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.
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.
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.
Alexandria’s history with slavery makes Juneteenth a particularly important holiday.
June 19 recognizes the emancipation of slaves in the United States, and the date is expected to soon be a federal holiday, even though Alexandria has recognized it since 2019.
It’s Memorial Day weekend in Alexandria, and it’s also a short work week for ALXnow.
Yes, we’re taking a quick breather by taking off most of tomorrow (Friday, May 28).
All Alexandria government offices will be closed on Memorial Day.
The holiday will also see free parking all around the city, a Sunday-like operating schedule for DASH buses and the opening of the Potomac Yard interactive fountain from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Presidents’ Day, or George Washington Day as it’s called in Alexandria, will come with some closures.
All city offices will be closed. Parking enforcement will be suspended that day for metered spaces and residential permit parking districts. Other closed facilities include:
Next week is a double-hitter in terms of holidays, with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday and Inauguration Day on Wednesday.
As with many holidays, all government offices will be completely closed on both days, but other services around the city are operating on different schedules:
Bilbo Baggins Now for Sale — “Longtime Alexandria restaurant and pub Bilbo Baggins has closed its doors for good. The cozy eatery, which opened in 1980, closed in the spring when COVID-19 first struck. Since then, the family-owned restaurant has not reopened and the nearly 4,000-square foot property is now for sale for $2.8 million.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Reminder: Illegal Starting Jan. 1 to Hold Cell Phone While Driving — “Starting January 1st, the ‘Hands-Free’ law will go into effect. The law makes it illegal to hold a cell phone while driving.” [Twitter]
City of Alexandria facilities will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20.
All public offices will be closed, parking restrictions will be eased and trash will not be collected.
As Alexandrians are getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight, be aware that some city services will not be available on New Year’s Day.
Trash will be picked up today (Tuesday), but will not be picked up tomorrow (Wednesday). Trash collection services scheduled for Wednesday through Friday will be delayed by one day.
