With Joy and Community, Alexandria Stages a Birthday Party!
The City draws thousands to Oronoco Bay Park for cupcakes, concert, and elaborate fireworks.
Alexandria, VA – Two days before the birthday party of the century thus far, Mayor Justin Wilson put out this Facebook post:
“Saturday night: A party 275 years in the making!
The fireworks…bigger.
The cannons…boomier.
The cupcakes…sweeter.
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra…better than ever.
As the clock ticked down, the City put the finishing touches on the birthday party of birthday parties, posting street closures, erecting the stage, readying the expansive park, and pulling out all the stops for the glorious extravaganza.
The big day finally arrived. On the morning of Saturday, July 13, heavy rain drenched the grounds of Oronoco Bay Park, but skies cleared by noon and the strong sun dried out the huge lawn. Gates were closed to the public until an hour before the big celebration kicked off as the tech and park crews set up, vendors laid out their wares, and police ringed the site.
At precisely 5:00 pm, the gates flung open. Thousands of people began streaming in from every corner of the park, scrambling to find the best spot on the lawn to spread out blankets, chairs, tents, and lavish picnics. The milestone event drew natives and guests from all over the region, excited about making history that evening. The massive crowd began to fill up every inch of grass at the park, the river glistening just behind the stage.
As the enormous crowd settled in for an evening of speeches and music, it was time to officially herald Alexandria’s grand birthday of 275 years. “Be it known that we gather here on July 13. We celebrate that our City is now 275,” Alexandria Town Crier Dr. Ben Fiore-Walker thundered to cheers from the crowd. “From highly sought-after locations for tourism, residential living, and economic opportunity to bustling streets with restaurants and shops, they’re the basis for this thriving community. We have streets named after royalty and in honor of the King.”
Mayor Justin Wilson next took the mic to greet the mammoth crowd. “This year, we are not just celebrating a birthday. We are celebrating a big birthday! This is one 275 years in the making,” the mayor exclaimed to rousing applause.
“And this has been a year-round celebration for us,” Wilson intoned. “We’re not just celebrating that the City has made it to 275 years. We are celebrating all of you! We are celebrating the people that made our community an incredible place.”
Earlier, Zebra talked to the mayor just before he took the stage. Asked how it felt to preside over this annual celebration one last time, a significant birthday to boot, Wilson reflected, “I’m certainly a little wistful because I love this event. But the good news is I get to keep coming back every year, so it’s not like I have to leave.”
The mayor laughed, “And, in fact, I’m looking forward to being able to sit out there in the audience and just enjoy it, watch it. This is a fun event. I looked forward to it many years before I was mayor, and I’ll look forward to it for many years to come.”
Three thousand cupcakes were doled out by the mayor, City Council members, and other City heads. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra performed show and movie favorites, leading up to the grand finale. As the skies darkened, a dazzling fireworks display exploded from barges on the river, streaking across the night sky in brilliant flashes of light.
What They’re Saying
Anthony Crespo, 41, an Old Town Alexandria resident for four years:
“I’ve always loved Alexandria; it was just the right time to come back so I found a spot right on the southwest quadrant within walking distance to everything. I work remotely so I rarely have to drive. I like waking up in the morning, just running along the river and then there’s always an event so my children and I go outside. There’s always something going on. I really enjoy Old Town, people are friendly and everything’s within reach.”
Jonathan Lau has lived in Old Town for 15 years:
“There’s definitely a connection with the history of the country here, living here in Alexandria, although I will say that a lot of my friends have moved to Europe where 275 years does not seem that long by comparison. But from my perspective, the 275th anniversary brings history to life, it makes that connection with the history of America.”
Zohreh Khoshnamak, who came from Iran, has lived in the Landmark section of Alexandria for 11 years:
“What makes Alexandria unique is that it has all the charm, qualities, and livability of small-town America along with all the advantages that come from the proximity to the nation’s capital. It has maintained its identity and not become simply a suburb of Washington DC. While we do face some prevalent issues here, there is always optimism and positivity in knowing that we can overcome them.”
Jason Hackerson came with his wife and young adult daughter all the way from Reston:
“They put on a really good show here. It’s very laid back, but the fireworks show is really great, the music’s pretty good, the cupcakes are great, we just found this has been a very nice way to avoid the big Fourth of Julys in Washington, DC. We really have a nice show to go to around the holiday.”
Derek Cramer has lived in Rosemont for five years. What drew him to Alexandria was the rich history:
“We lived on St. Asaph Street, the side street next to us was cobblestone, Robert E. Lee’s boyhood home was a block away, you can’t turn your head without seeing this history. I fell in love with this area.”
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