Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Coming to Alexandria’s Masonic Memorial

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Edgar Allan Poe is coming to Alexandria, and he is bringing cocktails.

The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, a touring immersive theater and cocktail experience, is scheduled to take over the George Washington Masonic National Memorial for a limited Alexandria run Aug. 7–8, according to event listings from Fever.

The 21-and-over experience combines live storytelling, gothic atmosphere and four themed cocktails inspired by some of Poe’s most famous works. Guests are guided through a 90-minute theatrical journey by “Poe Historians,” with each story paired to a drink designed for the tale.

For Alexandria, the location may be as much of a draw as the show itself.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, perched above King Street at 101 Callahan Drive, is one of the city’s most recognizable and imposing landmarks. By day, it is a museum and memorial dedicated to George Washington and his Masonic legacy. By night, for this event, it will be transformed into what organizers describe as a “darkly elegant sanctuary” for the Master of Macabre.

The show’s four-part “setlist” includes The Tell-Tale Heart, paired with a cocktail called the Pale Blue Eye; The Black Cat, paired with The Cat’s Meow; The Raven, paired with the Nevermore; and The Masque of the Red Death, paired with the Cocktail of the Red Death.

Mocktails are available upon request, according to the event page.

The experience is produced by Midnight Creative and sold through Fever, which describes the pop-up as an immersive evening of “suspense, premium drinks, and gothic storytelling.”

Poe, of course, has deep Virginia ties. Though often associated with Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, Poe spent formative years in Richmond, where the Poe Museum now preserves one of the world’s leading collections connected to the writer’s life and work.

That makes the Alexandria stop feel especially fitting: a Virginia night of dark literature, theatrical storytelling and moody cocktails inside a towering landmark built to honor another figure of American history.

Tickets listed through Fever include general admission and VIP front-row options. Guests must be 21 or older with valid ID. The venue is listed as ADA-compliant, and the experience is seated.

If You Go

What: Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy – Alexandria, VA
When: Aug. 7–8
Where: George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Age: 21+ with valid ID
Tickets: Available through Fever