From Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2026, Old Town has a fundraising gala on Friday night, the Saturday farmers' market, a free two-day art festival in Carlyle, and a few small tours and talks from the city's historic sites. If you're reading this after the weekend has passed, our evergreen guide to things to do in Old Town Alexandria is the place to start.
Friday, September 25: The ALX Pink Gala
Friday night's headline is the ALX Pink Gala, starting at 7 p.m. at ALX Community, 277 S. Washington Street. It raises money for the Breast Cancer Collective, an Alexandria nonprofit that helps women in underserved communities get breast cancer screening and diagnostic care. Tickets are $125, or $175 with a rooftop VIP reception; dress is pink-tie optional. ALXnow reported on September 23 that tickets were still available, and the Breast Cancer Collective's event page has the details. Not a gala person? Friday afternoon is a good time to see the Torpedo Factory before the weekend crowds, then stroll up King Street for dinner.
Saturday, September 26: Market Morning, Art Festival Afternoon
Start at the Old Town Farmers' Market, open 7 a.m. to noon, year-round, rain or shine. Since January 10, 2026 it has been temporarily on the 100 block of North Royal Street and in the Tavern Square courtyard, just across the street from its historic Market Square home, while City Hall and Market Square are renovated. Pick up produce, bread and flowers, then find a coffee on King Street.
Steps away, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street, runs its Peeling Back the Layers tour from 10:30 a.m. to noon: a top-to-bottom look at how the buildings changed, including rarely opened spaces such as the fourth floor. Tickets are $15 ($12 for Historic Alexandria members) in advance from the city's listing. Expect several flights of stairs.
Then head to Carlyle for the Howard Alan Annual Alexandria Fall Art Festival, now in its 24th year, at John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle Street, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. It's a juried show of work by local and national artists, all made in the USA: sculpture, painting, jewelry, pottery, textiles and more. Details are on the producer's festival page and the Carlyle Council's event page. While you're there, find The Art League's Ice Cream Bowl tent at John Carlyle Street and Jamieson Avenue: $20 buys a one-of-a-kind handmade ceramic bowl filled with an ice cream treat, with proceeds going to the League's ceramics studio and classroom relocation.
A heads-up on crowds: The Twig's 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour is on Saturday, and it is sold out, with no waiting list and no tickets sold on the day. Ticket holders will find the tour hours and tour-book pickup times and places on The Twig's tour page. Everyone else, expect busier sidewalks in the historic district.
What's Open at the Torpedo Factory This Weekend
The Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union Street, is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and free, though it occasionally closes at 5 p.m. for private events. Artists set their own studio hours, so not every door will be open. Two shows to time a visit around: KaleidoSCOPE at Scope Gallery (Studio 19) ends Sunday, September 27, and "In Gray," photographs by Soomin Ham at Multiple Exposures Gallery (Studio 7), runs through October 11. Our art galleries guide covers more exhibition spaces worth visiting while you're in the neighborhood.
Sunday, September 27: Brunch, History and the Festival's Last Day
Sunday is the quieter day. Start with brunch near King Street (book an early table if you're doing the 11 a.m. apothecary tour), then pick one or two of these:
- Specialty Tour: Women in Medicine at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax Street: apothecary objects used by women from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. It runs 11 a.m. to noon; tickets are $15 ($12 members) in advance from the city's listing. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, because the doors lock when the tour starts. The tour involves stairs, and the museum is closed to other visitors while it runs.
- The art festival, day two, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at John Carlyle Square Park, Ice Cream Bowl tent included.
- "Bridges of Washington, D.C." with author Bob Dover, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street. $15 ($12 Historic Alexandria members and volunteers), from the city's listing. A good pick if the weather turns.
The Waterfront, Any Day
Leave time for the river. Waterfront Park sits at the foot of King Street, and Founders Park and Oronoco Bay Park offer open lawns, handy if you've got kids or a dog in tow. For the latter, our dog-friendly Old Town guide has the full run of places that welcome four-legged visitors.
Where to Eat Old Town Alexandria This Weekend
- Friday night: King Street is the classic dinner walk; book ahead for a weekend table.
- Saturday: Graze at the market, then break up the festival with lunch on the upper blocks of King Street.
- Sunday brunch: Reserve if you want to eat before the apothecary tour.
Browse the full Old Town Alexandria dining guide for restaurant picks by occasion, cuisine, and neighborhood.
A Few Practical Notes Before You Go
Parking along King Street fills quickly on weekend mornings, and Saturday's festival and Homes Tour will add to it. The city says the Tavern Square garage (418 Cameron St.) and Courthouse Square garage (111 S. Pitt St.) are free for farmers' market shoppers on Saturday mornings, until 12:30 p.m. For everything else, our complete parking guide has garage locations, rates, and tips for beating the rush. By Metro, the King Street–Old Town station is about 12 blocks (roughly a mile) from King and Washington Streets, about 17 blocks from the waterfront, and a short walk from the art festival.
Dates, times and prices come from organizer and city listings and local news reports as of September 24. Check the organizer's page before you head out, especially for ticketed tours. Now go enjoy the weekend.