Square Plaza, from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Farmers’ Market will be and will be closed Saturday, December 25, and will open as usual on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits Thursday, December 23 through Saturday, December 25; and Saturday, January 1. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities). Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.
Recreation, Nature and Art Centers: On Thursday, December 23, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King St.), Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.) and Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all other facilities will be closed.
On Saturday, January 1, all recreation, nature and art centers will be closed. View the City’s recreation center operating schedule for more information.
Resource Recovery:
Christmas Tree Collection: Christmas tree collection will begin Monday, January 3 and will be collected through the whole month for residents who receive City trash collection services. The last day of tree collection will be Monday, January 31. Visit alexandriava.gov/YardWaste for preparation information.
Leaf Collection: Leaves will be collected on Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24. There will be no leaf collection on December 31 in observance of New Year’s Day. Visit alexandriava.gov/LeafCollection for more information.
Trash and Recycling: Residential refuse, yard waste and recycling will be collected on the regularly scheduled day during the weeks of December 20 and December 27; there will be no “holiday slide.” The Household Hazardous Waste Electronic Collection Drop-off Center (3224 Colvin St.) will be closed Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1. Visit alexandriava.gov/ResourceRecovery for more information.
It’s the holiday season, so expect a series of closures and reduced services toward the end of this month.
In a press release, the City of Alexandria ran offered an overview of what services will be open and when.
“All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24, in observance of the Christmas holiday; and Friday, December 31, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday,” the city said.
What follows is a rather lengthy list of openings and closings that will be included verbatim at the end of the article.
Some of the highlights are that the Old Town Farmers’ Market will be open on Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, from 7 a.m. to noon. Free parking will be offered in the Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax Street) from 5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The market will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 25, but will be open as usual on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1.
Speaking of parking: the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit districts, and other areas with signed parking time limits from Thursday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Dec. 25, and on Saturday, Jan. 1.
“This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities),” the city said. “Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.”
For those looking for something to do on Christmas Eve, the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24.
In terms of transit, on Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, DASH bus will operate on a Sunday service schedule. On Saturday, Dec. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 1, DASH will operate on a regular Saturday service. The King Street Trolley will continue to operate through the holidays.
Visit Alexandria has also put together a small guide to local restaurants continuing to serve food on the upcoming holidays.
The full list of closures is available below the jump:
Monday, Oct. 11, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day and there are some ways to celebrate around Alexandria, though locals should also be aware of what will be closed.
Visit Alexandria put together a list of activities locals can do around Alexandria if they’re looking for ways to celebrate Native cultures. Suggestions include shopping at Intertribal Creatives (106 N. Lee Street) gallery in Old Town — an art gallery that highlights Indigenous artists — or attending a virtual lecture on Chichén Itzá on Tuesday (Oct. 12) hosted by George Mason University professor Lisa Breglia.
Several city services around Alexandria will be closed on Monday. According to a press release from the city:
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: On Oct. 11, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open weekend hours by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit their website or call 703.746.4744.
- Courts: The following Commonwealth of Virginia offices in Alexandria will be closed on Oct. 11.
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): On Oct. 11, all Virginia DMV locations in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Rd.) will be closed.
- Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and the Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria High School (3330 King St.) will be closed Oct. 11.
- Historic Alexandria: On Oct. 11, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (105-107 S. Fairfax St.) will be open regular hours from 1 to 5 p.m. All other City museums will be closed.
- Impound Lot: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed Oct. 11.
- Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches, and the Alexandria Law Library, will be closed Oct. 11.
- Parking: On Oct. 11, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with posted parking time limits.
- Recreation and Arts Centers:Â Â On Oct. 11, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King St.), and Charles Houston (901 Wythe St.) and Patrick Henry (4653 Taney Ave.) Recreation Centers will be open 9 a.m-3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N Union St.) and all other recreation and nature centers will be closed.
- Resource Recovery: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected Oct. 11. Collection services will slide by one day during the week of Oct. 11.
- The Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Center (3224 Colvin St.) will be closed Oct. 11.
- Schools: There will be no school for students Oct. 11, and it will be a professional development day for all Alexandria City Public Schools staff.
- Transit: On Oct. 11, the Alexandria Transit Company’s fare-free DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. The free King Street Trolley will operate from King Street Metro to Alexandria City Hall/Market Square, with service every 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Photo via Intertribal Creatives/Facebook