What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: April 17-19

Alexandria embraces spring with warm temperatures and blooming events as the ALX Dog Walk returns to Oronoco Bay Park and Historic Garden Week showcases Old Town's finest gardens and homes. Saturday brings the final day of early voting for Tuesday's special election alongside City Council's budget public hearings, while poetry lovers can celebrate National Poetry Month at the all-day Poetry Palooza at Burke Branch Library.

From a chilling Poisons Tour at the Apothecary Museum to Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society's Spring Fling celebrating America's 250th anniversary, the weekend offers history, culture, and community. Whether you're catching the iconic Los Lobos at The Birchmere, supporting sexual assault awareness at the Jeans for Justice event, or simply browsing farmers markets before Sunday's showers arrive, Alexandria delivers the perfect blend of civic engagement and springtime celebration.

Here's a look at everything on the calendar this weekend.

Looking for something to do on Thursday? I've got you covered here.

Friday, April 17

Things To Do

8 a.m.: WEBA April Coffee & Collaboration at Beeliner
11 a.m.: Helles is back at Port City Brewing
4 p.m.: Alexandria Moms Passport Social Club Happy Hour Moms in Bloom at St. Elmo's - Old Town North

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Rich Russman at 9 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Comedy Show at 8 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Merlon Devine at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Daniel O'Connell's: Jason Hibler Duo at 9:30 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Epicure on King: Trotters Spring at 6:30 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: Blue North at 8:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Blood Family Reunion/IFF/Shifting Harbor at 7 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Lenny Stevens at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Pat Carroll & Poehemia at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Kingpin at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
St. Elmo's Del Ray: Poetry Open Mic Night at 7 p.m.
The Birchmere: Kindred The Family Soul at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Bansy at 9:30 p.m.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner at 8 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 Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility
5 p.m.: Conversational Tour: Women Were Always Here at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies - Help your gently used soft toys find a new home at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Baby Storytime at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
2 p.m.: Musical Movement at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools

8 a.m.: Governance Committee (via Zoom)
(Full details and calendar)

ACHS Titans Sports

4 p.m.: Tennis: Girls Varsity Match vs. West Springfield at West Springfield High School
4 p.m.: Tennis: Boys Varsity Match vs. West Springfield at Alexandria City High School
5:45 p.m.: Lacrosse: Boys JV Game vs. South County at Alexandria City High School - Minnie Howard Campus
6 p.m.: Lacrosse: Girls JV Game vs. South County at South County High School
6:30 p.m.: Baseball: Varsity Game vs. Robinson at Robinson High School
6:30 p.m.: Baseball: JV Game vs. Robinson at Frank Mann Field
6:30 p.m.: Softball: Varsity Game vs. Robinson at Robinson High School
6:30 p.m.: Softball: JV Game vs. Robinson at Alexandria City HS - Witter Field
7:15 p.m.: Lacrosse: Boys Varsity Game vs. South County at Alexandria City High School - Minnie Howard Campus
7:30 p.m.: Lacrosse: Girls Varsity Game vs. South County at South County High School
(Full details and calendar)

Saturday, April 18

Things To Do

7 a.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Tavern Square
7 a.m.: ALX Dog Walk at Oronoco Bay Park
8 a.m.: Del Ray Farmer’s Market at Pat Miller Square
9 a.m.: Marketplace at Athenaeum
10 a.m.: Living History Tour of Tall Ship Providence
10 a.m.: Historic Garden Week Old Town Alexandria Tour in Old Town
10:30 a.m.: Pedals & Pints at Handy Bikes
12 p.m.: Spring Break 2026 at Aslin ALX
1 p.m.: Carlyle House Historical Fiction Book Club at Carlyle House
3 p.m.: Alexandria Choral Society presents History Has Its Eyes On You at Christ Church
5 p.m.: From Darkness to Light: An Interactive Choral Discussion at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
6 p.m.: Lantern Tour at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
6 p.m. Scholarship Fund of Alexandria's Gala & Auction at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
8 p.m.: Improv Comedy Show at The Lyceum

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Eric Tubbs at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Daniel O'Connell's: Franklin Music Duo at 9:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Vibraha - Spring Encore at 6 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Joe Coleman at 6 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Negussie & Nani at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Pat Carroll & Poehemia at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Late Night Superstars at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Kindred The Family Soul at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Collective at 9:30 p.m.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner at 8 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
Valetta Port: Jim Sheats at 7 p.m.

City of Alexandria

7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility
8 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility
8 a.m.: Early Voting Deadline - Last day to vote in person for the April 21 Special Election at Office of Voter Registration & Elections
9 a.m.: Tax Time is Here! File for Free! - Free tax preparation services for eligible Alexandria residents
9:30 a.m.: City Council Public Hearing Meeting at City Hall
9:30 a.m.: FY 2027 Budget: Tax Rate Public Hearing at City Hall
9:30 a.m.: FY 2027 Add/Delete Public Hearing at City Hall
10 a.m.: 2026 Commonwealth's Attorney Community Academy
11 a.m.: Landmark/Van Dorn Coalition April Meeting at Patrick Henry Recreation Center
11 a.m.: Meet-and-Greet and Book Signing - "The Librarian Who Didn't Like Books" with author Holly Ousley-Lavender
11 a.m.: Sister Cities Swedish Coffee Subcommittee Meeting
5:30 p.m.: Specialty Tour: Poisons at the Apothecary Museum at Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
7 p.m.: Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society's Spring Fling at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Borrow a Board Game at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:30 a.m.: Parlons Français - Adult Conversation Practice at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:30 a.m.: VETOGA Weekly Community Yoga at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Poetry Palooza at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Burke Branch Friends Book Sale - Poetry Pop-Up at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Games of the States at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
11 a.m.: Language & Latinidad in The Nation's Capital at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
1 p.m.: The CHAT - Change Happens with Alexandria Teens at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
1 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at the Library at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday - Weekend Edition at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools

No events scheduled

ACHS Titans Sports

9 a.m.: Outdoor Track: Girls Varsity Invitational - McNamara Mustangs Invitational at Bishop McNamara High School
9 a.m.: Outdoor Track: Boys Varsity Invitational - McNamara Mustangs Invitational at Bishop McNamara High School
(Full details and calendar)

Sunday, April 19

Things To Do

8 a.m.: Bikes and Breakfast at Waterfront Park
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

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Kev Powe Thang at 9 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 10:30 a.m.
Epicure on King: Sing-Along/Open Mic at 7 p.m.
Galactic Panther: The OK Club at 11 a.m., Jacob Augustine, Dayvd Beach, Nadie Nadie, Your Trusted Officials at 7 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Mason Social: DJ Konquer at 10 a.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: Los Lobs with Los Hermanos Alacranes at 7:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility
8 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility
11 a.m.: Jeans for Justice at Friends To Lovers Bookstore (301 Cameron Street)
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria Library

1 p.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
1 p.m.: Writers Group at Beatley at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
2 p.m.: Alexandria Oddball Cinema - The Fare at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
2:30 p.m.: Preschool STEAM Sundays at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
(Full details and calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools