Alexandria's George Washington Birthday Parade is 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027, in Old Town. Free. Route, parking and no-parking zones.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, which runs the parade, and the City of Alexandria.

The 2027 George Washington Birthday Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in Old Town Alexandria and runs until noon. It is free to watch. The organizer’s site, washingtonbirthday.com, posts the route, the grand marshal and the February events.

Alexandria has held a parade for Washington’s birthday since 1801, and the committee says that makes it the oldest parade of its kind in the country. More than a thousand people march in it each year, from bands to reenactors to community groups, “rain or shine.”

Who to call

  • The parade: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, gwbirthdayevents@gmail.com
  • City services and parking questions: Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311

The 2027 parade at a glance
Date Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027
Time 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where Old Town Alexandria
Cost Free
Theme “My Brave Fellows: Honoring Washington’s Army”
Grand marshal The First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line
Organizer George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee

The 2027 theme honors Washington’s Continental Army and what it endured in 1777, which the committee calls one of its most trying years. The grand marshal is the First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, a reenactment and living history group that portrays Virginia’s Continental troops from 1775 to 1783.

Note the earlier start. In 2026 the parade ran from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, the city said the day before. The 2027 parade is a morning parade.

The route

The committee has not posted the 2027 route yet. The 2026 route, posted Feb. 13, 2026, ran like this:

  • Start: St. Asaph Street at Wolfe Street.
  • North on St. Asaph Street to Queen Street.
  • East on Queen Street one block to Pitt Street.
  • South on Pitt Street to the finish at Duke Street.
  • The reviewing stand was on Pitt Street at King Street.

Marchers assembled in the blocks south of Wolfe Street, between St. Asaph and Pitt streets down to Gibbon Street.

Road closures and parking

On the 2026 map, no parking was allowed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. along St. Asaph, Queen and Pitt streets on the route, on the cross streets in the assembly area from Wolfe to Gibbon, and on short stretches of King, Duke and Wolfe streets east of Pitt. The cross streets from Washington Street to Royal Street were blocked at each end of the route, with limited access.

The organizer marked public parking on the blocks inside the route loop and east of Pitt Street, open before and after the parade. Expect the 2027 rules to look similar but with earlier hours to match the morning start. Check the route page in the week before the parade; we add closures to our road closures page when the city posts them.

The nearest Metro station is King Street/Old Town (Blue and Yellow lines). The organizer points visitors to Visit Alexandria’s getting around page for Metro, DASH and bike options.

Around the parade

The committee runs February events around the parade, and fundraisers through the year:

  • An Intimate Evening with George Washington, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at the Duvall House, 305 Cameron St., where Washington’s “coming home” party was held after the Revolutionary War. A Washington interpreter talks about the war and takes questions. $150 a person, limited to 40 guests, dressy casual; proceeds go to the 2027 parade. Reserve here.
  • The Hunt for Washington and the Cherry Challenge ran in 2026. The committee says the full list of 2027 events will be posted by the end of 2026.

What to know

  • Rain or shine. The committee says marchers turn out in any weather. Dress for February.
  • March in it: groups apply through the committee; watch washingtonbirthday.com or email the committee.
  • Valentine’s weekend: the 2027 parade falls the day before Valentine’s Day. See our Valentine’s Day page for dinner plans.

More in Alexandria

Frequently asked questions

When is the George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria in 2027?

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Old Town Alexandria, according to the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee. The 2027 theme is “My Brave Fellows: Honoring Washington’s Army.”

What is the George Washington Birthday Parade route?

In 2026 the parade started at St. Asaph and Wolfe streets, went north on St. Asaph to Queen Street, east on Queen to Pitt Street, then south on Pitt to Duke Street. The reviewing stand was on Pitt Street at King Street. The 2027 route has not been posted yet.

Is the George Washington Birthday Parade free?

Yes. Watching the parade costs nothing. Some events around it, such as the $150 An Intimate Evening with George Washington on Nov. 7, 2026, are ticketed fundraisers.

Where do I park for the George Washington Birthday Parade?

On the 2026 map, parking was banned along the route and the side streets from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The organizer marked public parking off the route that you could use before and after the parade.

Is the George Washington Birthday Parade canceled for rain?

The organizer says the marchers turn out rain or shine.