Table of Contents
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The Alexandria Pipes and Drums Summer Concert scheduled for Friday evening at Waterfront Park in Old Town has been cancelled due to unhealthy air quality, the band confirmed in a social media post Friday.
"Due to unhealthy air quality, tonight's Waterfront Concert has been cancelled," the band said, adding that it hoped attendees would stay safe.
The free performance had been set for 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. — the band's temporary home this summer while construction continues at Market Square outside City Hall, where the concerts are typically held. The cancellation comes as the Washington metropolitan region is under a Code Purple air quality alert, the second-most dangerous tier on the Air Quality Index, driven by fine particle pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke.
The band confirmed the second and final concert of the 2026 summer series remains on the calendar: Friday, Aug. 21, at 7:45 p.m. at Waterfront Park. "Please mark your calendars — we look forward to seeing you then," the band said.
Known as "Alexandria's Own," the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums traces its roots to 1971, when a group of pipers and drummers began playing together in the city. It was formally organized in 1972 to celebrate Alexandria's Scottish heritage, with backing from the local tourist council and business leaders. More than 50 years later, the band fields roughly 20 pipers and 10 drummers and maintains a year-round schedule of parades, festivals and civic events.
Over the decades the band has performed for presidents, governors and ambassadors. It played at Gov. Charles Robb's 1982 inaugural ball, at the White House for President Ronald Reagan on St. Patrick's Day in 1987, and at the 2005 President's Cup golf tournament, where it escorted former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush into the opening ceremonies. That same year the band also served as the warm-up act for a Rod Stewart concert.
After each performance, audience members can meet the musicians, take photos and learn about joining the group, which welcomes recruits at all experience levels and rehearses on Thursdays at the Durant Center.
The Code Purple alert prompted the city to close all three outdoor pools Friday and move all summer camp programs indoors. Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged residents in a Friday morning video post to avoid strenuous outdoor activity. "Everyone stay safe," she said.
For air quality updates, visit alexandriava.gov/AirQuality. For the full list of city closures and cancellations, visit the city's emergency alert page. More information about the band is available through the City of Alexandria events calendar.
