[Archived] City of Alexandria to Hold Annual USA & City Birthday Celebration on July 7

For Immediate Release: June 25, 2018

The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 269th and the USA’s 242nd birthday on Saturday, July 7, from 6 to 10 p.m., at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.). In the event of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 8, at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The event will kick off with a performance by the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy’s premiere jazz ensemble. The main event features the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra with Jon Kalbfleisch, Guest Conductor, presenting an explosive night of fun and fanfare. This year’s master of ceremonies will be award-winning reporter Melanie Alnwick from Fox5DC. A list of scheduled activities follows:

• 6 p.m. - Performance by U.S. Navy Band Commodores; refreshment sales
• 7:30 p.m. - Town Crier announces Mayor Allison Silberberg; poetry reading by Wendi R. Kaplan, Poet Laureate; 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
• 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
• Watch the Live Stream (beginning at 8 p.m.)

Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating, and participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Refreshments such as ice cream, hot dogs, Thai food, pizza, barbeque sandwiches, snow cones and kettle corn will be available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic supper.  No grilling is allowed during the event. Please be mindful of your neighbors and refrain from smoking at this event, and pets should be left at home.

Visitors to the historic district are encouraged to bike, walk or take the Metrorail Yellow or Blue lines to the King Street Station and take the free King Street Trolley, DASH or Metro buses. Bicyclists may visit alexandriava.gov/GOAlex for the City’s Bikeways Map, which features the City's best on-street and off-road bikeways, as well as locations of bicycle parking.

For a list of garages and parking lots in the Old Town historic district, visit Where to Park in Old Town. In addition to regular parking garages and metered parking, paid parking will be available at Simpson Properties Garage (700 North Fairfax St.), and at American Real Estate Partners (44 Canal Center Plaza).

For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation or call the Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592.

For media inquiries, contact Melissa Riddy, Senior Communications Officer, at melissa.riddy@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3961.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation email maureen.stugill@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5420, Virginia Relay 711.

Note: This news release was updated on June 26, 2018.