[Archived] City of Alexandria to Hold Annual USA & City Birthday Celebration on July 8

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2017

The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 268th and the USA’s 241st birthday on Saturday, July 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St., located at the Potomac River between Fairfax, Pendleton, and Madison Streets). In the event of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 9, at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.  

The event will kick off with a performance by the Ocho de Bastos Band featuring Latin Pop, an energetic fusion of tropical rhythms with pop rock. Next to perform will be the U. S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, which has inspired audiences throughout the nation and abroad for more than 50 years in a proud tradition that began with the musicians of the Continental Army. The main event will feature the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra with Guest Conductor Jon Kalbfleisch, presenting a night of fun and fanfare that begins with the Continental Color Guard Presentation of the Colors and ends with the “1812 Overture,” cannon and fireworks. A list of scheduled activities follows:

• 5 p.m. - Performance by Ocho de Bastos; refreshment sales

• 6 p.m. - Performance by the U. S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

• 7:30 p.m. - Welcome by Mayor Allison Silberberg, poetry reading by Alexandria Poet Laureate Wendi R. Kaplan, and acknowledgements

• 8 p.m. - Distribution of birthday cake by the Mayor and Members of City Council

• 8:30 p.m. - Performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra; Jon Kalbfleisch, Guest Conductor, accompanied by the Continental Color Guard presenting during the National Anthem

• 9:30 p.m. - Grand Finale fireworks display featuring Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture,” with cannon support by the Presidential Salute Battery of the 3d United States Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”), Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia

• View the event flyer

Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating, and participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food, such as ice cream, hot dogs, fried rice, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, barbeque sandwiches, shaved ice and kettle corn are available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic dinner.  No grilling is allowed during the event.  Please leave pets at home and be mindful of neighbors by refraining from smoking at this event.

Visitors to the historic district are encouraged to take public transit.

• For Metrobus and Metrorail schedule information, call 202.637.7000, or visit www.wmata.com.

• The Free King Street Trolley will also operate on an extended schedule, with the last trolley departing lower King Street at 11:45 p.m.

• For DASH schedule information, call 703.746.DASH or visit www.dashbus.com.  

In addition to regular parking garages and metered parking, parking is available for a special flat rate of $5 at Simpson Properties Garage, 700 North Fairfax St., and American Real Estate Partners, 44 Canal Center Plaza.

For additional information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea J. Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.5419, Virginia Relay 711.