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ALEXANDRIA, Va - Historic Alexandria has released an official Alexandria America250 garden flag and is asking residents and businesses to take part in a citywide Plant for America250 initiative ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026.
The 18-by-12.5-inch vertical flag is made of cream-colored woven polyester with the America250 logo printed on both sides. It sells for $15 at the Alexandria History Museum store and through Historic Alexandria's online shop. Garden stakes are not included. Shipping charges apply to online orders.
Plant for America250
The Plant for America250 initiative, run in partnership with the Alexandria Beautification Commission, asks at least 250 property owners to plant native species in red, white, and blue during the spring and summer of 2026. The Alexandria Brief previously reported that the effort echoes a 1976 push, when residents planted patriotic gardens to mark the nation's bicentennial. Suggested red plants include cardinal flower, scarlet beebalm and wild eastern red columbine, while white options include Virginia sweetspire, white coneflower and white wood aster.
Residents can sign a Plant for America250 pledge and submit gardens for the new 2026 America250 Patriotic Native Plantings Award, which will recognize residential, business and community plantings.
A yearlong calendar
The flag and gardening push are the latest additions to a yearlong America 250 calendar that Mayor Alyia Gaskins launched Feb. 9 at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. "Our history mattered not just in 1776 or 1996. It matters now in 2026," Gaskins told a crowd of about 100 at the kickoff, as I previously reported.
Ryan Belmore
Sails on the Potomac and ALX Jazz Fest
The centerpiece of the calendar is Sails on the Potomac, a free three-day festival June 12-14 at Waterfront Park featuring the tall ships Gazela, Kalmar Nyckel, Providence and Sultana. The 48th annual ALX Jazz Fest is anchoring the festival with three daily themes: "Americana Roots" on Friday, June 12, with the Silver Tones, the Irish Breakfast Band, the Decades Band and Jason Masi; "American Jazz & Poetry" on Saturday, June 13, with poetry interludes from Alexandria Poet Laureate Cristi Donoso and Alexandria City Public Schools students; and "Future Sounds of America" on Sunday, June 14. A fireworks show over the Potomac River is planned for 9 p.m. Saturday.
Admission to the jazz festival is free. Waterfront Park offers lawn seating, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic items. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and leashed pets are permitted. The city is encouraging visitors to take Metrorail to King Street Station and connect via DASH, Metrobus or the free King Street Trolley.
Ryan Belmore
An Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration is set for July 11.
Poster contest and museum partnerships
Earlier this spring, the city held an America 250 City Art Poster Contest, part of a national initiative sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Endowment for the Arts. Gaskins selected a winning design that will represent Alexandria at the conference's annual meeting in Long Beach, California, in June.
Ryan Belmore
More information
More information on Plant for America250 and the city's full 250th calendar is available at alexandriava.gov/America250. The flag can be ordered through the Historic Alexandria shop at shop.alexandriava.gov.
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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send tips, story ideas, and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
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