“Hear Ye! Hear Ye!,” Alexandria Town Crier, Henry Bergonon-Wallier, dressed in period costume, officially opened the celebration of Alexandria’s 275th birthday, ringing the bells at high noon on April 16.
Alexandria Town Crier Bergonon-Wallier opens the celebration of Alexandria’s 275th birthday on April 16.
Alexandria was founded by a group of Scottish merchants, led by Jonathan Alexander – hence our name. This port city grew and prospered. Alexandria played an important part in shaping our nation’s history and the democracy that we have. Many patriots from the Revolutionary War were from Alexandria, and the tomb of the unknown soldier lies in Alexandria. The city was home to presidents, including the first one: George Washington adopted Alexandria as his home.
There were dark days as well. Alexandria was one of the largest ports for slave trading. Foreign immigrants sometimes were not welcomed. Indigenous people were treated poorly. Connecting our Past to Define a Brighter Future is the theme of the 275th celebration so that all of Alexandria’s history will be told. One of the first celebratory projects will be the planting of 275 new trees all over Alexandria.
Mark Your Calendars for July 14
The largest public celebration for Alexandria’s birthday will be on July 13, 2024, in Oronoco Park. The event schedule is as follows:
- 6:00 pm – Musical act opening.
- 7:30 pm – Town Crier announces Mayor Justin Wison. Alexandria Poet Laureate, Zeina Azzam, will read her poetry.
- 8:00 pm – Members of the City Council will distribute cupcakes.
- 8:30 pm – Live musical performance.
- The grand finale will be the fireworks, which will be extra special this year.
Several venues are good for seeing the fireworks, and we will be confirming and publishing news of events closer to the event. All the events are free.
Parking is going to be difficult to find so it is recommended that attendees walk, bike, or use public transportation if possible. Bring your chairs or blankets. There will be vendors selling food, water, and soft drinks.
Other Special Events
Many associations and companies have special events or items for the 275th celebration. The Robinson Landing College already has a new exhibit of the buried ships. In the pipeline are immersive historical walks, civic celebrations, and educational programming. On the current event list, the local police and city agencies are planning cook-outs for local residents.
Here is your chance to take part in history!
For those new to Alexandria: The city has its fireworks the week after the national fireworks on July 4. America will be 248 this year and Alexandria will be 275.
Learn more by typing alexandriava.gov/ALX275 into your browswer or click HERE. Photos courtesty of the City of Alexandria.
Lenore Marema moved from Chicago 18 years ago for a great job opportunity. When she left Chicago, it was 20 below zero and when she arrived in downtown DC, it was sunny and 43. She landed in Cameron Station, a welcoming community. She retired here 5 years ago and continues to visit friends in Chicago in the summer and remains a Chicago Cubs fan.
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