[Archived] Celebrate Washington's Birthday with the Office of Historic Alexandria

Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday 

In honor of the 286th anniversary of his birth, the Office of Historic Alexandria celebrates Alexandria's most famous resident with five unique events.

●     February 1, 8, 15 -- Birthnight Ball Dance Classes, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Prepare for the February 17 Birthnight Ball by learning 18th century English country dancing from expert instructors. Cost: $12 per class or $30 for the series. Reservations recommended: visit alexandriava.gov/Shop or call 703.746.4242.

●     February 17 -- Annual George Washington Birthnight Banquet and Ball, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., 5:30 p.m.  You are invited to the recreation of this famous celebration of Washington's Birthday in 1799. The evening includes an 18th-century banquet, English country dancing, dessert collation, character re-enactors, and General and Mrs. George Washington. Period costume optional, "after-five" attire encouraged. Cost: $125 per ticket. $150 per person includes: dinner in the same room with the President and Mrs. Washington, or $250 per person to share the same dinner table with the Washingtons.  Reservations required: online at alexandriava.gov/Shop or by calling 703.746.4242. Please note this event is sold out.

●     February 18  -- Revolutionary War Day, Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about the army life and fighting tactics of Revolutionary War soldiers in this annual Fort Ward Park event. The program features a Colonial encampment, and a tactical skirmish between British and Colonial troops at 2 p.m. Free.

●     February 19 -- Presidents' Day Open Houses, (Multiple Sites), 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. On February 19, the day of the George Washington Birthday Parade, several Historic Alexandria sites will be hosting special open houses with free admission. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St., and the Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 South Alfred St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, 201 S. Washington St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On this day, visitors will enjoy free tours at these historic sites.

●     February 22 -- Lecture: I Cannot Tell a Lie: Myths about George Washington that Should be Discarded, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 7:30 p.m.  Professor Peter Henriques examines several of the myths that have developed and which keep us from better understanding our first President. Cost: $12 per person or $10 for Society members and volunteers. Reservations are recommended.  Make them online at  alexandriava.gov/Shop or by calling 703.746.4242.