Oronoco Bay Park

Jones text scandal, ice cream assault case lead Alexandria’s top stories

Published October 10, 2025 at 3:30PM

Democrat Jay Jones speaks in Richmond during his 2024 campaign kickoff for attorney general. Jones is now facing bipartisan backlash over newly surfaced text messages containing violent remarks about a former Republican House speaker. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories of the week.

With less than a month until the Nov. 4 general election, this week’s most-read story is on the controversy surrounding Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The National Review broke the news last Friday (Oct. 3) that in August 2022, Jones sent text messages to Del. Carrie Coyner (R-75), “fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children,” according to the Virginia Mercury story posted on ALXnow.

News

Paws in the Park returns to Oronoco Bay Park on Oct. 12

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 30, 2025 at 2:45PM

Pets at Paws in the Park (photo by Martyn Griffen/Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s beloved fall festival celebrating animals returns to Oronoco Bay Park on Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering pet adoptions, live music, shopping, and family entertainment — all free to attend.

Paws in the Park, which benefits the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, will feature local artisans, nonprofits, and animal-focused businesses, along with food and beverage vendors including local cideries, breweries, wineries, bakeries, and food trucks.

Around Town

Around the World Cultural Food Festival returns to Alexandria Aug. 23

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 11, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated August 11, 2025 at 9:42AM

Savor the Flavors of the World at the 9th Edition of the Around The World Cultural Food Festival at Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town on August 23, 2025 (Contributed photo)

The ninth annual Around the World Cultural Food Festival will return to Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering free admission to what organizers call the largest outdoor cultural food festival in the Washington metro area.

This year’s event will feature authentic cuisine from 24 countries, with one food vendor per country providing what organizers describe as a curated tasting experience. More than 150 traditional dishes will be available from countries including Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, among others.

News

PHOTOS: Thousands gather for Alexandria’s 276th Birthday Bash at Oronoco Bay

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2025 at 6:15AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:29AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrated its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthday in style along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday (July 12).

Thousands attended the annual event. For about four hours, the park was turned into a maze of beach blankets, lawn chairs, and barefoot kids with lightsabers and bubble guns. Flanked onstage by City Council and city staff, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso made brief remarks before the program was turned over to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, which wrapped up in time for a spectacular fireworks show (see video below).

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:10AM

Alexandrie firefighters battle fire on Duke Street (via Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. IAFF Local 2141)

Welcome to Friday in Alexandria. What a week we’ve been having.

To start things off, ALXnow broke the story of an Alexandria Police Department’s arson and burglary investigation after Sunday morning’s (March 30) shopping center fire that shuttered multiple businesses in the 5200 block of Duke Street.

News

Huge international food festival returns to Oronoco Bay Park next week

By Vernon Miles

Published August 14, 2024 at 10:10AM

Brazilian music at the Around The World Cultural Food Festival (photo via Around The World Cultural Food Festival/Facebook)

A massive outdoor celebration of international food is making its return for its eighth year to Old Town’s Oronoco Bay Park next week.

Around the World Cultural Food Festival, the largest outdoor cultural food festival in the region, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. in Oronoco Bay Park.

News

PHOTOS: Alexandria’s 275th birthday celebration on the waterfront

By James Cullum

Published July 15, 2024 at 9:55AM | Updated July 15, 2024 at 12:29PM

Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Cupcakes, music and fireworks punctuated Alexandria’s 275th birthday on Saturday.

It was a clear night for a party at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street) along the Potomac River. Mayor Justin Wilson and city leaders spoke onstage before handing out thousands of birthday cupcakes.

News

You are invited to a birthday party for Alexandria this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published July 9, 2024 at 9:55AM

Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 10, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

There are many Alexandria 275th birthday (doesn’t look a day over 200) celebrations this year, but the one on Saturday, July 13, might be the big one.

The party is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street) with a fireworks display and music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra at 9:30 p.m.

News

What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: ALX Dog Walk, Old Town Garden Tour, and more

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 18, 2024 at 1:30PM

The ALX Dog Walk at Oronoco Bay Park is on Saturday, April 20, 2024 (via Facebook)

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend. Enjoy!

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

News

International food festival returning to Old Town next month

By Vernon Miles

Published July 31, 2023 at 10:00AM

Brazilian music at the Around The World Cultural Food Festival (photo via Around The World Cultural Food Festival/Facebook)

An international food festival is making its return to Alexandria next month.

The Around The World Cultural Food Festival, which brings together food from fifty countries around the world, is returning to Alexandria’s Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street) on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.