Taking place Feb. 20 from 1-3 p.m., this year’s parade will feature more than 1,000 Freemasons from across the country who will participate in the Memorial’s 100th Anniversary Celebration.
“This year’s parade will march to the base of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial,” said George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee co-chair Tyler Vanice. “Following the parade, thousands will participate in the Memorial’s Centennial Cornerstone Ceremony.”
Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday parade is the oldest and largest in the country. This year’s theme is George Washington: The Man, The Mason, The Cornerstone of Our Republic. Parade Grand Marshal will be George D. Seghers, Executive Director of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the Memorial’s cornerstone.
The starting point of this year’s parade will be the corner of N. Fayette and Pendleton Streets. The Parade Review Stand will be at the corner of King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Freemasons will continue on to the steps of the Memorial.
Road closures will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Parade Day. Public parking garages are available but organizers note that no garage access will be allowed within the parade route area or parade assembly area after streets close at 10 a.m.
DASH Bus will operate free shuttle buses from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from the Eisenhower Metro Stop to the corner of Pendleton and Henry Streets, near the Parade Start Point. DASH buses will be running on Parade Day on a holiday schedule. All DASH buses are free.
The Metro (Blue line) will be running to the Braddock Road Metro stop near Start Point on a holiday schedule. The Alexandria Trolley will not be running on King Street on Parade Day.
The George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee was established by the city in 1976 to organize and carry out its annual celebration of George Washington’s birthday in his adopted hometown.
Sponsors of the 2023 George Washington Birthday Parade include: Jubilee Sponsor – George Washington National Masonic Memorial; Diamond Sponsor – George Washington Legacy Foundation; Gold Sponsor - Marion E Moon Enterprises; Silver Sponsors - Brothers Paving & Concrete and Simpson Development, Inc.; George Washington’s Preferred Hotel - Duvall House; Bronze Sponsors - Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22, Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association, and MediaTek USA Inc; Supporting Sponsors - Jeanne Jacob & Gerry Frank and McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc.
All parking on nearby side streets of the parade route will be cleared by 9 a.m with the bridge at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue cleared by 5 a.m. For more information, including parking, road closures, maps, route, and status, visit www.washingtonbirthday.com.