Alexandria’s Birthday Celebration

The City of Alexandria celebrates its 274^th birthday and the USA’s 247^th birthday on Saturday, July 8, with poetry, cupcakes, local vendors, and music by Three Man Soul Machine and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, all leading to a grand finale fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the big birthday experience by the Potomac!

Location: Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)

Schedule of Activities

6pm

• Performance by Three Man Soul Machine (6 – 6:45pm)
• Food vendors open for business on Pendleton Street
• Art activities at Office of the Arts tent and Mobile Art Lab, information at Alexandria Library tent and hands-on declaration of independence project with Office of Historic Alexandria
• Free solar-powered charging stations provided by Dominion Energy

7:30pm

• Welcome by NPR’s Suraya Mohamed
• Announcement by Town Crier
• Remarks by Mayor Justin Wilson
• Poetry by Alexandria Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam

8pm

• Distribution of birthday cupcakes by members of City Council for all attendees

8:30pm

• Performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (8:30 – 9:30pm)

9:30 pm

• Grand finale fireworks display with Alexandria Symphony Orchestra performing 1812 Overture, and cannons by the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Fireworks Locations

Grand finale fireworks display, July 8 at 9:30 p.m.

Presidential Salute Battery Cannons provided by The 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Fireworks Vantage points: 

o Canal Center Plaza (Center Canal Plaza)

o Rivergate Park (2 Montgomery St.)

o Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)

o Founders Park (351 North Union St.)

o Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)

o Point Lumley Park, (1 Duke St.)

o Windmill Hill Park (501 South Union St.)

o Fords Landing boardwalk (99 Franklin St.)

o Jones Point Park (Jones Point Drive)

o George Washington Masonic Temple (101 Callahan Drive)

Foods, Seats, and Parking

Food Truck vendors will be available for the public along Pendleton Street:

Vendors will be announced soon!

Seating: Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating, and participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.

Regulations: Grilling, smoking, tents, and large or staked umbrellas are not permitted. If groups or families are separated, an area for lost persons will be located at the City stage. Please leave pets at home and be mindful of your neighbors by refraining from smoking at this event.

Parking: Visitors are encouraged to bike, walk, or take alternative public transportation. For a list of garages and parking lots in the Old Town historic district, visit Where to Park in Old Town. Handicapped-accessible parking will be available on the 500 block of N. Fairfax St.

Rain Date

In case of inclement weather, the full event will be rescheduled to Sunday, July 9, at 6:00 pm.

Livestream

A free livestream of the event will be available to view during the performances and fireworks, beginning at 6pm. To view, visit the official event website at