After Weeks of Practice, Alexandria Pipes & Drums Concert Silenced by Unhealthy Air

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The bagpipes were ready. The drums were tuned. The City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums had practiced, promoted the performance and invited the community to gather along the waterfront Friday evening.

But instead of the stirring sound of Scotland echoing across Old Town, Waterfront Park will be quiet tonight.

The band announced Friday afternoon that its July 17 Summer Concert Series performance had been canceled because of unhealthy air quality.

“Due to unhealthy air quality, tonight’s Waterfront Concert has been canceled,” the band said in a notice posted to social media. “Thank you for your understanding, and we hope everyone stays safe.”

It was a disappointing but necessary decision for a group that had prepared to present an hour of precision marching, powerful drumming and traditional piping at one of Alexandria’s most scenic locations.

Wildfire Smoke Blankets Alexandria

Smoke drifting south from Canadian wildfires pushed air quality across Alexandria and much of Northern Virginia into the Code Purple, or “very unhealthy,” category Friday. At that level, health officials warn that everyone—not only people with asthma, heart disease or other health concerns—may experience adverse effects from spending time outdoors.

The poor conditions prompted the City of Alexandria to close its outdoor pools and move summer camps and recreational activities indoors. Haze covered much of the region, and the smell of smoke was noticeable throughout the city.

The Metropolitan Washington region had initially been placed under a Code Red alert, but conditions worsened Friday morning as fine-particle pollution from the wildfire smoke moved into the area. The latest conditions and health guidance are available through the federal government’s AirNow website.

For musicians performing on bagpipes and drums, the concert would have required sustained breathing, physical exertion and marching outdoors—exactly the kind of prolonged activity health officials advise people to avoid when particle pollution reaches dangerous levels.

One More Summer Concert Is Planned

The cancellation is especially unfortunate because the free waterfront performances offer more than music. After each concert, audience members are invited to meet the musicians, take photographs and learn what it takes to join the City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums.

The organization has introduced generations of residents and visitors to Scottish musical traditions during more than 50 years of performances. Its combination of ceremony, precision and unmistakable sound has made the band a familiar presence at parades, civic celebrations and community gatherings throughout Alexandria.

Fortunately, Friday’s concert was the first of two scheduled summer appearances.

The band plans to return to Waterfront Park on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7:45 p.m. The free performance will be open to all ages.

“We hope you’ll join us for our next performance,” the band said. “Please mark your calendars—we look forward to seeing you then!”

For tonight, however, the safest applause for all that practice may be staying indoors—and promising to be there when the pipes and drums finally return to the waterfront next month.