Image above: Alexandria autumn colors by Evan Michio for Visit Alexandria

4th – 26th

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Voices Through Visuals Art Exhibit

Opening Reception: Sept. 4th from 7-9pm

Del Ray Artisans Gallery2704 Mount Vernon Avenue

The Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Voices Through Visuals Art Exhibit celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the rich culture, traditions, resilience, and artistic contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Through a diverse range of media and perspectives, the exhibit explores themes such as heritage, migration, family, cultural pride, and transformation. Each work contributes to a visual dialogue that connects past and present while highlighting the evolving narratives of Hispanic communities.

Cuban-American artist and Old Town Crier contributor, F. Lennox Campello, is selecting the artist awards for this exhibition. Mr. Campello is a well-known artist, curator, critic, Old Town Crier contributing writer and prominent voice in the DMV art scene.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, September 4, between 7-9 pm to meet curator Laura Ramirez-Drain and the artists. Mark your calendar now.

Register in advance for our family-friendly cultural workshops held in conjunction with the art exhibit. delrayartisans.org/exhibits/

12th

National Day of Service and Remembrance

10 am – 1 pm

Alexandria National Cemetery1450 Wilkes Street

Join communities across the country as we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and pay tribute to the first responders and service members who answered the call in the days that followed. In partnership with the National Cemetery Administration, the National Day of Service and Remembrance brings volunteers together at more than 140 participating national, grant-funded, and local cemeteries across the country. Volunteers will help clean headstones and beautify these sacred grounds in tribute to our military members, veterans, first responders, and their families. Registration is free, but required. carrytheload.org

13th

Generations at Woodlawn

12 pm – 4 pm

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House9000 Richmond Highway

703-780-4000

Celebrate Grandparents Day at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House with an immersive afternoon exploring family, legacy, and shared history. Discover the intertwined lives of the generations who lived and worked on these grounds and learn how their legacies continue to shape the site today.

 Event Highlights: Descendant Voices: Hear direct, powerful stories from descendants of the people who lived and worked at Woodlawn; Genealogy Workshop: Gain practical research techniques and actionable tools to uncover your own family origins; Hands-On Family Activities: Design and build your own custom family tree to take home; Historic Site Exploration: Walk the grounds and connect with local history.

Bring your family, share your stories, and start tracing your roots. woodlawnpopeleighey.org

19th

Alexandria Oktoberfest

11 am – 6 pm

John Carlyle Square Park300 John Carlyle Street

Get ready for an unforgettable day at the Alexandria Oktoberfest! Celebrate the season with the best of German culture, food, music, and fun at the beautiful John Carlyle Square in Alexandria. This family-friendly event captures the unmistakable spirit of Bavarian merriment with traditional music, lively entertainment, and a lively beer garden. Whether you’re here to enjoy the delicious food, shop for unique handmade crafts, or dance to the rhythms of authentic German tunes, there’s something for everyone.

What to Expect:

Live German Music and Traditional Dance Performances: Enjoy lively German tunes and classic Oktoberfest songs that will fill the air with festive energy all day long.

Beer Garden: Sip on a variety of refreshing German beers in our beer garden. Whether you love a classic lager or something a little more adventurous, you’ll find the perfect brew to enjoy.

Delicious German Food: Indulge in delicious Oktoberfest favorites, from bratwurst and pretzels to strudels and more. It’s the perfect way to experience authentic German flavors.

Handmade Arts & Crafts: Explore a variety of unique, handcrafted items by local artisans. Whether you’re looking for a special gift or something for yourself, you’ll find a treasure here.

Fun Competitions: Beer Stein Holding Contest: Put your strength to the test! See how long you can hold a full stein in this fun and competitive challenge.

Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest: Come dressed in your Oktoberfest best and compete for the coveted title of Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest!

Parking available in nearby garages. thecarlylecommunity.com

19th & 20th

Colonial Market & Fair

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway

Step back in time to shop for crafts and wares made by 18th-century artisans at the Colonial Market & Fair.

Watch makers display period crafting techniques, attend a traditional puppet show, and hear George Washington share stories of his life at Mount Vernon.

Craftspeople from across the nation will be selling their creations, including ceramics, furniture, glasswork, textiles, woodcraft, soap, and more. Mountvernon.org, 703-780-2000.

17th

IMAGE UPLOADED

4 – 8 pm

Montgomery Park

901 N. Royal Street

The Annual Taste of Old Town North is a free, family and pet friendly event held in Montgomery Park and includes a weekend of great food and drink tastings, interactive art activities, and live music.

Get tastings from Old Town North restaurants including Jula’s on the Potomac, Hank’s Oyster Bar, and other local favorites. Enjoy listening to live music by MOD with friends and neighbors. The MOD hails from DC’s music scene, blending Jazz, Funk, Americana, Folk, Downtempo, Breakbeats, and Soul music.

On street parking for all events is available in the Old Town North neighborhood or public parking located at 625 North Washington Street. For more information visit oldtownnorth.org/specialevents

19th

Chalk-a-Block

11 am – 2 pm

The Old Town North Alliance presents the 3rd Annual Chalk-A-Block from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, September 19th. Visit the newly completed TideLock project in Old Town North (Current – 1055 N. Fairfax St.) for a free, family-friendly event featuring chalk artists, live music from The Okays, local makers and artists showcasing their works, and an array of food and drinks available for purchase from neighborhood favorites.

Chalk-A-Block is designed for artists and art lovers of all ages. Dedicated community chalk areas will invite children and adults to create their own masterpieces. Art therapists from River Grove Therapy will lead interactive community art projects.

Admission is FREE and the event is open to the public. Street parking is available nearby, and visitors are encouraged to bike or walk, as TideLock is conveniently located right along the Mount Vernon Trail.

We can’t wait to see you there! oldtownnorthalliance.com/chalkablock

26th

84th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour

10 am – 3 pm

On the last Saturday of every September, the public has a unique opportunity to experience what Alexandria’s historic properties offer to those who make Old Town their home. Tour highlights include original and preserved structures, curated artwork, and historical collections — all set against Virginia’s lovely autumn weather as you walk from home to home.

Every purchase includes entrance to some of Old Town’s wonderful historic homes, a printed copy of this year’s tour book, which is your guide to the homes, and a free entrance on tour day to the Alexandria Museum at the Lyceum.

Purchase tickets and thetwig.org. Please enter your email address, if requested, to start the transaction. Email marketing@thetwig.org if you have any problems with your purchase.

Children under 12 are not allowed inside the homes; infants carried by an adult are welcome. Strollers must be left outside. The tour takes place in light rain; in the event of severe weather, it will be postponed to the next day.

26th & 27th

Howard Alan Annual Alexandria Fall Art Festival

10 am – 5 pm

John Carlyle Square Park300 John Carlyle Street

Free to attend, the Festival Features a juried selection of artwork from local and national fine artists. See thousands of pieces, all made in the USA, across every medium. Offerings include, but are not limited to: life-sized sculpture, paintings, jewelry, pottery, and textiles.

This fall event is similar in caliber to the Springtime Alexandria Art Festival. It offers the same quality of artwork. This festival has been voted as one of the top-ranked art festivals in the nation by “Sunshine Artist Magazine.” thecarlylecommunity.com