Arts & Entertainment, Events, Events

Alexandria October Events

Through Oct 8th

 

alexandriamusicfestival0916-0022nd Annual Alexandria Live Music Week

Admission: Varies by venue

Various locations throughout Alexandria

703-439-8487

www.LiveMusicWeek.com

 

The 2nd Annual Alexandria Live Music Week, presented by Alexandria Live and On Tap Magazine, is a citywide music event featuring Alexandria’s diverse music scene and musicians, as well the clubs, bars, restaurants, shops and venues that feature and promote live music in Alexandria. There will be over 50 participating venues and over 300 performances, including a full schedule of music during Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue. Venues include Alexandria’s legendary The Birchmere, Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, Bilbo Baggins, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Nick’s Night Club, The Durant Arts Center, Daniel O’Connell’s, La Tasca, FireFlies, Chadwicks, MetroStage and many more. The event will include national acts such as The Funky Meters and El DeBarge and renowned local bands such as The Free Flowing Musical Experience, Judge Smith, Janna Audey, Farley Granger and legendary Irish guitarist Rocky Guttman. Other events include a children’s music program, German oompah music, jazz, acapella, bluegrass, blues, R&B, and much more. Also, look for a music-themed motion picture viewing party courtesy of the Alexandria Film Festival.

 

 

Through Oct 9th

 

Blackberry Daze

Admission: $55 for Wednesday-Thursday 8 p.m. and Sunday 7 p.m.; $60 for Friday-Saturday 8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 3 p.m.

Metro Stage

1201 N. Royal St.

703-548-9044

www.MetroStage.org

 

USA Today called Blackberry Daze by Ruth P. Watson & Thomas W. Jones II, “A powerful deeply moving story of triumph and tragedy, love and family…a journey straight into the center of the human heart.” The play, which runs September 1-October 9, 2016, features music by William Knowles.

 

1st

 

21st Annual Art on the Avenue
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Free

Mount Vernon Ave.

Del Ray

www.VisitDelRay.com

 

Art on the Avenue is a multicultural arts festival celebrating our community’s diversity through the arts in the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia. This festival is held on the first Saturday in October, rain or shine.

 

Every year, over 50,000 visitors stroll down Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray between Bellefonte and Hume Avenues. People are greeted by over 300 artists (jewelers – silversmith & beaders, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, unique painters, sculptures, fabric artists), musicians (Irish, folk, rock n’ roll, country and more), and food vendors (hot dogs, BBQ, Indian, crab cakes, chocolate bananas dipped on a stick, and homemade cider donuts). Activities for children include stuff your own scarecrow, paint a pumpkin, lotus flower design and weave screen art to name a few.

 

7th-9th

20th Annual Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour

6-9 p.m.

Admission: Friday, October 7: $40; Saturday, October 8: $48; Sunday, October 9: $36

Mount Vernon Estate

703-780-2000

www.MountVernon.org

 

Visitors learn about the successes and failures of our Founding Father’s wine endeavors, enjoy live blues music, and meet “George and Martha Washington” on the Mansion’s piazza. Guests experience an evening tour of the Washingtons’ home and are invited to visit the basement where he stored his wine. To accompany the wine tasting, fruit and cheese boxes are available by advance purchase for $29.99. VIP tables start at $1,100 and include admission for 12 people, three bottles of Mount Vernon house wine, a dessert platter from Alexandria Pastry Shop, a fruit and cheese tray from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, and private waiter service. Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour takes place rain or shine.

 

8th

21st Annual Art Safari

noon-4 p.m.

Admission: Free

Torpedo Factory Art Center

105 N. Union St.

703-838-4565

www.TorpedoFactory.org

 

An Alexandria family tradition, Art Safari returns to the Torpedo Factory Art Center for its 21st year. Resident and visiting artists lead young visitors in an afternoon full of hands-on creative activities such as papier-mâché, fiber, and printmaking. Enjoy the Alexandria Archaeology Museum’s special activities featuring their collection of 18th– and 19th-century pottery and china, as well as The Art League’s popular Gallery Scavenger Hunt. Children should wear clothing that can get a little dirty. All activities are free, with most appropriate for children ages 5-11. Some activities require parental assistance.

 

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Open House

10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Admission: Free

Apothecary

105-107 S. Fairfax St.

703-746-3852

www.AlexandriaVA.gov/Apothecary

 

In recognition of October’s designation as National Pharmacy Month, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will host a free open house.Visitors are welcome to enjoy free tours.

 

14th

Port City Black Veil Happy Hour | Female Stranger Mystery Quest

Happy Hour 6-8 p.m., Quest 8-10 p.m.

Admission: TBA

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

134 N. Royal St.

703-746-4242

https://shop.AlexandriaVA.gov/Events.aspx

 

Join Port City Brewing Co. and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum as we celebrate the release of the Long

Black Veil, a special craft beer inspired by the famous tale of the Female Stranger. Proceeds from

this special happy hour and event, held on the 200th anniversary of her death, help support the

museum’s educational programs.

