National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 19 is a free, annual event that encourages the public to consider bicycle commuting as an affordable, fun and environmentally friendly way of getting to work.

Alexandria residents will be among the thousands of area commuters who celebrate Bike to Work Day by cycling to pit stops on their way to work (or back home, if applicable) and participating in special events around the City and throughout the region.

Participants can register at biketoworkmetrodc.org

Alexandria pit stops include:

• City Hall - Market Square (301 King St.) from 7 to 10 a.m. (City-sponsored pit stop)

• Carlyle (300 John Carlyle St.) from 6 to 9 a.m.

• Del Ray (2704 Mt. Vernon Ave.) from 6 to 9 a.m.

• Fairlington Centre (1711 Centre Plaza) from 6:30 to 9 a.m.

• Mark Center North Parking Garage (across from 4825 Mark Center Drive) from 7 to 9 a.m.

• National Landing (3030 Potomac Ave.) from 3 to 6 p.m.

The City-sponsored pit stop at City Hall will have grab-and-go refreshments, free swag, 360 photo booth, DJ and more. This year marks the first year back at our largest venue Market Square in front of historic City Hall.

Bike to Work Day is free and open to all commuters; however, registration is required. Register before the day of the event and pick up your free commemorative t-shirt at your selected pit stop. Bike to Work Day is part of the City’s observance of National Bike Month.

Visit alexandriava.gov/GOAlex for more information about Alexandria’s Bike to Work Day and National Bike Month.

Bring a Kid to a Park, May 20

Saturday, May 20, Alexandria residents can bring their kids out to local parks to celebrate the 13th Annual Kids to Parks Day, a day of outdoor exploration organized by the National Park Trust. This holiday, recently recognized in a proclamation from Alexandria City Council, encourages youth to discover and explore parks, learn about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM, and the history of the country and its national treasures.

Residents are encouraged to explore a new-to-them park anywhere in the city, play a game of tennis or pickleball, ride a bike, discover the plants and wildlife that call our city home, and more. 

For more information on Alexandria's Parks and Park Amenities, visit alexandriava.gov/parks/kids-to-parks-day-2023.

For more information on the National Parks Trust and Kids to Parks Day, visit parktrust.org/kids-to-parks-day/

Civil War Camp Day at Fort Ward

Learn about soldier and civilian life during the Civil War, and enjoy a regimental band concert, at Fort Ward Museum’s annual Civil War Camp Day on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suggested donation is $2 per person, and $5 for families. The event is weather dependent.

The annual living history event features military and civilian reenactors in camp settings in and around the historic fort. The program includes camp life activities, infantry and artillery drills and firing demonstrations, equipment displays, and civilian impressions. 

Among the living history units participating are the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. B, the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, Co. K, and the 1st U.S. Artillery, Co. D. 

Special interpretations include a U.S. Army Quartermaster tent, a Union company surgeon, a Northern schoolmarm who interprets 19th-century education and pastimes for children, and a soldier in the reconstructed Officers’ Hut portraying the daily routine and living quarters of an officer in the Defenses of Washington. 

At 3 p.m., the 8th Green Machine Regiment Band will perform a concert of Civil War music on the Museum lawn. This historical brass ensemble, sponsored by George Mason University, presents music of the 19th century on authentic period instruments.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the Union forts that comprised the Civil War Defenses of Washington. The Museum features programs, events, and exhibits throughout the year. Fort Ward is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the west end of the City of Alexandria. Visit fortward.org.

May Is Preservation Month

During May, preservation month, communities celebrate local historic preservation. The City of Alexandria has been a leader in the field of historic preservation, from the creation of the country’s third oldest historic district in 1946 to the start of Alexandria Archaeology in 1961. All tickets and reservations can be made at Alexandriava.gov/Shop.

Specialty Tour: Peeling Back the Paint Layers
Every Saturday in May 9:30 a.m.
$15 per person, $12 OHA members

Explore Gadsby's Tavern Museum top to bottom, including spaces rarely opened to the public, and understand how the buildings have changed over time. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera! Tour begins in the shop of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street.

Walking Tour: Parker-Gray with Alexandrian Michael Johnson
Saturday, May 20, 10-11 a.m.
Free, but advance registration required.

Spend an hour on a walking tour through the Historic Parker-Gray neighborhood with Michael Johnson, a native of Parker-Gray. Parker-Gray is a historic African American neighborhood in Alexandria and home to many important Alexandrians.  Johnson will share his personal history of this amazing neighborhood, giving details about the various important sites of the neighborhood. Tour begins in front of Charles Houston Recreation Center.

Explore on your own. Visit Alexandriava.gov/SelfGuidedTours for walking tours of Alexandria. City of Alexandria residents can also tour any City-owned museum for free. Visit Alexandriava.gov/Museums for a list of City-owned museums and hours.