Old Town Alexandria Garden Tour Returns In April 2021

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Old Town Alexandria's Historic Homes & Garden Tour is back in 2021 with a format adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Old Town Alexandria tour will be held by the Garden Club of Alexandria and the Hunting Creek Garden Club on Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is one of the 30 tours being held across the state as part of Historic Garden Week in Virginia from April 17 to 24. Garden and exterior views of homes will be the focus on the tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The self-guided tour showcases more than a dozen homes with notable history, including four historical properties: the Lee-Fendall House garden, the Ramsay House garden, the Athenaeum garden and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Houses along the route will be decorated with wreaths, planters and window boxes created by members of the Garden Club of Alexandria and the Hunting Creek Garden Club.

At the Lee-Fendall House garden, experts will be on hand to discuss native and medicinal plants, and ticket holders can access a special plant sale. In addition, the garden at the Athenaeum will be decorated for an afternoon luncheon.

The tour ticket also gives guests free admission to the grounds of George Washington's Mount Vernon and discounted pricing for interior tours of the Mount Vernon estate. Ticketholders also get discounted pricing to tour the Gunston Hall mansion, grounds and museum during the week of April 17 to 24.

Tickets are only available in advance for $25 at VAGardenWeek.org for a morning entry (10 a.m.) and afternoon entry (1 p.m.). Ticket sales end on April 16 or once the tour reaches capacity.

A map of the Old Town Alexandria tour will be emailed to ticket holders before April 17. All exterior floral installations along the tour route will be accessible to ticket holders anytime during the week of April 17 to 24, but access to the Lee-Fendall House garden and plant sale and Athenaeum garden will be limited to April 17.

The Old Town Alexandria tour and other Historic Garden Week tours are being planned with social distancing in mind while allowing visitors to experience peak springtime blooms. Visitors are asked to wear a face covering and follow Virginia and Alexandria COVID-19 guidelines.

The Old Town Alexandria tour is possible with the support of McEnearney Associates. Tour proceeds benefit restoration and preservation of more than 40 of Virginia's historic public gardens and landscapes, a research fellowship program, and a Garden Club of Virginia Centennial project with Virginia State Parks. Funds have supported conservation and restoration efforts at landmarks such as Mount Vernon, Stratford Hall, and The College of William & Mary.