Nation's Largest George Washington Birthday Parade Returns To Alexandria On Presidents Day

ALEXANDRIA, VA — No city celebrates George Washington's birthday quite like Alexandria, as the first president frequently visited the city north of his Mount Vernon estate. This year marks the celebration of Washington's 291st birthday and the Masonic Memorial's 100th anniversary.

George Washington Birthday festivities have been happening throughout February as organized by the city's volunteer George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee.

The celebration culminates with the George Washington Birthday Parade on Monday, Feb. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The parade coincides with the George Washington Masonic National Memorial's 100th anniversary of its cornerstone laying ceremony.

The parade will have a special route in 2023 to celebrate the George Washington Masonic National Memorial cornerstone anniversary. The parade route starts on North Fayette Street at Pendleton Street, then heads south. The parade turns right onto King Street before ending at the parade review stand at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

See a list of road closures associated with the parade here.

The parade is the oldest and largest parade in the country to celebrate the first president's birthday. Participants include drum corps, color guards, bands, community and fraternal organizations, youth groups, local merchants, city dignitaries, and General Washington and Martha Washington characters.

The 2023 parade theme is "George Washington: The Man, The Mason, The Cornerstone of Our Republic." The grand marshal will be George D. Seghers, executive director of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, to honor the cornerstone 100th anniversary.

Following the parade, the Rededication of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial’s Cornerstone will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The original cornerstone laying event was held in 1923, drawing over 10,000 Freemasons. The 2023 event is expected to draw another significant amount of Freemasons.

The Masonic Memorial will also host the George Washington Symposium and Washington’s Birthday Gala on Feb. 22.

Ahead of the parade, the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association Breakfast will be a returning tradition from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Westin Alexandria Hotel, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria. This breakfast with the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association is a chance to meet special guests, including General and Martha Washington. The guest speaker is Dr. Doug Bradburn, director of George Washington's Mount Vernon, who will speak about “The ‘Great Experiment’ and Ongoing Legacy of George Washington.” For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Bill Kehoe, Secretary, [email protected]. Admission is $45 per person and $400 for table of 10.

At 11 a.m., a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution will be hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution. The location is the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 321 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria.

Various city museums will be open on Feb. 20. Carlyle House will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 121 N. Fairfax St. Admission is $7 per adult and $3 per child.

Christ Church will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 118 N. Washington Street. Admission is free.

Freedom House Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1315 Duke Street. Admission is $5 per person and free for City of Alexandria residents.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 134 N. Royal St. Admission is $5 per person and free for City of Alexandria residents.

Old Presbyterian Meeting House will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 323 S. Fairfax St. Admission is free.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 105 S. Fairfax St. Admission is $5 per person and free for City of Alexandria residents.

For other Washington birthday events in Alexandria, visit washingtonbirthday.com. To learn about events at George Washington's Mount Vernon, visit www.mountvernon.org.