Water Taxi to National Mall: Cherry Blossom Festival Service

Daily Thru April 17

Departing at 11:10 a.m., 1:35 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Admission: adults: $28 round-trip or $14 one-way; children under 12: $16 round-trip or $8 one-way.

Cameron & Union Streets
http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/new-national-harbor-taxi.php

During Cherry Blossom season, the Potomac Riverboat Company offers a 30-minute direct water taxi between Old Town Alexandria and the National Mall in Washington, DC, every day of the week. The boat docks at Ohio & West Basin Drive SW, just steps from the Tidal Basin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and a Capital Bikeshare station. The water taxi to the National Mall runs through the fall on a varying schedule.

April 2^nd

Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery Memorial Tour
10 a.m.
Admission: Free
Office of Historic Alexandria and the Alexandria Black History Museum, 1001 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.alexandriava.gov/FreedmenMemorial

Join City Archaeologist Fran Bromberg and Black History Museum Director and PBS’ “Mercy Street” history consultant Audrey Davis as you learn about the history of contrabands buried in the cemetery, the fascinating archaeology behind its rediscovery, and how the site became a memorial.

April 2^nd & 3^rd

Concerts with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
April 2^nd – 8 p.m. & April 3 – 3 p.m.
Admission: Youth 18 and under: $5; student with ID: $10; adults: $20-$80
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Lane
703-548-0885
http://www.AlexSym.org

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will feature two spring concerts this year. Lushness & Lyrical pairs James Newton Howard’s score to Peter Pan with three Romantic masterpieces: excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Smetana’s “The Moldau” from Má vlast and Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, continuing the season-long theme of “Symphony & Cinema.” Known as “America’s violinist,” Grammy-nominated performer Jenny Oaks Baker will perform Scottish Fantasy. The orchestra is led by Maestro Kim Allen Kluge, who is honored as a 2016 Alexandria Living Legend. The Transformative is a one-night-only performance featuring the music of American composers and highlighting the many musical styles that form the country’s rich and diverse cultural tapestry. Hans Zimmer’s music from The Dark Knight is juxtaposed with Gershwin’s American in Paris and Copland’s Rodeo. The finale also features the world premiere of The American Concerto for Piano & Orchestra by Maestro Kim Allen Kluge and Kathryn Vassar Kluge. Maestro Kluge, in his final season with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, will be honored as ASO’s first Maestro Emeritus at the performance.

April 7^th

Baseball Boat to Nationals Park
Times vary upon Nationals schedule
Admission: one-way $20; round-trip $25 Monday-Thursday; round-trip $28 Friday-Sunday
Departs from the Alexandria Marina, 1 Cameron St.
703-684-0580
http://www.BaseballBoat.com

The Potomac Riverboat Company offers baseball enthusiasts the chance to avoid the crowds and take a leisurely cruise from Old Town Alexandria to Nationals Park along the scenic Potomac River. Online ticket purchases include free parking. Boats returning to Alexandria depart 20 minutes after the final pitch. Boat operates for 80% of Nationals games – check website for specific available dates.

April 20th

Spring2ACTion: Alexandria’s Biggest Day of Giving
All day
Alexandria
http://www.Spring2ACTion.org

What if we all gave on one day? On April 20, let’s find out during Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s online giving day to benefit more than 130 nonprofits! This year, our goal is to engage 10,000 generous Alexandrians to raise $1.5 million to support local charities. Be a part of this annual day of giving and join together with the entire community as we give back to the nonprofits that make Alexandria strong. Local businesses will also be giving back on April 20 by hosting events and/or donating a percentage of sales to nonprofits. For a complete list, visit www.Spring2ACTion.org.
April 23^rd

83rd Annual Alexandria Historic Homes & Garden Tour
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: $40 in advance; $45 day of; $25 for single sites
Old Town Alexandria
703-746-3301
http://www.VAGardenWeek.org

Celebrating the 83rd anniversary of Historic Garden Week in Virginia, this tour features privately owned Old Town homes and gardens plus historic properties like the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, Carlyle House Historic Park and George Washington’s Mount Vernon, offering visitors the rare opportunity to see behind the brick walls into some of the most gorgeous residences in this unique neighborhood. Tickets and information available at the Alexandria Visitors Center (221 King St.).

Carlyle House Garden Day Herb & Craft Sale
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Free; $5 to tour house; free tours with Alexandria Garden Day ticket
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St.
703-549-2997
http://www.carlylehouse.org

Celebrate spring with the Friends of Carlyle House’s Annual Garden Day Herb & Craft Sale where culinary and decorative herbs and plants from Mount Vernon will be available for purchase. Listen to performances by area musicians throughout the day, bring your garden questions to our Master Gardeners, and shop for items made by local artisans and crafters.

Civil War Medicine Living History

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rain date: April 30
Admission: Free
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd.
703-746-4848
http://www.alexandriava.gov/FortWard

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site will sponsor a Civil War medical living history program presented by Civil War medical historian and interpreter Von Barron, who portrays U.S. Army Regimental Surgeon Captain Turner Kitt in a field hospital setting that features a variety of medical tools and equipment of the era.

April 24^th

Annual George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Mile, 5K and Kids Dash
8:00 a.m.
Admission: $10-$80
Old Town Alexandria/starting places vary
http://www.RunPacers.com/race/parkway-classic

This course, renowned for lush scenery and gorgeous river views, takes runners down the George Washington Parkway and through the iconic brick buildings lining the streets of Alexandria. With the colors of spring in bloom as a backdrop, and scores of spectators cheering along the way, this course offers a one-of-a-kind experience and makes the Parkway Classic the perfect race to kick off your running season!

April 29^th

Art on the Rocks
7-10 p.m.
Admission: $65 ($55 for early bird ticket purchasers)
The Art League Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St.

The Art League challenges mixologists from local restaurants to each select a piece of artwork as inspiration to whip up a new, artistic cocktail and pair it with a delicious appetizer. Guests will enjoy the artwork/cocktail/appetizer trifectas and help The Art League select a new Art on the Rocks champion. Bars and restaurants are still TBD.

April 30^th

Civil War Ball
8-11 p.m.
Admission: $45 in advance; reservations required
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N Royal St.
703-746-4242
http://www.alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern