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ALEXANDRIA, Va — The Del Ray Citizens Association will host the 2026 First Thursday season at Pat Miller Square, reviving the free monthly neighborhood celebration for a three-month run from May through July.
The series kicks off Thursday, May 7, with the theme "It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," inviting residents and visitors to gather for music, activities and conversation. Each event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at the square, located at Mount Vernon and East Oxford avenues.
Two more events follow on the first Thursday of each month. The June 4 gathering, "Field Day," will be sponsored by the Del Ray Farmers Market, and the July 2 event, "America 250," will be sponsored by The Jen Walker Team. Alexandria Hyundai is sponsoring the May kickoff.
The 2026 season marks a transition for the long-running tradition. The Del Ray Citizens Association has taken over organizing First Thursday from the Del Ray Business Association, which founded the event and produced it for nearly 30 years.
"The Del Ray Business Association is very excited that the Del Ray Citizens Association is continuing this long-time community tradition," said Lauren Fisher, president of the Del Ray Business Association.
The Del Ray Citizens Association is a volunteer-led neighborhood group focused on strengthening community ties and supporting quality-of-life initiatives in Del Ray. All First Thursday events are free and open to the public.
