Alexandria Events August 2017
First Thursdays Del Ray
6-9 p.m.
Admission: Free; pets welcome
Mt. Vernon Avenue
Del Ray
http://www.visitdelray.com/page-1718168
First Thursdays is a series of free outdoor street festivals along Mt. Vernon Avenue in the spring and summer. Every first Thursday of the months of April, May, June, July, August and September the Del Ray Business Association features businesses along Mt. Vernon Avenue, special events, food and music. Each month has a different theme with activities for children, live music and a festive atmosphere.
Friday Night on the Square
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Market Square
301 King St.
Alexandriava.gov/concerts
City concert series with Friday night performances throughout the summer. Feel free to bring a picnic and chairs or sit around the fountain or bench seating in front of City Hall.
Family Tours at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Sundays through Labor Day
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Admission: $5 adults ($4 with AAA); $3 children ages 5-12; free for kids 4 and under
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
134 N. Royal St.
703-746-4242
alexandriava.gov/gadsbystavern
Special family tours led by junior docents grades 4-7 and ending with hands-on activities in the ballroom will be offered at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Thanks to stationed guides, families will be able to start a tour as soon as they arrive and move through the museum at their own pace, and children will be able to connect with the museum through their peer tour guides.
5th
Friendship Firehouse Festival
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: Free
Friendship Firehouse Museum
107 S. Alfred St.
http://www.historicalexandria.org
Enjoy the annual Friendship Firehouse Festival in the 100 Block of S. Alfred Street. Visit historic Friendship Firehouse and get a free fire hat! Be sure to see the old hose reel, as well as the suction pumper fire engine, both pulled by hand. This year marks the 151st anniversary of the City of Alexandria Fire Department. Festival includes community booth, fire-fighting activities, fire vehicles, and more.
Alexandria Archaeology Dig Days
1:30-3 p.m.
Admission: $5
Shuter’s Hill at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial
101 Callahan Dr.
http://www.alexandriava.gov/Archaeology
Assist Alexandria Archaeology at a public dig! The dig day includes an introduction to the history and archaeology of the Shuter’s Hill Site, a site tour, and the opportunity to sift through excavated soil and assist with artifact processing. $5 donation and pre-registration is required at www.alexandriava.gov/Archaeology.
13th
Apothecary Museum Geek Tour: A Magical Apothecary Tour
12 noon-1 p.m.
Admission: $15 per person
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax St.
shop.AlexandriaVA.gov
On this one hour specialty tour of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, learn about the real world botanical science that inspired the potions and herbology of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and make your own magical sleeping potion! Adults and children ages 8 and older welcome.
18th
Movies Under the Stars Outdoor Movies Series
8:30-11 p.m.
Admission: Free
Market Square
703-746-5592
alexandriava.gov/recreation
The City of Alexandria invites you to a screening of family-friendly movies.). Be sure to bring blankets or a beach chair and enjoy an outdoor movie. Arrive early to choose your seating and feel free to bring a picnic supper. Some light concession sales.
19th
Cinema Del Ray Outdoor Movies
7 p.m.; films begin at dusk
Admission: Free
Mt Vernon Recreation Center
2701 Commonwealth Ave.
http://www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com/summer
Bring family, friends, neighbors and a blanket to watch these open-air movies including Sing, Zootopia, Beauty and the Beast and Moana at Cinema Del Ray, now in its 12th season.
27th
Frank Lloyd Wright 150th Birthday Celebration Picnic Series
Admission: Varies
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House
9000 Richmond Highway
http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org
Celebrate world-renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday at the only Frank LloydWright house open to visitors in the D.C. region—the Pope-Leighey House! Located just 10 miles from Old Town Alexandria, the Pope-Leighey House is the perfect showcase of one of Wright’s “Usonian” style modest homes that he began designing in the 1930s. The Pope-Leighey Picnic Series ends on the 27th with a mid-century modern, family-style back-to-school picnic (Loren Pope was an education reporter and author) on the grounds of the house. Stay tuned for other events throughout the year, from in-depth architectural tours to Twilight & Tipple Tours with beverages and bites.