november 17–23, 2025
What's New
FEATURED EVENT
Virginia 250 Passport
Historic Alexandria is proud to join 70 premier historic destinations across Virginia in the launch of the Virginia 250 Passport, a first-of-its-kind statewide tourism journey celebrating America’s 250th. Featured Alexandria museums include Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. The passport offers prizes and discounts to encourage families to explore Virginia’s rich history together. Beginning November 11, 2025, free passports will be available at major historic sites and Virginia Welcome Centers. Learn more at VirginiaHistory.org/250Passport.
Port City Brewery Company Trivia Night
Port City Brewery, 3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria
Thursday, November 20
7 p.m./Seating at 6:30 p.m.
Free Registration
Register Here.
Join supporters of the George Washington Birthday parade at Port City’s November Trivia Night to vie for the coveted title of “Port City Trivia Champion”! The theme will be “World Celebration Trivia” and will cover celebrations and parades all over the world, from Halloween in the states to the Chinese New Year to simple birthday traditions. George Washington Birthday supporters will have a table, so come by to join us or just to say hello!
2026 George Washington Birthday Parade Registration is Now Open!
Registration for the George Washington Birthday Parade to be held Saturday, February 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Old Town Alexandria is now open! The theme of the parade is Virginia's Son ~ America's Founding Father, in honor of Washington’s leading role in the founding of the country during its 250th Anniversary Year. Visit our Parade Registration Page for more information on how to register as a 2026 parade participant.
Upcoming Events
View the Historic Alexandria Calendar
Bienvenue Beaujolais!
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Thursday, November 20
7 p.m.
$70
Purchase tickets.
Please join the Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee for a special evening of French food and wine! We will enjoy the anticipated 2025 Beaujolais Nouveau and then explore beyond the Beaujolais region to showcase some of the finest French wines, from a crisp bubbly and refreshing white wine to a bold and robust red wine. To complement the wines, we will feature French cuisine, taking a tour through the flavors of France, featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and other delicacies. You will also receive a signature wine-tasting glass. For guests 21 and over.
Alexandria Historical Society and WETA Present a “Revolutionary Watch Party” for Ken Burns’ The American Revolution Finale
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street
Friday, November 21
7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Free, with a suggested donation of $10 per person to support AHS public
programs.
Please RSVP in advance.
The Alexandria Historical Society is pleased to announce their upcoming partnership with WETA, Washington’s flagship public television station, for a special event celebrating the finale of The American Revolution, the new documentary series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.
On Friday, November 21, the Alexandria Historical Society and WETA will host a "Revolutionary Watch Party" at The Lyceum. The evening will feature local historians, a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production, and a live viewing of the PBS broadcast on the Lyceum’s big screen.
This interactive evening marks the beginning of Alexandria’s America 250 commemorations and invites the community to explore how the Revolution continues to shape our national story.
Note: WETA will premiere The American Revolution beginning Sunday, November 16. The five-night series explores the full scope of the Revolutionary era and its enduring impact on the American story.
Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace-Indoor Season
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street
Saturdays, November 22 - April 4
10:15 a.m.
$10 a class
Purchase tickets.
Join our yoga instructor for an hour long Yoga Class gentle flow yoga class indoors at the Carlyle House. We will build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear.
Please note that there is no class December 6th due to the Scottish Walk Parade.
Alexandria Cider Festival 2025 - Tickets on Sale Now!
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
Saturday, November 22
1-5 p.m.
Tickets $55 in advance through November 21, and $25 for designated drivers. Online sales end at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 21. After that, tickets can be purchased at the door for $65.
Purchase tickets. Minimum Age: 21
Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event on the grounds of historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria. Hosted by the Office of Historic Alexandria in partnership with the Virginia Association of Cider Makers, this annual event sold out last year—so don’t miss it! Get your tickets early. Event ticket includes cider tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, tavern games, access to a food truck, and a little history too! While enjoying a selection of Virginia ciders, learn more about the growing Virginia cider industry and its connection to Alexandria history.
Cideries featured include Lost Boy Cider, Ciders from Mars, Blue Bee, Albemarle and more. Food will be available for purchase from Roaming Coyote and Scuttlebutt Bakeshop food trucks.
