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Jun 9, 2025

Top Things to Do This Summer in Alexandria

Colorful fireworks burst over a calm waterfront at night, reflecting on the water. Silhouetted posts and distant city lights are visible under a clear, deep blue sky.
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Enjoy an abundance of festivals, outdoor music, waterfront experiences and more this summer in Alexandria, VA, located minutes from Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River. Don’t miss ways to connect with top global events including WorldPride 2025 and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Keep reading for all you need to know.

1. Take the NEW Water Taxi Service to D.C. for Game Days and the FIFA Club World Cup

A family of four walks on a dock near a bright yellow water taxi on a sunny day. Other people are on the boat and dock. A sign provides information about the water taxi service. The sky is clear and blue.

 

Beginning in spring 2025, fans can take the newly resumed City Cruises water taxi from the Alexandria Marina straight to D.C.’s Navy Yard on game days. Skip the traffic and get out on the water before watching the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit and D.C. Defenders. Plus, in June 2025, take the water taxi to live matches at Audi Field during the FIFA Club World Cup.

2. Celebrate Pride During WorldPride 2025 and Beyond

A crosswalk painted with the Progress Pride flag colors spans a street in an urban area with brick buildings, trees, parked cars, and traffic lights visible in the background.

Alexandria welcomes LGBTQ+ couples, families and friends to stay in and explore our city during WorldPride 2025 in D.C., May 17 to June 8, and beyond. Given a perfect score for LGBTQ+ equality by the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index for five years in a row, Alexandria offers special hotel packages during the global Pride event plus events and activations throughout June, including the 8th Annual Alexandria Pride Fair on June 28 and a special temporary installment of Virginia Tourism’s Pride LOVEworks letters at Market Square. Plus, learn about Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ history here.

3. Attend Al Fresco Art and Music Festivals

Colorful fireworks burst over a calm waterfront at night, reflecting on the water. Silhouetted posts and distant city lights are visible under a clear, deep blue sky.
This summer, enjoy an abundance of festivals with inspiring sounds and sights around the city:

  • June 7—Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair: Volunteer Alexandria’s beloved annual fair at Waterfront Park features local and regional artisans who showcase their pieces across mediums from pottery to paintings to jewelry and beyond.
  • June 14—ALX Jazz Fest: The 47th Annual ALX Jazz Fest brings syncopation and improvisation to Waterfront Park courtesy of the region’s top jazz performers, along with inspiring words by renowned poets. Plus, enjoy hands-on art projects, food and drink vendors and more.
  • June 19—Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Concert: This Juneteenth concert at Market Square features traditional African American storytelling and songs reflecting the journey toward freedom.
  • July 12—Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration: A highlight of summer in Alexandria, this riverside evening includes live music, food and drink vendors and a grand finale fireworks display on the Potomac River.
  • July 26—Beats, Bites and Brews at John Carlyle Square: Families and four-legged friends are invited to linger at this laid-back festival full of outdoor entertainment, delicious food, cold drinks and shopping.
  • August 16—Del Ray Bands and Brews Summer Bar Crawl: Bop your way along Mount Vernon Avenue to hear live music across outdoor restaurant venues during this late summer bar crawl.
  • August 23—Around the World Cultural Food Festival: One of the biggest events of the summer, the festival at Oronoco Bay Park promises to take you on a global journey with dozens of nations represented across food vendors, dance performances and artisan booths.

4. Soak Up Alexandria’s Waterfront

Two young men are walking along a marina on a sunny day, with boats docked in the water behind them and clear blue sky overhead.

A centuries-old bustling seaport, Alexandria’s waterfront blends historic authenticity with new happenings. Here’s what to do this summer:

5. Stroll the Shop Small Destination

 

Experience the D.C. region’s Shop Small Headquarters this summer along Old Town’s strollable streets. Mark your calendars for the return of one of the region’s longest-running seasonal summer shopping events. On August 9, 2025, Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale will feature dozens of independent boutiques stepping out of their storefronts and offering deeply discounted summer merchandise.

6. Savor Special Dining Events

A table filled with a variety of vibrant Indian dishes—curries, noodles, grilled meats, naan, dumplings, and colorful garnishes—arranged on assorted plates and bowls, making it one of the delicious things to do this summer.
Image Courtesy of Royal Nepal

Summer means slowing down for a weekend brunch, feeling the breeze off the Potomac on an outdoor patio and partaking in the key culinary events below:

  • June 1—16th Annual Taste of Del Ray: Chefs from some of the city’s top restaurants bring their A game for this ticketed annual event which features small bites, official judges and a People’s Choice Award.
  • August 22 to 31—Alexandria Summer Restaurant Week: Restaurant Week returns with special menus across the city’s delicious locally-owned restaurants. Stay tuned for participating restaurants and menu book to be announced later in the summer.
  • August 23—Around the World Cultural Food Festival: One of the biggest events of the summer, the festival at Oronoco Bay Park promises to take you on a global journey with dozens of nations represented across food vendors, dance performances and artisan booths.

7. Treat Yourself to Frozen Flavors

 

Beat the heat this summer at one of Alexandria’s iconic ice cream shops. Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream serves up scrumptious scoops in a retro setting just one block from the waterfront on King Street. In Old Town North, Sisters Thai’s resident confectionary, The Magnolia Dessert Bar, offers “bing bing” shaved ice in flavors ranging from matcha green tea to durian. Savor the flavor of the day—and pick up a pupsicle for your four-legged friend—at Del Ray’s Dairy Godmother. Find more ways to satisfy your sweet tooth this summer here.

8. Take a Historic Tour

A man giving a guided outdoor tour gestures while a group listens attentively in a sunny garden with benches, trees, and a red house—one of the best things to do this summer for those seeking relaxation and discovery.
Pictured: Alexandria History Tours

Trace the nation’s history along Alexandria’s centuries-old streets, visiting sites frequented by Founding Fathers, exploring cornerstones of Black history and culture, and more. Take a guided tour this summer with one of the city’s top tour outfitters.

Discover more ways to dive into summer in Alexandria.

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