Alexandria’s Third Annual Black Family Reunion to Celebrate Heritage, History, and Community

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Library will host its third annual Black Family Reunion on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street. The free community event celebrates African American heritage in Alexandria through food, activities, and the preservation of family history.

This year’s reunion will feature more activities and additional food trucks than in years past, with all food and entertainment free of charge. Families are encouraged to bring historic photographs, letters, and documents to be digitized and added to the library’s Local History/Special Collections archive. The goal is to fill gaps in Alexandria’s historical record and ensure that the stories of Black Alexandrians are preserved for future generations.

Organized in collaboration with historian and genealogist Char McCargo Bah, the event will also serve as a live recording site for short oral history videos of less than 15 minutes. Visitors can find McCargo Bah at the reunion if they wish to participate in the recordings.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Alexandria Library will release more than a dozen full-length oral history interviews with native Alexandrians whose families have lived in the city for over 100 years. One video will be released each day beginning August 11, 2025, on the library’s website and social media channels, offering a preview of the voices and stories that will be featured during the reunion.

The Black Family Reunion began in 2023 as part of a larger effort to strengthen community connections and preserve local history. The first gathering drew hundreds of attendees who contributed family photographs and memorabilia. In 2024, the second reunion expanded with live music, games, and food trucks, drawing even more participants.

For more details about this year’s event, visit the Alexandria Library’s Black Family Reunion page at https://alexlibraryva.org/black-family-reunion. You can also follow the City of Alexandria’s event listing at https://visitalexandria.com/events/alexandria-black-family-reunion.