On Saturday, July 8, 2023, the City of Alexandria will celebrate its 274th birthday, and the USA’s 247th birthday. That’s right, the city is 27 years older than the country. Before describing how you can enjoy the planned event, here is a bit of the history behind its founding.

Records of the area that became Alexandria begin about 140 years prior to the founding of the city. Captain John Smith of the Virginia Company explored and documented the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River in 1608. In 1654, Margaret Brent, the first female lawyer in America and advisor to the Governor of Maryland, received a land grant from the Governor of Virginia that included the future City of Alexandria.

The city’s merchant story began with the purchase of land by Scottish immigrant John Alexander in 1669. In 1749, local landowners and businessmen petitioned the Virginia House of Burgesses to establish a town named Alexandria, for the Alexander family. Over the next several decades, notable structures such as Christ Church, Carlyle House, Friendship Fire Company, Gadsby’s Tavern and the Lee-Fendall House were built. Alexandrian George Washington, who had maintained a town house on Cameron Street, became the first President of the United States.

It’s FREE to attend the birthday celebration which will begin at 6:00 pm in Oronoco Bay Park at 100 Madison Street with a musical performance by Three Man Soul Machine. Other activities include hands-on arts from the Office of the Arts’ Mobile Art Lab, Information tables by Alexandria Library and the Office of Historic Alexandria, and solar powered charging stations provided by Dominion Energy. Cupcakes will be distributed at 8:00 pm, and food truck vendors will be available along Pendleton Street. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra performs at 8:30 pm, and will accompany the 9:30 pm fireworks show with the 1812 Overture.

Suggested locations for fireworks watching are:

Canal Center Plaza (Center Canal Plaza)
Rivergate Park (2 Montgomery St.)
Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
Founders Park (351 North Union St.)
Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)
Point Lumley Park, (1 Duke St.)
Windmill Hill Park (501 South Union St.)
Fords Landing boardwalk (99 Franklin St.)
Jones Point Park (Jones Point Drive)
George Washington Masonic Temple (101 Callahan Drive)

Attendees may bring their own lawn chairs and blankets to the lawn seating at Oronoco Bay Park, however, grilling, smoking, tents, and large or staked umbrellas are not permitted and pets should be left at home. Visitors are encouraged to bike, walk or take public transportation. For a list of parking lots and garages, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/parking/parking-in-old-town-alexandria

Alexandria Celebrates 274th Year in Oronoco Bay Park