This Week in Historic Alexandria - May 28, 2026

Page updated on May 28, 2026 at 4:52 PM
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May 28, 2026 - Special edition

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As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Sails on the Potomac highlights Alexandria’s important role in the nation’s founding—from the Fairfax Resolves to being the hometown of George Washington.

Join us June 12–14 on the Alexandria waterfront for Sails on the Potomac, a free family-friendly festival featuring historic tall ships, live music, exhibits, educational programs, public art, and more.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy history booths, museum exhibits, the VA250 Mobile Museum, and Historic Alexandria’s 250th Village and Outpost. Live performances at Waterfront Park will coincide with the 48th annual ALX Jazz Fest.

Festival highlights include:

  • Public tours of the tall ships Gazela, Kalmar Nyckel, Providence, and Sultana
  • Family-friendly activities and historic programs at the 250th History Village
  • Historic chocolate demonstrations exploring Alexandria’s 18th-century connections to chocolate

The Festival Kick Off Ceremony begins at noon on Friday, June 12, at Old Waterfront Park Stage, featuring George Mason University’s Patriots Fife and Drum Corps.

For festival schedules, maps, and visitor information, visit alexandriava.gov/Sails250 

Upcoming Events                                                                                                                      

Ship Tours and Tickets 

You can tour the ships for free while they are docked in Alexandria. Everyone, (including children) needs a free timed ticket. Reserve your tickets online in advance at alexandriava.gov/Sails250.  

A walk-up line will be available, but entry is not guaranteed without a ticket. 

During the day, visitors can also enjoy free ship tours from noon to 6 p.m. aboard four historic tall ships docked along the Alexandria waterfront:

  • The Sultana, a reproduction British Royal Navy schooner from 1768–1772 
     
  • The Kalmar Nyckel, a reproduction of the colonial Swedish ship that landed in present-day Delaware in 1638 
     
  • The Gazela, built in 1883 and now serving as an educational vessel 
     
  • Alexandria’s own Providence, a reproduction of one of the first ships in the Continental Navy with a distinguished Revolutionary War record 
     

Experience ALX Jazz Fest During Sails on the Potomac 

As part of Sails on the Potomac, the annual ALX Jazz Fest celebrates its 48th year with three days of free live music at the Alexandria Waterfront, beginning at noon on Friday, June 12.

The event continues through Sunday, June 14 at Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.). Admission is free.
 

Evening Activities

Each evening during the Sails on the Potomac festival, visitors can purchase tickets for exclusive evening receptions aboard the historic tall ship Kalmar Nyckel.

Held from 8–10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, the receptions offer after-hours access to the ship, opportunities to meet the captain and crew, panoramic waterfront views, and refreshments including heavy appetizers, wine, beer, and soft drinks.

Saturday evening’s reception also includes views of Fireworks on the Potomac at 9 p.m. as part of Alexandria’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Tickets are $250 for Friday night and $350 for the Saturday Evening Reception with Fireworks. Proceeds support the ongoing preservation, conservation, and interpretation work of Historic Alexandria. 

Tickets are available at Historic Alexandria Evening Reception Tickets.

What else can you do at Sails on the Potomac?

Visit The 250th History Village and Outpost

  • The 250th History Village and Outpost is an outdoor exhibit filled with learning experiences for all ages. The featured Historic Alexandria chocolate booth is supported by American Heritage Chocolate. Visitors can engage in educational activities, have historic conversations with local organizations from across the region, and view pop-up exhibits throughout the exhibit. Official Sails on the Potomac merchandise will be on sale at the 250th Village. 
     

Explore "Now or Never" at Site See: New Views in Old Town

  • The eighth annual installation in the Site See: New Views in Old Town public art series commissioned by the City of Alexandria’s Public Art Program is "Now or Never" by Alicia Eggert. Located in Waterfront Park, the piece features two monumental sculptures that echo the visual language of signs and billboards. They stand face to face across a narrow passageway, one declaring NOW and the other replying NEVER. Visitors are invited to move physically between the structures, to underscore the possibility of finding common ground. The artwork reminds us that every moment is a turning point: an opportunity to choose one’s future and to live deliberately from this moment forward.  
     

Food and Drink Row at Old Waterfront Park

  • Experience local drinks and food with vendors and food trucks.
     

Arts Area at Old Waterfront Park

  • Create an artwork that commemorates your visit to the event. 
     

250th History Outpost at Point Lumley Park

  • Family-friendly activities, engaging historic programs, booths hosted by local museums and organizations. 
     

Special Performance, City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums on the Strand,  Friday Only from 2-2:30 p.m.

  • Ahoy! Join the Alexandria Pipes & Drums Band on Friday, June 12 to help kick off Sails on the Potomac, a weekend festival that offers family activities, exhibits, music, educational programs, public art, and more. The band will play at 2 p.m. on The Strand by Waterfront Park in Old Town Alexandria. The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums is a Grade IV pipes and drums band based in Alexandria, VA. Combining precision marching with powerful and stirring musical arrangements rooted in Scottish heritage, the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums has been captivating audiences for over 50 years.
     

Fireworks at Alexandria Waterfront, Saturday Only at 9 p.m.

  • Witness a stunning spectacle and commemorate the 250th as fireworks light up the Potomac River. 

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.

Visit our website and follow us on social media to discover new things about your hometown. For more information, please visit alexandriava.gov/historic. 

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.