Top Things to Do This Spring in Alexandria, VA

This cherry blossom season, soak in the pink and white wonders as you wander Alexandria’s red-brick sidewalks, or see the D.C. blossoms up close with bike tours from Pedego Electric Bikes. Beginning on March 20, 2025, take a water taxi to The Wharf for a short 10-minute jaunt to the Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry blossoms, or take the Cherry Blossom Cruise past the Tidal Basin blossoms and into Georgetown, beginning March 22.

Head to Hilton Mark Center to experience “Fleeting: An Exhibition of Artists from Torpedo Factory Art Center Celebrating Cherry Blossoms” through April 27, and sample a Cherry Blossom Sakura Cocktail from Elaine’s for a limited time. Find more cherry blossom-themed experiences here.

Image Courtesy of ALX Dog Walk

This spring, get your furry friends in on the fun. On April 5, 2025, the ALX Dog Walk lets you parade your pup along the waterfront alongside live music, an emceed dog show with prizes, a Sustainability Festival featuring eco-friendly shopping and more. The next day, April 6, the 3rd Annual Del Ray Dog Fest features dog-centered activities, dog menu items, live music, vendors and food.

Pictured: “Break Water” rendering; Image Credit: Nekisha Durrett

Anticipated to open in late March, new waterfront public art installation Break Water, by D.C.-based artist Nekisha Durrett, will honor the resilience and strength of Black communities. Break Water’s centerpiece, crafted from blackened wood, evokes the sidewheel of the steamboat River Queen, a vessel that symbolized Black ownership and opportunity until its mysterious destruction by fire in 1911, shortly after its purchase by Lewis Jefferson, a Black entrepreneur. Encircled by black sandbags, the piece honors the resilience and strength of Black communities, referencing both protection and endurance during crises.

The new temporary installation is the seventh in the Site See: New Views in Old Town annual public art series and will be on display until November 2025.

April’s mild weather makes it the perfect time to get outside and stroll the city’s centuries-old streetscapes. Discover Federal, Georgian-Palladian, Victorian and Art Deco styles during Carlyle House’s Discover Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour on March 15, April 19 and May 17, 2025. On April 26, participate in the 92nd Annual Historic Garden Week Old Town Alexandria Tour, part of Historic Garden Week in Virginia. This easy walking tour includes private townhomes and secluded gardens located along the tree-lined streets of the historic district. In addition, the tour ticket includes admission to two Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects within a short driving distance of the tour area – the Gardens at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens as well as Green Spring Garden. Find more of Alexandria’s standout architectural spots to explore here.

Pictured: Casa Luna Owner Barry Weng

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May by getting to know some of Alexandria’s AAPI business owners. Explore international artwork at Kyo Gallery, helmed by Jason Longfellow. Find Northern-style authentic Chinese food at KungFu Kitchen , located in the West End’s Alexandria Commons shopping center, from owner Amy Liang and her team. And on King Street, the cocktail-inclined should head below Kisso Asian Bistro to Casa Luna, owned by Barry Weng, for creative handcrafted cocktails paired with sophisticated bar bites. Find many more businesses to support year-round and uncover new favorites here.

Get outside and stroll Alexandria’s centuries-old streetscapes boasting signature springs scenes as you revamp your wardrobe for the warmer weather. Shop more than 100 locally owned boutiques along and around the King Street mile, with curated offerings spanning sundresses to vintage jewelry to designer shoes and beyond.

Find more ways to savor springtime in Alexandria here.