The annual George Washington Birthday Parade is one of the City of Alexandria’s oldest and most proud local traditions, dating back to 1801, making this the oldest event of its kind in the nation!
The weekend’s celebration will hold particular significance as it not only celebrates the birthday of our nation’s first president but also his legacy as one of the country’s founding fathers, as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this year on July 4th.
When is the George Washington Birthday Parade taking place?
The 2026 George Washington Birthday Parade is set to take place on Saturday, January 14th, in Old Town Alexandria.
The parade is slated to start at 2 pm and will conclude at around 4 pm.
What is the George Washington Birthday Parade route?
The parade is set to take place in Old Town Alexandria, which will have a significant impact on the local flow of traffic throughout the morning and likely until late in the afternoon on Saturday.
The starting location of the parade is the intersection of Wolfe Street & S St. Asaph Street.
The parade will then march north, along S St. Asaph St. towards Queen Street, where it will eventually turn and then head south again on Pitt Street.
The end of the parade’s route will be at the intersection of S Pitt St. and Duke St.
What to know before you come
There are several factors to consider that might impact your decision to attend the 2026 George Washington Birthday Parade.
Here are a few of those factors:
- The weather report predicts mid-50’s with cloudy skies and low chances of rain. Be sure to dress accordingly.
- This year’s parade is expected to draw particularly large crowds, so you will want to find your spots early if you want a good view.
- Traffic in the area will be heavily disrupted as a result of road closures and detours. Instead, take the Yellow Line on the metro to the King Street – Old Town stop and walk over to the parade area.