Del Ray Turkey Trot, parking relief, and Plaid Friday: What to know for Thanksgiving weekend in Alexandria

Drivers in Alexandria should plan for road closures on Thursday morning as the Del Ray Turkey Trot celebrates its 50th anniversary. At the same time, residents and visitors can take advantage of suspended parking enforcement through Friday.

Alexandria has been recognized as one of the best places to travel to this holiday season. (Visit Alexandria)

Turkey Trot road closures

The Alexandria Police Department announced several Del Ray roadways will be closed Thursday, November 27, for the annual race. Closures will be in effect from approximately 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Mt. Vernon Avenue between Braddock Road and Glendale Avenue will close at 6 a.m. for event setup and remain closed until the race concludes.

Beginning at 9 a.m., additional closures include Russell Road (closed to cross-traffic with personnel on site), Uhler Avenue, Oxford Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Chapman Street, Linden Street, and Maple Street.

The five-mile race kicks off at 9 a.m. from George Washington Middle School and draws approximately 6,000 participants annually. This year’s event honors three grand marshals: retired Circuit Court Judge James Clark—who has run all 50 races—and longtime DC Road Runners directors Paul Thompson and Brian Danza. [City Council recognized the milestone Tuesday with a proclamation](link to proclamations story) declaring November 27 “Del Ray Turkey Trot Day.”

Registration remains open until 6 p.m. Thursday at alexandriaturkeytrot.com.

Free parking through Friday

The city will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces and in residential permit parking districts on Thursday and Friday. The suspension applies only to legal parking spaces—temporary no-parking signs will still be enforced.

The relaxed enforcement sets the stage for Plaid Friday, Alexandria’s small-business alternative to Black Friday that pays homage to the city’s Scottish roots. Shoppers are encouraged to explore the boutiques throughout Alexandria’s neighborhoods.

City services schedule

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

DASH buses will operate on a weekend schedule on Thursday, with Lines 102, 103, and 104 not running. Regular weekday service resumes on Friday. The King Street Trolley runs daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

All Alexandria libraries are closed on Thursday and Friday.

Residential trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will follow the regular schedule. Curbside food waste collection is delayed by one day: Thursday pickup moves to Friday, and Friday pickup moves to Saturday.

Several recreation centers reopen Friday with limited hours: Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, Charles Houston Recreation Center, and Patrick Henry Recreation Center will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Historic Alexandria museums are closed on Thursday. On Friday, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, Fort Ward Museum, Freedom House Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center reopens Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dining & Giving

Not ready to tackle all that Thanksgiving entails this year? Or maybe you need some help with some side dishes or pies? Many Alexandria restaurants are standing by to help out with a variety of options. (Alexandria Living Magazine)

Find seasonal information on holiday happenings in Alexandria, gifts and decorations, charitable giving opportunities, safety tips, how to make your holiday “greener,” and more. (City of Alexandria)