Live music will be performed by Lindsay, Martin, & Dobbs (traditional Irish music) and Hardtack & Sea Biscuits (mid-19th century music from land and sea on fiddle and banjo).
Dress for the weather - the event is outdoors! Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums.
Fashion History: Within the Walls of the Lee-Fendall House
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Saturday, November 22
2-3 p.m.
$15
Purchase tickets.
Back by popular demand, the Lee-Fendall House will be holding a fashion history lecture on Saturday, November 1st at 2 pm. This lecture, given by Emma Rowland, will cover fashion history using the Lee-Fendall House’s history as touch points. Emma is an accomplished seamstress and will be displaying her historic costumes that she has made throughout the House as well as displaying her collection of antique clothing and accessories.
Emma Rowland is passionate about history and her grandmother taught her how to sew when she was 8. Her grandmother left Emma her collection of antique dresses when she passed and Emma quickly fell in love with the history of fashion. She has expanded on the collection over the years and also works as a tour guide in Old Town Alexandria for Alexandria Colonial Tours, where she gives tours dressed in her Colonial-era costumes she makes herself.
Swedish Coffee Culture Event
Buzz Bakeshop, 901 Slaters Lane
Sunday, November 23
3 p.m.
$10
Purchase tickets.
Join the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee at Buzz Bakeshop (901 Slaters Lane) to learn about Swedish Coffee culture (fika)! As part of Alexandria’s sister city relationship with Helsingborg, Sweden, this event celebrates a beloved Swedish tradition. In Sweden, fika is part of everyday life and a big part of their culture. Fika is when you take time for a colleague or friend and have a coffee (or tea), ideally enjoyed with a yummy baked treat. So much more than enjoying the coffee and cookie, fika allows you to slow down and appreciate the good things in life. Many Swedes consider it almost essential to fika everyday (many companies add a clause to contracts stating that employees are entitled to fika breaks!).
The event, co-hosted by the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, will feature remarks from Tiffany Aurora and traditional pastries from Kristina’s Swede Treats. Tiffany Aurora is a Baltimore-based podcaster and writer. Her newest show, "Discovering Swedish Culture in America," is a limited-series podcast that will be released this fall. The show includes a special feature on fika, and Tiffany will join us at this event to share stories about Fika and its history. Coffee/tea and one cinnamon bun are included in the ticket price. A limited number of Fika-boxes will also be available for purchase ($20). They are listed as a separate event in the Alexandria Shop. A fika-box includes two cinnamon buns, two chocolate cuts and two raspberry caves.
Family Holiday Magic Show
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Wednesday, December 3
7 p.m.
Free Registration
Free event Registration here.
Join us at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum for a free holiday magic show, performed by professional magicians who are members of Ring 50, the DC-area chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Magic is a part of The Lyceum's history and 19th-century magicians like Signor Blitz and Wyman the Wizard performed there in the 1840s. This modern family-friendly show will be geared toward children ages 5 to 12, but all are welcome. Please bring new, unwrapped toys to donate to the Fund for Alexandria's Child Holiday Sharing Program, which benefits kids who might otherwise go without holiday gifts this year in lieu of paying an admission fee. For more information, email info@ibmring50.org. The show is free, but space is limited so please reserve a space!
Ship Biscuits Ornaments
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
105 N. Union Street, Unit 327
Saturday, December 6
2-5 p.m.
Free
A nearly complete ship’s biscuit from the 18th century was found in Alexandria. Make your own stamped with this year at Alexandria Archaeology!
Gingerbread Decorating
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St.
Sunday, December 7
Noon-5 p.m.
$25
Purchase tickets.
Learn about local architecture as you decorate a flat “façade” (front) based on historic buildings around Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Ticket includes one flat gingerbread façade, all the supplies needed to decorate, and admission to the museum. Inspiring samples highlight architectural details you can recreate in candy and search for in the neighborhoods on your way home. Event ideal for families or adult groups. Hot cider and spiked cider available for purchase during the event. A ticket is not required for each person--the ticket is to purchase a decorating kit, which people may share.
