Discover Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour
March 18, April 22, May 20
Old Town – Carlyle House
Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join the Carlyle House for a tour of Alexandria as you explore and learn about the various Architecture styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work.
Reservations are required as space is limited. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5 hour guided tour! The tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. Purchase tickets here.
Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20-April 16
Throughout the DC Region
When you think Spring in the DC area, the first thing that of course comes to mind is the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom Festival coincides with the peak bloom of the Cherry Blossoms, which is expected to begin this year around March 22, though of course that date can always change based on the weather. If you haven’t been, the Tidal Basin can get very crowded around peak bloom, as can the roads and Metro stations near the Tidal Basin. If you’re looking to experience the Cherry Blossoms in a not-as-crowded area, we recommend checking out our blog here on areas other than the Tidal Basin to explore the Cherry Blossom.
Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson – New Waterfront Public Art
Late-March
Old Town Waterfront
This exhibit is the fifth temporary public art installation on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront, and will be on display until November 2023 as part of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series. Created by Jamaican-born, award-winning artist Nina Cooke John, the installation is inspired by the ships uncovered on Alexandria’s waterfront in 2015 and 2018 and the many layers of history that are not readily seen. The installation forms an abstracted ship’s hull with steel vertical elements that rise and bend, referencing the curve of the hull’s frame. Visitors can stand within the space and imagine a time in Alexandria’s history when the ships carried not only cargo like tobacco, molasses, rum and limes, but also enslaved people who were traded as part of the transatlantic and domestic slave trades. The outer blue of the installation is contrasted with an orange inner surface depicting text pulled from ships’ manifests listing items like herring, coconuts and gin, alongside names and descriptions of enslaved people. Also listed are “two boxes of oranges” and “Admonia Jackson,” hence the name of the installation.
Celebrate Easter
Celebrating Easter, especially with young kids, whether they’re family or friends, can always be fun. Easter egg hunts are always a fun interactive way to celebrate the holiday with younger family members or friends. We put together a list of fun, easy Easter egg hunt ideas on our blog here.
White House Easter Egg Roll
The White House
April 10
The White House Easter Egg Roll is always a hot ticket event in the Washington, DC area. Kids and parents head to the White House lawn to roll special Easter eggs with the president and first lady watching and presiding over the event. Each year around 50,000 people enter the lottery for about 200,000 tickets. This year’s Easter Egg Roll will be the first Easter Egg Roll since 2019 as the 2020 and 2021 rolls were canceled due to the pandemic. For ticket information and event details, visit the Easter Egg Roll website here.
Washington Nationals Baseball
Staring Mid-April
Nationals Park-Washington, DC
With the Major League Baseball lockout now over, we can now look forward to catching our Washington Nationals at home this season at Nationals Park. While the Nats don’t have quite the star power they had in previous years, catching a Nats game with friends and family is always a good time, especially if the weather is good. To plan your perfect outing to the Nats game, read our blog here.
90th Annual Old Town Alexandria Historic Homes & Garden Tour
Old Town
April 15-22
Overlooking the Potomac and within minutes of our nation’s capital, Alexandria was established in 1749. Rich in history, it was a major seaport prior to the Revolutionary War, occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, and a torpedo production site during World War II. In 1946, Old Town Alexandria was the third city in the country to create a historic district to preserve its downtown. This walking tour includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree lined streets of the historic district, boutique shopping, and fine dining, which are all just steps away. In addition, the tour ticket allows access to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and Green Springs Gardens, and to other local places of interest.
The tour proceeds “America’s Largest Open House” to fund the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens and a research fellowship program in landscape architecture. Get your tickets here.
Rite of Spring & Grieg Concerto – Awaken -Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
April 15
Maestro Ross pairs two symphonic music’s most popular works: Grieg’s lyrical, passionate piano concerto with Georgian pianist Natalia Kazaryan, and Stravinsky’s brutal, breathtaking ballet Rite of Spring. Cuban composer Guido López-Gavilán’s spicy musical take on Hemingway’s favorite cocktail will have you ready to party! Buy your tickets for the performance here.
Inaugural ALX Dog Walk
April 29
Old Town Alexandria
Beginning in Oronoco Bay Park, over 500 dogs and their owners will stroll along the waterfront walk to the Robinson Landing pier on April 2. A judging panel at Robinson Pier will choose winners from categories including funniest personality, biggest ears, fluffiest tail, best groomed, and best-recycled costume. The Dog Store in Del Ray will also award a $100 gift card to each winner. Walkers will also receive a goodie bag, a t-shirt, and breakfast refreshments at check-in. Register your pup on the official website here.
