How to ring in the new year in Alexandria
First Night returns for 31st year; restaurants, breweries and venues offer festive options
Alexandria offers a full slate of ways to ring in 2026, from a sprawling family-friendly festival to live music, craft beer, and fine dining, all capped by twin fireworks shows over the Potomac River.
First Night Alexandria
The city’s signature New Year’s Eve festival returns Wednesday with more than 12 hours of live entertainment, family activities, and two fireworks displays.
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 the 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.
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.
A portion of the proceeds supports orchestra, chorus, and band students in Alexandria City middle and high schools.
For tickets and a full schedule, visit firstnightalexandria.org.
Fireworks
This year, the city of Alexandria is co-hosting the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebration at the waterfront.
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.
Prime viewing spots include Waterfront Park, Jones Point Park, Founders Park, Oronoco Bay Park and Windmill Hill Park. The shows are free and open to the public.
Live music and entertainment
The Birchmere: The Seldom Scene and Shelby Means perform at 7:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Rap is Poetry Open Mic Night from 8 to 11 p.m.
219 Restaurant: Holly Montgomery at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: New Year’s Eve Midnight Haus Party at 8 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 9:30 p.m.
Clyde’s at Mark Center: Shartel & Hume at 9:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Mason Social: New Year’s Eve Bash with DJ Konquer at 9 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Poehemia and Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: New Year’s Eve party at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Parties and special events
The Light Horse: Cocktail party at 8 p.m. featuring chef-inspired hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $75. 715 King St.
Cooper Mill: An ‘80s-themed bash at 9 p.m. featuring a costume contest, DJ, dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a midnight Champagne toast. Tickets are $145. 10 Duke St.
Hotel Heron: Midnight masquerade at 7 p.m. with small plates, open bar, music, dancing and a dramatic countdown at midnight. Formal attire and masquerade masks encouraged. Tickets are $130. 699 Prince St.
MacMillan Spirit House: Roaring ‘20s New Year’s Eve bash at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45. 500 Montgomery St.
Evening Star Cafe: All-inclusive New Year’s Eve bash at 9 p.m. in the No. 9 Lounge featuring unlimited drafts, wines, cocktails and food, plus a Champagne toast at midnight. Must be 21 or older. 2000 Mount Vernon Ave.
Josephine: Prix fixe dinner featuring a complimentary coupe of Champagne and chef’s amuse-bouche followed by hors d’oeuvres, entrée and dessert. Tickets are $150. 109 S. St. Asaph St.
Bar 86: New Year’s Eve bash on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations encouraged. Complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 4 p.m. 215 S. Union St.
Vermilion: Multi-course feast from Chef Anthony Chittum featuring seasonal dishes. Tickets are $135. 1120 King St.
Food and drink
Atlas Brew Works: The Atlas Alexandria Brewery & Tap Room, 2429 Mandeville Lane, offers a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration featuring $6 pints all day, festive music and Andy’s Pizza. A countdown at 8 p.m. lets parents get the kids to bed and still catch the midnight celebration from home. The taproom closes at 9 p.m. For more information, visit atlasbrewworks.com.
Hops N Shine: Kids Noon Year’s Eve from noon to 2 p.m. featuring coloring, music and a balloon drop. Free and family-friendly. 3410 Mount Vernon Ave.
Beeliner Diner: CatRad Noon Year’s Eve from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring brunch, crafts and a dance party with DJ Smoky and a countdown to noon. Tickets are $15. All ages welcome. 3648 King St.
a.lounge+bar: Ring in 2026 at a.lounge+bar, 625 First St., with an exclusive New Year’s Eve menu featuring caviar and Champagne for two, honey-lavender duck breast and pomegranate white chocolate pavlova. Reservations recommended.
If you go
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.
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.
First Night venues: Pets are not permitted. Service animals are welcome. All venues are ADA accessible where possible. The event is rain or shine.
Getting home safe
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide program offers free Lyft rides home — up to $15 — from 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 4 a.m. New Year’s Day for those 21 and older in the D.C. metro area, including Alexandria. Download the Lyft app, go to the Payment tab and select “Add Lyft Pass” to enter the promo code. A New Year’s Eve-specific code will be posted at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at soberride.com.
New Year’s Day
Most city government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Alexandria’s courts are closed through New Year’s Day, reopening Thursday, Jan. 2. All Alexandria libraries close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and remain closed on Jan. 1.
Trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day following New Year’s Day. If your regular pickup is Wednesday, expect it on Thursday instead.
DASH buses operate on a weekend schedule on New Year’s Day, with lines 102, 103, and 104 suspended. The King Street Trolley runs as usual, every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Alexandria Police Department is suspending meter enforcement and residential permit district enforcement on Jan. 1. Meters will still accept payment. Fire lanes, crosswalks, loading zones and temporary no-parking signs will still be enforced.