Saturday thru Monday, February 19-21 - George Washington Birthday Parade & Weekend Festivities

You won't want to miss the largest parade in the country celebrating the nation's first president, which takes place on Washington's Birthday holiday, Monday, February 21, 1 to 3 p.m. in Old Town Alexandria. The parade in one highlight of many events, including an historic reenactment at Fort Ward Park, the Birthnight Banquet & Ball at Gadsby's Tavern, a 10-K race, a 1-mile race just before the parade, plus free open houses at historic attractions. Visit www.Washingtonbirthday.Net/events for a complete schedule of events. Call 703.746.3301 or visit www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com for more information on entertainment, shopping, dining and nightlife in Alexandria.

February 21 – Parade Day Activity

Between noon and 5 p.m., stop by the Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store, 101 North Union Street, and dress up in 18th-century style! Make a tricorn hat to take with you, get your picture taken with the George and Martha Washington cut-out, and try on 18th-century clothing. For more information, call 703.746.4760.

Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center Offers Alexandria Prehistoric Peoples Spring Break Camp

Wondering what to do over spring break? Children ages 7 to 10 can enjoy a week long, full day nature camp learning about the prehistoric Indian peoples who once lived within Alexandria's ancient forests. Activities include woodland hikes, games, role playing, stone tool making, story telling, journaling, and more! The camp fee includes a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Register early, space is limited! Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center 750 Sanger Ave.April 18 – 229 am to 3 pm (drop off at 8:30 am)Fee: $275 City resident / $300 nonresidents To register, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703.746.5559 for more information.

Saturday, February 12 10am-12pm Sensory Friendly Movie

"Gnomeo & Juliet" at AMC Tyson's (Mclean) - 703-734-6212, AMC Potomac Mills (Woodbridge) - 703-490-3801, and AMC Rio Cinemas (Gaithersburg) 301-948-6673.Cost is $6 per person. 

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy new current in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program. 

February 12 – "Washington Comes to Dinner" – Carlyle House Historic Park

On February 3, 1760, George Washington wrote in his diary "we to Church at Alexandria. Dined at Colo. Carlyles and returned in the Evening" to Mount Vernon. More than 200 years later, visitors to the Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax Street, will experience this first hand when they meet John Carlyle and a young George Washington, who was related to the family. Museum guides will bridge the past to the present with a modern interpretation of the house, and the 18th-century characters will bring the historical period to life through their dress, mannerisms, antiquated speech and knowledge of the era. Visitors will tour at their own pace and might find John Carlyle in his study discussing business with George Washington, Sarah Carlyle and Martha Washington working on sewing samplers, or the Carlyle's daughter playing with the Custis children. Tours run from noon to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.carlylehouse.org or call 703.549.2997.•

Tavern Toddlers Continues on Mondays

Join other caregivers for a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open play time in Gadsby's historic ballroom Mondays, excluding Federal holidays, through April 25 any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Cost is $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult, or $30 for purchase of a five-week pass. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

February 12 – Swordsmen's Rendezvous – Gadsby's Tavern Museum

En garde!  Experience this unique living history program as you learn a skill all 18th-century gentlemen must know – sword play! The program at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street, includes re-enactment of 18th-century sword play and a display of 18th-century weapons. This popular family event will include some audience participation as you practice your new found talents. Price is $6 per person, ages 5 and up. Program recommended for 2nd grade and older (adults will have fun too!). Tours are from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and reservations are required. For more information, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Alexandria Museums Hold Open Houses on Parade Day

Free Tours of Gadsby's Tavern Museum and Other Historic Alexandria Museums 

On Monday, February 21, the day of the George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria, several Historic Alexandria sites will be hosting special open houses with free admission. Gadsby's's Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street, will both be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 South Alfred Street, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, 201 South Washington Street, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors may tour these historic sites for free on this day. Also open from noon to 5 p.m. is the Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store, 101 North Union Street, where you can stop in and get dressed for the parade in 18th-century style! Make a tricorn hat to take with you, get your picture taken with the George and Martha Washington cut-out, and try on 18th-century clothing. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson celebrated his inauguration in 1801 in the Gadsby's Tavern ballroom? What was a popular tavern beverage of the time? What was considered luxurious for overnight accommodations in the 18th century? Visitors to Gadsby's Tavern Museum will find out at the place George Washington dined and danced. At the Apothecary, which opened in 1792, visitors will see its unique collection of herbs and botanicals, while discovering the important role the Apothecary played in early Alexandria. Among featured display items will be documents from Martha Washington, our country's first First Lady, one of several famous customers who relied on the Apothecary. At the Friendship Firehouse, first built in 1855 and remodeled in 1871, see hand-drawn fire engines, leather water buckets, axes, sections of early rubber hose and other historic firefighting equipment. The Friendship Fire Company, established in 1774, was Alexandria's first volunteer fire company, and the restoration of Friendship's distinctive cupola was just completed last year. At The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, stop in for the special program "Meet the President" before the parade. At 11 a.m., Brian Hilton will portray President Woodrow Wilson and discuss events of the time of his presidency, 1913 to 1921, before taking questions from the audience. And before or after the parade, guests can explore The Lyceum's exhibitions. For more information about these events, please visit www.historicalexandria.org.