Celebrate Mother’s Day
May 14
Mother’s Day is always a special time to celebrate the moms and motherly figures in our lives. There are several different wonderful stores in Alexandria and DC to shop for Mother’s Day gifts. If you’re in search of some last-minute gifts, check out our related blog post here. If you’re in search of local brunch options to show mom some love, you’ll want to explore our blog for a list of some of our favorite Alexandria brunch options.
The Spring & Wine Festival & Sunset Tour at Mount Vernon
May 19-21
Mount Vernon
Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia’s finest wineries at Mount Vernon’s Spring Wine Festival. Relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River as you experience George Washington’s estate after hours. Bottles of wine will be available for purchase. Purchase a VIP table to receive admission for 12 people, three bottles of wine, and private waiter service.
The 3rd Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival
May 20-21
John Carlyle Square
The Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival is heading back to John Carlyle Square in 2023. All artwork is juried, which provides a higher level of quality, diversity and creativity of art on display, exemplifying the gifted artists in regions from all over the country. The show is rated as one of the top 100 art shows in Sunshine Artist Magazine. Admission is free, read more about the festival here.
The Makers Market at Port City Brewing Company with Made in ALX
May 20
Port City Brewing Co.
A diverse mix of more than 30 local makers will pop up and take over Port City’s parking lot, showcasing the creative community of Alexandria-based creators, makers, designers and crafters, with vendors curated from highly talented artisans located in Alexandria. Enjoy a Port City pint or two as you browse. The event will also feature food trucks and is both pet and kid friendly. For more information, head to Port City’s website here.
The Old Town Speed and Style Festival
May 21
King Street, Around Market Square
The Old Town Speed and Style festival is a one-day event featuring an amazing collection of rare and unusual cars from around the world.
The event will take place across the 200 – 400 blocks of King Street, and the 100 blocks of North Royal and North Fairfax around Market Square in Old Town. Along with exotic and fun cars, the event will also include a fashion demonstration led and emceed by celebrity stylist from “Say Yes to the Dress – Atlanta,” Monte Durham, from Alexandria’s Salon Monte. This year’s theme is celebrating style icon, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. For more information, visit the event page here.
Pride Month Celebrations
June 2-June 11
Washington, DC
Pride will be celebrated in our nation’s capital for the 47th year this year. This year will also mark the return of the full-scale celebration and festival since 2019. The parade and block party are scheduled for June 11 and the concert for June 12. Learn more about pride month celebrations on the Capital Pride page.
Summer Concerts in the Region
The spring months are the perfect time to start planning your summer concert calendar. There are several big headlining performers heading to the DC area this summer. Some of the big names include
For a list of other concerts this summer, check out the calendar here.
Ongoing Events That Are Great to Do in the Spring Time
Visit the National Mall
Visiting the National Mall in the springtime can be a lot of fun especially since it’s not too hot yet. Things like Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial are always free. You can also go up to the top of the newly reopened Washington Monument. Tickets are $1 through the National Park Service and can be secured the day before your desired trip. Keep in mind in the spring that the mall can often get crowded with tourists, so if you want to avoid crowds, consider going later in the evening or in the afternoons during the week.
Visit Local Markets
There are several local markets that are a lot of fun to visit, especially during the warmer spring months. While these are mostly open year-round, they aren’t too much fun when temperatures are frigid. Union Market in Northeast DC is fun to explore with over 40 local vendors and a variety of events throughout the year. There’s also Eastern Market near Capitol Hill, which has been operating for 136 years. Eastern Market offers dozens of local vendors selling produce and meats as well as freshly prepared made-to-order food. 
In Alexandria, you can also visit the Old Town farmer’s market and Del Ray farmer’s market which both operate on Saturdays from 7 am – 12 pm and 8 am – 12 pm respectively.
Explore the National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC
The United States National Arboretum is an arboretum in Northeast Washington, D.C., operated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. It covers over 600 total acres. The Arboretum presents a stunning collection of plants, with each given its own display. While it can get busier in the spring, it’s still worth checking out as it’s less busy than the Tidal Basin for things like Cherry Blossoms.
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