Alexandria celebrated its 277th birthday in style this past weekend, marking another year of the city’s rich history with a festive community gathering that included fireworks, live music, and birthday cupcakes for residents and visitors alike.

The annual birthday celebration, a beloved local tradition, drew Alexandrians together at the waterfront to mark the city’s founding. According to The Alexandria Brief, when Alexandria turned 200 it threw quite a party — and the tradition of celebrating the city’s birthday with community fanfare has clearly endured. This year’s 277th edition carried on that spirit with a full slate of festivities.

The Zebra’s guide to the weekend highlighted fireworks as the centerpiece of the celebration, alongside live music performances and the always-popular birthday cupcakes — a sweet nod to the city’s founding. ALXnow also noted that the birthday fireworks show led the July 10–12 weekend events, drawing crowds to enjoy the spectacle together.

Adding to the celebratory weekend, an Alexandria teen made the city proud by performing at Valley Forge as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary commemorations, according to The Alexandria Brief — a remarkable achievement that put a young local talent on a national stage.

The birthday festivities are a reminder of what makes Alexandria special: a deep sense of history paired with a vibrant, engaged community that loves to come together and celebrate. Whether watching fireworks light up the sky over the Potomac or enjoying a cupcake with neighbors, Alexandrians showed once again that 277 years in, the city’s community spirit is as strong as ever.

Happy birthday, Alexandria!

Sources: The Alexandria Brief, thezebra.org, ALXnow, The Alexandria Brief