 

Happy Hour: Enjoy Port City’s Long Black Veil IPA in the Gadsby Courtyard for a special happy hour. Other Port City beers will be available through a cash bar. $25 per person (includes one drink and light appetizers, and dinner is available for purchase through Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant).

 

Quest :This year only, dive deeper into the Female Stranger story as you try to unravel the mystery! Join us for the happy hour then come inside and meet major players in the story. Reach your own conclusions about her identity as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this local legend. Space is limited in this one-time event.

 

15th

“We’ve Been Burned: Firefighting in Civil War Alexandria” Friendship Firehouse Walking Tour

1 p.m.

Admission: $6 adults; $4 ages 10-17 (best for ages 10 and up)

Begins at Friendship Firehouse

107 Alfred St.

703-746-4994 (weekdays); 703-746-3891 (weekends)

https://shop.alexandriava.gov

 

When Virginia joined the Confederacy, Union troops occupied Alexandria and many municipal functions were taken over by the U.S. Army. This walking tour will explore firefighting during the Union occupation. Were firefighters allowed out after curfew? What happened to the firehouses and equipment? These questions and many others will be answered as tour participants visit the sites of four local fire houses, and learn a great deal of firefighting and Civil War history.

 

22nd

 

A Mansion House Whiskey Tasting

7-9 p.m.

Admission: $50 for tasting and tour

Carlyle House

121 N. Fairfax St.

703-549-2997

www.CarlyleHouse.org

 

Come join history lovers and fans of the new hit PBS show “Mercy Street” for an inspired evening of Mansion House Hotel elegance. This bourbon tasting will harken back to the Civil War era and include a delicious menu of small bites and cheese pairings. Must be 21+ to attend.

 

22nd – Nov 12th

 

A Party to Murder

Admission: $22

The Little Theatre of Alexandria

600 Wolfe St.

703-683-0496

www.TheLittleTheatre.com

 

It’s Halloween and six people have come to play a murder-mystery game hosted by writer Charles Prince at a rustic island cottage in Italy. This play is a fast-paced farce, so what could go wrong? As the characters embark on a weekend of fun, ghosts from the past begin to haunt the proceedings, and it becomes clear that they are both playing for laughs and their lives. Audiences are treated to rising tensions, secret passageways, incriminating letters, unexpected corpses, and a 25-year-old unsolved mystery that will propel the audience to…well, we don’t want to give away the unexpected and terrifying conclusion.

 

24th

 

Can’t We Get Along? George Washington’s Break with Three Famous Virginians

7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)

Admission: $12; $10 for society members and volunteers

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

134 N. Royal St.

703-746-4242

https://shop.AlexandriaVA.gov/Events.aspx

 

While many people look back to the “good old days” when everyone was patriotic and got along, it is interesting to note that over time George Washington completely severed his relationship with five famous Virginians. In this talk the focus will be on three of them: James Madison, James Monroe and Edmund Randolph. Professor Henriques will exam these breaks and see if there is a common thread between them.

 

28th

 

Bark or Treat Canine Cruise

5:30-7 p.m.

Admission: $16 adults; $10 children; dogs ride free

Alexandria City Marina

1 Cameron St.

703-684-0580

www.PotomacRiverboatCo.com

 

Come out with your costumed canine and cruise to some Halloween tunes along the Potomac. We will have Halloween treats on board. Be sure to have your four legged friend in their best costume.

 

The Gadsby’s Tavern Ghost Tour

7-9 p.m. Tours start every 30 minutes

Admission: $20 adults; $10 kids ages 7-17

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

134 North Royal St.

703 519 1749

www.AlexColonialTours.com

 

You’ll follow your colonial-costumed guide through the eerie Alexandria streets, visit a cemetery, and enter one of the most haunted buildings in Old Town. You’ll hear the tragic story of the Mysterious Female Stranger, and visit the very room where this mysterious woman was transformed into a ghost! Portions of the proceeds benefit Gadsby’s Tavern Museum.

 

29th

 

Carlyle House Walking Dead Footsteps Zombie Event

6-9 p.m.

Admission: TBD

Carlyle House

121 N. Fairfax St.

703-549-2997

www.CarlyleHouse.org

 

Visitors will experience firsthand some encounters with zombies from the 18th-century, a-la-Walking Dead-style. Where in Old Town could a person have more zombie fun than in the garden and vaults of Carlyle House? After navigating your way through the zombie-filled garden, visit our dark, dank tunnels for a spooky experience. Then, join the zombies and their very lively hosts for a party on the front lawn. A ghost tour of Alexandria is also included in the price of admission. Reservations required for the tour.

 

30th

 

20th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade

2-4 p.m.

Admission: Free

Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues

Del Ray

www.VisitDelRay.com

 

One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions—the Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade—is coming soon on Sunday, October 30. The parade begins at Mt. Vernon Ave., south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb. The parade and all activities are free! Please note that both judging for Best Decorated Stroller and registration for Best Pet Costume will begin at 1:30 p.m.

 

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