First Night Alexandria celebrates 31 years with $10 tickets, twin fireworks shows
Family-friendly festival features 12 stages of music, comedy and magic across Old Town and Carlyle
First Night Alexandria, the city’s signature New Year’s Eve festival, returns Dec. 31 with more than 12 hours of live entertainment, family activities, and two fireworks shows over the Potomac River.
Now in its 31st year, the alcohol-free, family-friendly event transforms Old Town and the Carlyle neighborhood into a walkable celebration featuring more than 20 acts across 12 stages, all within a one-mile radius.
Tickets are $10 per person for those two and older, the lowest price in decades, organizers said, citing economic challenges facing the community. The Waterfront Park celebration is free and open to the public.
Festivities begin at noon at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, which hosts five stages with the Kids Celebrate! Seniors Day Party and family programming, including performances by Culture Queen, Groovy Nate, magician Mike Rose, comedians Andy Evans and Sylvia Traymore Morrison, and the GP Vibe Band.
At 4:30 p.m., the Light Up Carlyle Block Party launches with live music from Taisha Estrada, Nasim Siddeeq and the Late Night Superstars at Carlyle Park Stage. The Little Theatre of Alexandria hosts magic shows from 4 to 7 p.m.
By 7 p.m., the celebration scatters throughout Old Town inside museums, churches, and other venues. Genres range from pop, rock, jazz, and R&B to Americana, country, and Irish music, plus comedy and dance instruction.
Market Square on King Street serves as a central hub from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with three rotating DJs.
Additional evening venues include the Westin Hotel Carlyle, Washington Street United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 24, and the Lyceum, hosting acts including the Irish Breakfast Band, the Porch Delights, and the Common Ground Band.
Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St., anchors the night’s finale from 7 p.m. to midnight. DJ One Luv performs from 7 to 10 p.m., followed by a family-friendly fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. Dream City Brass takes the stage from 10 to 11:55 p.m., building to the midnight fireworks finale.
DASH will station a festive warming bus on Strand Street where visitors can warm up between shows. The Mobile Art Lab will offer crafts to take home.
Prime fireworks viewing spots include Waterfront Park, Jones Point Park and Founders Park.
All matinee and prime time performances are indoors with limited capacity on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers recommend mapping out the evening in advance and arriving early to popular shows, as later performances fill quickly.
Attendees can reach Old Town via Metro’s King Street station, the free DASH bus, rideshare or the trolley system, which runs until 11 p.m. Public parking garages and street parking are available. Organizers suggest parking near the venue where you plan to end the evening to manage post-fireworks crowds. Parking information is available on the city’s Where to Park in Old Town webpage. Some streets near Carlyle and the waterfront may close for public safety.
Pets are not permitted. Service animals are welcome. All venues are ADA accessible where possible.
The event is rain or shine. A portion of the proceeds supports orchestra, chorus, and band students in Alexandria City middle and high schools.
First Night Alexandria Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Ticketholders will receive a “Know Before You Go” email on Monday, Dec. 29. Tickets are nonrefundable but transferable.
For tickets and a full schedule, visit firstnightalexandria.org.