Weekend Guide: What's happening in Alexandria Jan. 30–Feb. 1

Alexandria is shaking off the snow and ready to get back to business this weekend. After last weekend’s storm left residents shoveling sidewalks and navigating icy roads, a packed calendar of events offers plenty of reasons to venture out—from Winter Restaurant Week deals to live music, farmers markets, and family-friendly activities at local libraries.

As always, check with venues and event organizers before heading out, as conditions may still affect some events.

ICYMI: Here’s what’s happening on Thursday.

Friday, January 30

Things To Do

• All Day: Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria
• 7 p.m.: Guided Meditation with Cats at Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe & Wine Bar

Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Fat Chance at 9 p.m.
• Alexandria Bier Garden: Karaoke at 8:30 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: DeadEye Stare at 9 p.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Franklin Music Duo at 9:30 p.m.
• Del Ray Pizzeria: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
• Evening Star Cafe: George Katsos at 8:30 p.m.
• Galactic Panther: Hardly Quiet (teen songwriters) at 6 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Mike Leverone at 6 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Quartet at 7:30 p.m.
• Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
• Murphy’s Pub: Powers & McLaughlin and Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Never Elected at 9 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere: Will Downing at 7:30 p.m.
• The Light Horse: Black Cactus Hotels at 9:30 p.m.
• The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

• 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park
• 8 a.m.: Deadline to Request a Ballot by Mail (last day for Feb. 10 Special Election)
• 10 a.m.: Everyone’s an Asset Builder workshop (virtual, two-day event)

Alexandria City Public Schools

• 8 a.m.: ACPS School Board Governance Committee (virtual)
• Find the ACHS sports calendar here.

Alexandria Library

• All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
• All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (virtual, ages 6-16)
• 3:30 p.m.: Fun Friday! - Viernes de diversión at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library

Saturday, January 31

Early voting begins Saturday for Feb. 10 special elections

Early voting for the Feb. 10 special elections begins Saturday, with two seats in the Virginia General Assembly on the line.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Del Ray Farmers Market cancelled Saturday for first time in over 30 years

The Del Ray Farmers Market will not open this Saturday due to ice from this week’s storm—the first cancellation in more than 30 years, according to market manager Pat Miller.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Alexandria to host free utility resource fair Jan. 31

The City of Alexandria and Councilman John Taylor Chapman will host a free Utility Resource Fair on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Things To Do

• All Day: Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria
• 7 a.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Tavern Square
• 8 a.m.: Del Ray Farmer’s Market at Pat Miller Square (Cancelled)
• 8 a.m.: Early voting for Feb. 10 Special Election begins at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections
• 10 a.m.: Running at the brewery at Aslin ALX
• 10:30 a.m.: Pedals & Pints: Long Ride at Handy Bikes
• 12 p.m.: Ice & Lights - Daytime Ice Skating at Cameron Run (Update - closed)
• 12 p.m.: February 0 a.k.a. Anti N/A Day at Aslin ALX
• 1 p.m.: Hops N Shine’s 7th Year Anniversary at Hops N Shine
• 3 p.m.: Winter in Bloom: Floral Candle Workshop at Shop Made in VA
• 3 p.m.: Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony in Space at Rachel M. Schlesinger Arts Center
• 6:30 p.m.: Wassail 2026 Party at Lost Boy Cider

Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Kev Powe Thang at 9 p.m.
• Alexandria Bier Garden: Broken Ground at 8:30 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 9 p.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Irresponsible at 9:30 p.m.
• Evening Star Cafe: Lesson Zero at 8:30 p.m.
• Galactic Panther: Local Comedy Play Is Mad About Love at 7:45 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Heather Maxwell Trio at 7 p.m.
• Makeda Restaurant: Negussie & Nani at 10 p.m.
• Murphy’s Pub: Powers & McLaughlin and Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: DJ Villianess at 9 p.m.
• Port City Brewing: Comedy night at 7 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere: Will Downing at 7:30 p.m.
• The Light Horse: The Darts (DMV) at 9:30 p.m.
• The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

• 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
• 10 a.m.: Utility Resource Fair at City of Alexandria (featuring Virginia American Water, Dominion Energy, and AlexRenew)
• 10 a.m.: Specialty Tour: Civil War Medicine at Fort Ward Museum

Alexandria City Public Schools

• No meetings or events are scheduled.
• Find the ACHS sports calendar here.

Alexandria Library

• All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
• All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (virtual)
• 10 a.m.: Borrow a Board Game at Beatley Central Library
• 10 a.m.: New Year Digital Decluttering at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 10:30 a.m.: Grand Gaming Melee (AARGGH) at Beatley Central Library
• 10:30 a.m.: VETOGA Weekly Community Yoga at Duncan Branch Library
• 12 p.m.: Introduction to Tarot at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
• 1 p.m.: The Happiness Lab at Duncan Branch Library
• 3 p.m.: Teens Teach! - Crochet! at Beatley Central Library

Sunday, February 1

League of Women Voters to host candidate forum Sunday for Senate, House races

The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria is hosting a virtual candidate forum on Sunday for the two special elections that will appear on the Feb. 10 ballot.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Things To Do

• All Day: Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria
• 8:30 a.m.: West End Farmers Market at 4800 Brenman Park
• 9 a.m.: Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market at Four Mile Run Park
• 12 p.m.: Ice & Lights - Daytime Ice Skating at Cameron Run (Update - closed)
• 1:30 p.m.: Investigating Alexandria’s Civil War Prisons at Carlyle House
• 1:30 p.m.: Virtual Candidate Forum for Senate District 39 with The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria
• 2:45 p.m.: Virtual Candidate Forum for House District 5 with The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria
• 3 p.m.: Beer, cheese, and charcuterie pairing event at Port City Brewing Company
• 3 p.m.: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman’s Bank at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Live Music & Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Live music at 9 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 10:30 a.m.
• Evening Star Cafe: Lesson Zero at 8:30 p.m.
• Galactic Panther: ESP’s InterGalactic Open Mic at 8 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 11:30 a.m., Steve Ragsdale at 6 p.m.
• Murphy’s Pub: Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere: Babatunde Hiphopera at 7:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

• 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
• 1 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Poster Exhibition Awards at Alexandria Black History Museum

Alexandria City Public Schools

• No meetings or events are scheduled.
• Find the ACHS sports calendar here.

Alexandria Library

• All day: International Correspondence Writing Month - Letter Writing Station at Beatley Central Library
• All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (virtual)
• 1 p.m.: Writers Group at Beatley at Beatley Central Library
• 1:15 p.m.: Sunday Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
• 2 p.m.: Oddball Cinema - How to Talk to Girls at Parties at Duncan Branch Library