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Spring is practically knocking on the door, and Alexandria is already wide awake. March brings a full month of festivals, forums, bar crawls, book talks, live performances, and community milestones.
Whether you're looking to celebrate, connect, get inspired, or just have a good time, here are twelve events worth putting on your calendar this month.
1. WEBA's 5th Annual Women in Business
Thursday, March 5 | 5–7:30 PM | The Garden ALX
The West End Business Association kicks off the month's robust lineup of women-centered events with its milestone fifth annual celebration, held in honor of International Women's Day. This year's theme — "Leading with Heart: Love, Empathy, and Service-in-Action" — shifts the spotlight onto Alexandria's nonprofit sector, featuring a powerhouse panel of executives from organizations including ALIVE!, Senior Services of Alexandria, Volunteer Alexandria, the Breast Cancer Collective, and ACT for Alexandria. Mayor Alyia Gaskins headlines as keynote speaker, with Jennifer Ayers of ALIVE! as moderator. Expect high-level conversation, meaningful networking, and local food and drink from Alexandria's small business community.
2. Ballyshaners 43rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 7 | 12:15 PM | Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria doesn't wait until March 17 to get its Irish on — and hasn't for over four decades. The Ballyshaners parade is the DC area's oldest St. Patrick's Day celebration, and it shows: pipe bands, Irish dance schools, community groups, and a festive crowd that turns King Street into something worth seeing. All events are free and open to the public, making this the perfect family outing to kick off the weekend. Arrive early for the best spots along the route.
3. The Women's Bar Crawl: Celebration, Cocktails & Connection
Saturday, March 7 | 2–7 PM | Del Ray, Mt. Vernon Avenue
Also on March 7, but in a very different register: Del Ray psychologists Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis bring their unique blend of wellness and revelry to Mt. Vernon Avenue for a 5-hour, women-centered bar crawl through seven women-owned or partially-owned restaurants. The experience is part celebration, part ritual — with a fire release station, a guided primal scream moment at Pat Miller Square, and a closing dance party at Piece Out Del Ray. Not into the experiential stations? No problem — crawl activities are optional, and the drink and food specials stand on their own. Tickets are $22 individually or $100 for a four-pack. A portion of proceeds benefits the Domestic Violence Safe House in Alexandria; donations of menstrual supplies are also encouraged at check-in.
Tickets and info at visitdelray.com →
4. EmpowerHER Women's Health Forum
Sunday, March 8 | 11 AM–3 PM | Charles Houston Recreation Center
On International Women's Day itself, Councilwoman Jacinta Greene, Alexandria Celebrates Women, and the Ivy Foundation of Northern Virginia co-host this free community forum focused on intergenerational women's health and wellness. Panel discussions, wellness activities, and local vendors fill the afternoon at Charles Houston Rec Center — one of Alexandria's most historically significant community spaces. Women of all ages are welcome, and the event is designed to educate, empower, and connect across generations.
Follow @jacinta4alexandria for details.
5. American Voices, Presented by ACS and WashMetPhil
Sunday, March 8 | 3 PM & 7 PM | George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Round out International Women's Day with an evening of music that feels made for the moment. The Alexandria Choral Society and WashMetPhil join forces for American Voices, a program celebrating spirituality, nature, and human connection. The setlist spans Gabriela Ortiz's Kauyumari, Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Make Our Garden Grow, and Jake Runestad's Earth Symphony — a wide, ambitious arc delivered in one of Alexandria's most dramatic venues. Two showings available: 3 PM and 7 PM. Tickets are $45 for adults and $5 for children.
Tickets at alexandriachoralsociety.org →
6. Cécilia in Concert at the Historic Lyceum
Tuesday, March 10 | 7–9:45 PM | Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
If you've never heard of Cécilia, consider this your introduction — and your invitation. Widely recognized as three of Canada's finest traditional musicians, the trio of accordionist Timi Turmel, pianist and violinist Erin Leahy, and eight-time Canadian Fiddle Champion Louis Schryer has built a devoted following by honoring their Celtic and Québécois roots while weaving in influences from classical, jazz, swing, and contemporary styles. The result is music that is both deeply rooted and wonderfully alive. Their debut album Accent is a vivid preview of what to expect. The Lyceum — one of Old Town's most intimate and historic venues — is exactly the right room for this kind of evening. Fair warning: you will leave smiling.
7. Women's Leadership Forum
Friday, March 13 | 7:45–10:30 AM | The Westin Alexandria
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce's signature Women's Leadership Forum returns, presented by HRP Group. Four community leaders take the stage for candid panel conversation moderated by Emily Dickens of SHRM: Kate Brennan of Daniel O'Connell's, Dr. Pamela Gilchrist of Virginia Tech, Jacquelyn Didio of the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and Assistant Chief Tina P. Laguna of the Alexandria Police Department. The forum opens with a buffet breakfast and networking at 7:45 AM, with Q&A and an interactive discussion rounding out the morning. Member tickets are $85; prospective members pay $110.
Register at thechamberalx.com →
8. Alexandria Festival of the Book: "Portraying America 1776–2026"
Saturday, March 14 | 10 AM–3:30 PM | St. Paul's Episcopal Church
In the city's milestone 250th year, the Alexandria Festival of the Book takes on an ambitious theme: Portraying America 1776–2026. Presented by St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Virginia Humanities, this one-day festival features award-winning authors guiding attendees through the Revolutionary War era in the morning session and into the Gilded Age and Jazz Age in the afternoon — all within walking distance of the very streets those periods shaped. If you're the kind of reader who wants to go deeper into history during America's semiquincentennial year, this is your event.
9. Shamrock Smash 2026
Saturday, March 14 | All Day | Del Ray, Mt. Vernon Avenue
Del Ray doubles down on St. Patrick's Day with its beloved annual Shamrock Smash bar crawl — and 2026 brings some notable new wrinkles. The first 500 registrants snag limited-edition swag bags, and all profits from registration go to Cook for Vets, a nonprofit providing healthy meals and nutritional support to veterans. Beyond the cause, the crawl delivers: Irish-themed food specials, craft cocktails, live acoustic sets, and the fan-favorite "Kick the Keg" competition at select brewery locations, where the lucky soul who orders the final pour wins a prize. Collect the year's exclusive Shamrock Smash pin at each participating spot. Locations include Evening Star, Pork Barrel BBQ, Northside 10, Hops N Shine, Piece Out, and more.
10. National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20–April 13 | Washington, D.C. — with easy access from Alexandria
The most iconic sign of spring in the region officially gets underway March 20, with the National Cherry Blossom Festival running through April 13 across the river in D.C. But here's the thing: some of the best ways to experience the blooms start right here in Alexandria. Pedego Alexandria offers guided e-bike tours — roughly three hours, departing from Old Town and pedaling across to East Potomac Point Park and beyond — that let you skip the DC traffic and parking headache entirely. Prefer the water? City Cruises runs a water taxi from Old Town to Georgetown, The Wharf, and National Harbor, one-way or round-trip, with cherry blossom views the whole way. Weekend tours and water taxi spots fill up fast, so book ahead. Keep an eye on National Park Service predictions for peak bloom dates.
Plan your trip at visitalexandria.com →
11. Easter Egg Hunt at the Lee-Fendall House
Saturday, March 28 | Sessions at 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM & 3 PM | Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
One of Old Town's most beloved springtime traditions returns to the Lee-Fendall House gardens on March 28. Each session includes an egg hunt through the historic grounds, crafts, games, a cupcake walk, special gift shop deals, and a visit from the Easter Bunny — making it a full afternoon for families with little ones. Sessions are limited and reservations are required in advance, so don't wait on this one. Tickets are $15 per participating child, $5 for accompanying adults, and free for infants under 2. Bring your own basket.
Reserve tickets on Eventbrite →
12. On Stage This Month
The Birchmere & The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Two of Alexandria's finest performance venues have standout offerings to close out the month. At The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue), America's legendary music hall delivers a stacked March calendar: Irish folk fans should bookend the St. Patrick's season with The High Kings with Debi Smith on March 6 and Gaelic Storm with JigJam on March 29. In between, Tom Rush with Brendan Cleary and John Gorka brings his storied American folk catalog on March 20, and ZZ Ward with The Jesse Williams Band delivers a bluesy punch on March 21. The WATCH Awards Ceremony, honoring outstanding contributions to Washington-area theater, lands at the Birchmere on March 22.
Meanwhile, The Little Theatre of Alexandria opens Guess Who's Coming to Dinner on March 28, running through April 18. Based on the landmark 1967 film, this production brings one of American cinema's most enduring stories about race, love, and family to the intimate LTA stage — a fitting choice for a city that takes both its history and its ongoing community conversations seriously. LTA has been a cornerstone of Alexandria's arts scene for nearly a century.
Birchmere tickets and calendar → | LTA tickets →
As always, check individual event pages for the latest ticket info, parking, and any last-minute updates.
