What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: May 1

ALEXANDRIA, Va - Alexandria's waterfront welcomes the Pride of Baltimore II this weekend as the historic topsail schooner docks at City Marina through Sunday, offering free deck tours and ticketed day sails on the Potomac. The ship joins Tall Ship Providence on the waterfront, giving visitors a rare chance to explore two historic vessels while the city celebrates with everything from Clean the Bay Day stream cleanups to the massive Rec Fest 2026 showcasing recreation programs across Alexandria.

Despite chances of showers Friday and Saturday, the weekend delivers spring festivities, including the Spring Fling Old Town Block Party, Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Tequila & Taco, and the Old Town Run Club's Star Wars-themed Intergalactic 5K at Cameron Run on Sunday under sunny skies.

Whether you're touring a 19th-century clipper ship, swapping houseplants at the library, sampling five Scottish whiskies at the Sister Cities event, catching Leonid & Friends at The Birchmere, or joining Mayor Gaskins' resident roundtable Saturday morning, Alexandria offers the perfect blend of maritime heritage, environmental stewardship, and community 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, May 1

Things To Do

11 a.m.: Free deck tours of Pride of Baltimore II
6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
7 p.m.: Old Town Books Junior: A Night of Soccer & Secrets: Laurie Morrison in conversation w/ Erin Becker at Old Town Book Junior
7 p.m.: Opening Reception for Alexandria City High School Titan Student Art Exhibition at Del Ray Artisans'
7:30 p.m.: Alexandria City High School's Titan Theatre will present "Anastasia: The Musical" at ACHS
7:30 p.m.: Singles Social Club (35-45) at Lost Boy Cider

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Live music at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: DJ Quickspin at 9 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Live music at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Daniel O'Connell's: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Epicure on King: Live music at 6:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Healers Co, Exact Same Speed, and Other People's Feelings at 8 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Will Barkley at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Kaitlyn Margaret Irish Dance at 7 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Tyler Goldstein and Rocky Guttmann at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: The Second Sun 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: Leonid & Friends at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: A Night To Forget at 9:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

8:30 a.m.: Health and Safety Coordinating Committee meeting
11 a.m.: 14th Building Safety Month Kick off Event
7:30 p.m.: Traditional Music Series Concert - Dylan Foley & Matt Mancuso at The Lyceum
(City of Alexandria calendar)

Alexandria Library

11 a.m.: Introduction to Hula at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
1:30 p.m.: Film Screening - "Sinners" at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
3:30 p.m.: Lego Competition at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools

8 a.m.: Governance Committee at School Board Meeting Room
(ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)

Saturday, May 2

Things To Do

7 a.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Tavern Square
8 a.m.: Del Ray Farmer’s Market at Pat Miller Square
10 a.m.: Beyond the Battlefield: A Civil War Walking Tour of Alexandria at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
10 a.m.: Friends of Barrett Library Book Sale at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
10 a.m.: The Chamber ALX's 2026 CareerCon at Virginia Tech - Boeing Auditorium
10 a.m.: Living History Tour of Tall Ship Providence
10 a.m.: Spring Fling - An Old Town Block Party at Old Town businesses
10:30 a.m.: Pedals & Pints at Handy Bikes
10:30 a.m.: Mayor Gaskins to host resident roundtable at Beatley Library
11 a.m.: Daily sail with Pride of Baltimore II
11:30 a.m.: Run Club Meet Up: 5k Fun Run & Walk at Commodore Old Town
12 p.m.: Spring Makers Market at Port City Brewing Company
12 p.m.: Carlyle House Family Fun Day at Carlyle House
12 p.m.: Cinco de Mayo Block Party at Tequila & Taco
2 p.m.: Daily sail with Pride of Baltimore II
5 p.m..: Free deck tours of Pride of Baltimore II
6 p.m.: 2026 Alexandria Sister Cities’ Whisky Tasting at The Lyceum
6 p.m.: Wine & Art Night at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
7:30 p.m.: Alexandria City High School's Titan Theatre will present "Anastasia: The Musical" at ACHS

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Live music at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: Broken Ground at 9:30 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Rowdy Ace at 6 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Live music at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Daniel O'Connell's: David Thong Trio at 9:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Nimrod's Sun, An Awful Panic, Solemente, & Little A. at 8 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 6 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Negussie & Nani at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Rocky Guttmann and Practically Einstein at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Kingpin at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Leonid & Friends at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Diplomatic Immunity at 9:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

8 a.m.: EPC 2026 Annual Retreat - Environmental Policy Commission
9 a.m.: Clean the Bay Day - Stream Clean Up at the Potomac River
10 a.m.: Rec Fest 2026
11 a.m.: Mother's Day Sip & Paint
11 a.m.: Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Layers at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
6 p.m.: 2026 Alexandria Sister Cities' Whisky Tasting
(City of Alexandria calendar)

Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Coffee & Conversation at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
10 a.m.: How To Grow Homegrown Herbal Tea at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: The CHAT - Change Happens with Alexandria Teens at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: English Conversation Club at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: House Plant Swap at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
3 p.m.: Spanish Conversation Club at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools

No meetings are scheduled
(ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)

Sunday, May 3

Things To Do

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
9 a.m.: Old Town Run Club's "May the Force be with you" Kids 1 Miler and 5K at Cameron Run Regional Park
10 a.m.: Daily sail with Pride of Baltimore II
11 a.m.: With Love Studios Bridal Event at With Love Studios
12 p.m.: Run Club Meet Up & 5k Run at Hotel Heron
1 p.m.: Free deck tours of Pride of Baltimore II
2 p.m.: U.S. Army Band Chamber Ensembles: From Bach to Bluegrass at The Athenaeum

Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Live music at 9 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Live music at 10:30 a.m.
Galactic Panther: Fiasco at 7:30 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: Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton at 7:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria

No events scheduled
(City of Alexandria calendar)

Alexandria Library

1 p.m.: Writers Group at Beatley at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
2 p.m.: Oddball Cinema - Big Game at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
2 p.m.: Colonial Crafternoon - Covered Buttons at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

Alexandria City Public Schools