The Annual Friendship Firehouse Festival

The Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association (FVFEA) holds its annual Firehouse Festival each year on the first Saturday in August. The popular family event features antique fire apparatus, craft booths, displays by Alexandria merchants, and live music.
Page updated on July 15, 2022 at 12:16 PM

Friendship Firehouse Festival 2022

Saturday, August 6
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free

 

Adults and children walk in the middle of the street between vendor tents at the Friendship Firehouse Festival.

The Friendship Firehouse Festival is Saturday, August 6. Join us on the 100 block of South Alfred Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and celebrate Friendship’s 248th year. Come see the Friendship Fire Company’s 1851 hand-operated fire engine before it goes out for conservation treatment. Learn about fire safety today and yesterday and see City firefighting equipment up close. There will be music, displays by community organizations, craft vendors, and food and beverages available. Children will receive free toy Friendship firefighting helmets. This family event is presented by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association and Historic Alexandria.

The Friendship Fire Company, established in 1774, was the first fire company in Alexandria. Today the Friendship Firehouse, built in 1855, is a museum open to the public. The Festival will be the last opportunity to see Friendship’s 1851 hand-operated suction engine – elaborately decorated with the company’s clasped-hands insignia – before it is sent for conservation treatment. The restoration is possible thanks to the generous support of the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association, Alexandria Association, Historic Alexandria Foundation, and many individual donors.  

Friendship’s newly restored 1858 hose-reel carriage will also be on exhibit. This ornate apparatus was made by local craftsman Robert F. Prettyman. It is painted midnight blue with white decorative piping, has gilded decorative shields flanking each side of the reel, red wheels decorated with blue and gold striping, and a brass lantern and bells.

The Festival

First Saturday in August

In addition to the day's outdoor events, festival participants will enjoy visiting the Friendship Firehouse Museum, originally built as a firehouse in 1855.

The Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association (FVFEA) is now a philanthropic organization focusing on fire-fighting history and fire safety.  It remains active in community events, including the annual Festival, and supports historic preservation of the building and its collection.

Food and beverages are available. Children will receive free fire helmets and can visit the City's fire trucks. For more information, call 703.746.3891.

Steam Engine on display outside of Friendship Firehouse Museum
The steam engine on view at the Friendship Firehouse Festival, 2021.
Adults and children walk on between vendor tents at the Friendship Firehouse Festival.
Festival goers at the 2021 festival.
An adult and children look into a City of Alexandria ambulance through the open rear doors.
Festival-goers look into a City of Alexandria ambulance, 2019.
Adults and children stand near a parked Alexandria fire truck and ambulance.
Festival-goers look at a City of Alexandria fire truck and ambulance parked outside of the museum, 2019.
Adults and children stand in line to sit in a fire truck.
Festival-goers stand in line to sit in a fire truck, 2021.
Two musicians play a fiddle and a banjo on the street at the Friendship Festival.
Musicians play a fiddle and a banjo at the 2021 festival.
A child touches a tin lantern held by a museum staff member.
A child touches a tin lantern held by a museum staff member, 2017.
Four children with an adult seated at an outdoor table coloring.
Kids and a parent enjoy a coloring activity at the 2019 festival.
A child uses a hose to “extinguish” pretend flames painted on a miniature plywood house.
A child uses a hose to “extinguish” pretend flames painted on a miniature plywood house, at the 2021 festival.
City of Alexandria representatives pose for a photograph at the 2019 Festival while cutting a cake. From left to right: Acting Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley, Councilmember Amy Jackson, Councilmember Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Mayor Justin M. Wilson.
City of Alexandria officials cut a cake at the 2019 festival. From left to right: Acting Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley, Councilmember Amy Jackson, Councilmember Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Mayor Justin M. Wilson.
A family looks at items for sale at the Office of Historic Alexandria shop table.
A family looks at items for sale at the Office of Historic Alexandria shop table, 2019.
Adults and children walk in the middle of the street between vendor tents at the Friendship Firehouse Festival.
Festival goers at the 2013 festival.
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Steam Engine on display outside of Friendship Firehouse Museum
The steam engine on view at the Friendship Firehouse Festival, 2021.
Adults and children walk on between vendor tents at the Friendship Firehouse Festival.
Festival goers at the 2021 festival.
An adult and children look into a City of Alexandria ambulance through the open rear doors.
Festival-goers look into a City of Alexandria ambulance, 2019.
Adults and children stand near a parked Alexandria fire truck and ambulance.
Festival-goers look at a City of Alexandria fire truck and ambulance parked outside of the museum, 2019.
Adults and children stand in line to sit in a fire truck.
Festival-goers stand in line to sit in a fire truck, 2021.
Two musicians play a fiddle and a banjo on the street at the Friendship Festival.
Musicians play a fiddle and a banjo at the 2021 festival.
A child touches a tin lantern held by a museum staff member.
A child touches a tin lantern held by a museum staff member, 2017.
Four children with an adult seated at an outdoor table coloring.
Kids and a parent enjoy a coloring activity at the 2019 festival.
A child uses a hose to “extinguish” pretend flames painted on a miniature plywood house.
A child uses a hose to “extinguish” pretend flames painted on a miniature plywood house, at the 2021 festival.
City of Alexandria representatives pose for a photograph at the 2019 Festival while cutting a cake. From left to right: Acting Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley, Councilmember Amy Jackson, Councilmember Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Mayor Justin M. Wilson.
City of Alexandria officials cut a cake at the 2019 festival. From left to right: Acting Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley, Councilmember Amy Jackson, Councilmember Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Mayor Justin M. Wilson.
A family looks at items for sale at the Office of Historic Alexandria shop table.
A family looks at items for sale at the Office of Historic Alexandria shop table, 2019.
Adults and children walk in the middle of the street between vendor tents at the Friendship Firehouse Festival.
Festival goers at the 2013 festival.

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