The City of Alexandria will be hosting a celebration of its 260th anniversary and America’s 233rd birthday with music, children’s activities, food and fireworks.
When: Saturday, July 11 from 4 to 10 p.m.
Where: Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison Street, at the Potomac River between Fairfax, Pendleton and Madison Streets.
Admission to this event is free.
The main event features the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Kim Allen Kluge presenting an explosive night of fun and fanfare, featuring "Big Band Sound." A list of scheduled activities follows:
4-7:30 p.m.: Community exhibitors, children’s activities, and food and beverage sales.
6 p.m.: Performance by the Alexandria Singers, pop, rock and showtunes favorites.
7:30 p.m.: The Town Crier announces Mayor William D. Euille, who will present the Park and Recreation Commission’s CIVIC Awards. Following the awards presentation, there will be a poetry reading by Mary McElveen, Alexandria’s Poet Laureate.
8 p.m.: Distribution of birthday cake by the Mayor and members of City Council.
8:30 p.m. "Big Band Sound," with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Kim Allen Kluge, music director, with soprano Millicent Scarlett.
9:30 p.m. Grand finale fireworks display, featuring Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture" with cannon support by the U.S. Marine Corps, Basic Training School, Quantico.
Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages are available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic supper. No grilling is allowed during the event. Pets are allowed, but they must be on a leash. In the event of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 12 at 9:30 p.m.
Visitors to the historic district are encouraged to take the Metrorail Yellow or Blue lines to the King Street Station in Old Town and take the free King Street Trolley, DASH or Metro Buses to the park. The free King Street Trolley will operate from 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, July 11, for this event. The last trolley will depart from the King Street Metro and the Waterfront at 11:50 p.m.
For DASH schedule information, call 703-370-DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202-637-7000 or visit www.wmata.com.
Free parking is available at Simpson Properties Garage, (700 N. Fairfax Street) and at Trammell Crow Company (601 N. Fairfax Company). Parking is also available at Tishman Speyer (44 Canal Center Plaza) for $5.
For additional information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703-883-4686, or visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.
<tgl>— Kristen McCarthy