Help ACRP Share Our Whole History with ACHS Students
The Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) still needs funds for the Banned Truth Tour for our Alexandria City High School students. Please consider donating - learn more and donate on ACRP’s campaign page.
Support Historic Alexandria
Your gift fuels preservation, education, and programs that bring Alexandria’s past to life. Donations, special revenue, and grants make it possible to expand educational programs, conserve treasured collections, and support our dedicated staff. Your gift today helps preserve Alexandria’s history for generations to come.
Historic Alexandria Museum Hours
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
Tuesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 –5 p.m.
Alexandria Black History Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1– 5 p.m.
Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Shopping Late Night at The Lyceum: December 5, 4-9 p.m.
Kick off the shopping season and head over to the Lyceum’s shop to receive 10% off all purchases!
Fort Ward Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Freedom House
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m.
Friendship Firehouse Museum
Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays, 1– 5 p.m.
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Wednesdays–Fridays, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays 1 - 5 p.m.
City of Alexandria Federal Government Shutdown Information and Resources
A temporary funding measure has been passed to reopen the federal government. As federal workers and contractors return to work, programs and activities that were unavailable during the federal government shutdown will begin to operate again. More information will become available in the coming days.
The City of Alexandria will continue to deploy resources and provide information to assist those impacted in our community. The City works collaboratively with its partners to provide information and resources that may offer support, security, and stability for individuals, families, and businesses impacted during and after a shutdown.
Learn more at alexandriava.gov/Federalshutdown.
New Exhibit: “Disease and the Apothecary” – Now open
Explore how epidemics like Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Influenza shaped Alexandria’s past and how science and public health saved lives. Included with admission. Free for Alexandria residents! The new exhibit is also available online.
Union Navy Exhibition Opens at Fort Ward Museum
A new exhibition, “Aboard Ship with the Jack-Tars of the Union Navy,” opened October 2 at the City of Alexandria’s Fort Ward Museum. The exhibit focuses on the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and is being held in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy on October 13, 1775. The exhibition will continue through 2026. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/FortWard.
Explore with Ease – The New Museum Mobility Guide
Historic Alexandria and the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) have launched a colorful, easy-to-use map and guide connecting all of Alexandria’s museums via walking, biking, and transit. The guide also acts as a passport—visit every site and earn a prize! Available at museums, rec centers, public libraries, and more.
2025 Historic Alexandria Holiday Ornament - Available Now in Historic Alexandria museum stores and in our online store!
Celebrate Alexandria’s 19th-century canal history with this beautifully crafted, American-made brass ornament. This year’s design honors the Alexandria Canal, featuring a canal boat exiting Lock No. 4 heading eastward toward the Potomac River, uncovered by archaeologists in the winter of 2025 on N. Pitt Street. The Alexandria Canal was in use from 1843 to 1886. Learn more here.
Visit our website and follow us on social media to discover new things about your hometown. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic. Admission to City of Alexandria museums is complimentary for city residents.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
This Week in Alexandria's History
On November 20, 1818, the Alexandria Common Council authorized space in the new City Hall and Market House for an Alexandria Museum. The space, located on the second floor corner of the building overlooking Cameron and North Royal Streets, was operated by the local Masonic Lodge and was the site of many important public receptions over the years, including one for the Marquis de Lafayette who visited Alexandria for a month in 1824. When the building was destroyed by fire in 1871, many objects perished, but those that could be salvaged were re-installed in the 1872 City Hall in a new, fire-proof room just above the Cameron Street entrance, marked on the exterior by Masonic symbols. When the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was finished in 1932, the museum relics were moved to that location.
Upcoming Commission and Committee Events
Commissions Supporting Historic Alexandria
November 17 Alexandria Sister City Committee - Dundee and Helsingborg
City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King Street
7-8:30 p.m.
November 17 George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m.
November 18 Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC)
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m.
November 19 Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP) Steering Committee
Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street
5:30 p.m.
- November 19 Alexandria Archaeological Commission
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
7-9 p.m.
- December 2 Public Records Advisory Commission
Archives and Records Center, 801 South Payne Street
7:30 p.m.
December 8 Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King Street
7-9 p.m.
December 10 Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street
8-9:15 a.m.