Programs and Events
Check the calendar of events for upcoming programs and events or see below for additional information. Phone registrations can be made with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Tickets are also available online from The Alexandria Shop.
Check out more Scout and Family Programming from the Historic Alexandria Museums
Digital Program: Hamilton Watch Party
Gather your supplies together for a Hamilton Watch Party! Don’t throw away your shot to make a hat, write a toast, and prepare your snacks, all inspired by the 18th century.
Yuletide by Candlelight
Take a break from the fast pace of the holiday season and experience the unique charm and history of Old Town during Alexandria's most popular holiday event. Tour Old Town's most historic sites by candlelight on the second weekend of December and enjoy seasonal decorations, entertainment and light refreshments.
Historic Beverage Events
Through a variety of special events the tavern allows guests to enjoy alcoholic beverages with ties to the 18th century. Past activities have included beer and wine dinners, madeira tastings, happy hours, cocktail programs, and the Great Rum Punch Challenge.
Family Days
See the tavern through kid's eyes as our young Junior Docents provide information as you walk through the Museum. These knowledgeable and enthusiastic students are here every Sunday afternoon in the summer. Regular museum admission applies.
FREE Tavern Day Open House
Want to learn to dance like George Washington? Ever heard of a learned pig? Then come to Gadsby's Tavern Museum's Tavern Day the first Saturday of August. Enjoy free admission as you experience Alexandria's five-star hotel of the 18th century through costumed guides, period dancing, and much more!
FREE Parade Day Open House
Enjoy the annual George Washington parade on President's Day and tour the tavern for FREE! Learn from costumed guides about the place where George Washington dined and danced.
Lectures
Held throughout the year, lectures at the museum cover a range of topics relevant to all aspects of the tavern's history. Scholars in many different fields give lectures in the historic ballroom. Past topics have included George Washington, 18th century music, restoring Gadsby's Tavern, tavern beverages, the evolution of hospitality, interpreting inventories, recognizing colonial architecture and more. Reservations recommended.
Tavern Overnights
Juniors: Complete two-thirds of the It's Your World—Change It leadership journey for Junior Girl Scouts by joining Gadsby's Tavern Museum for an overnight that walks girls step by step through what makes a great leader and how to lead a project of their own. The evening will use the story of how the museum buildings were saved as a case study for creating their own community-changing project. Girls will complete the Power of One and Power of Team sections of the journey and begin planning their community project for the final Power of Community section. Troops will need to take action and carry out their project at home to complete the journey.
Cadettes: Media is an unavoidable part of life, but are you controlling it or is it controlling you? Girls will use the collection of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum to examine types of media, persuasion techniques, and stereotypes. Then, using their new media savvy, they'll take action and create a Public Service Announcement to get the real message about a topic that's important to them. By the end of the overnight, girls will have completed all of the steps for the It's Your Story—Tell It: Media leadership journey for Cadette Girl Scouts.
These overnights run concurrently. The different troop levels complete separate activities but share a common sleeping space and breakfast.
Learn more about Scout and Family Programming in Historic Alexandria
Wonders of Water Tea with Mrs. Washington
Explore the many uses of water, both past and present, and how we can better care for this amazing resource. This special Girl Scout program includes 18th century tea with Martha Washington and a troop scrapbook to take home. Girls will complete most of the Brownie Girl Scout's It’s Your Planet—Love It! Wonders of Water journey. Troops will need to take action and carry out their project at home to complete the journey.