Parking, Block Closures, and Transportation Options for Portside Festival on June 21 & 22

Page updated on August 16, 2024 at 10:40 AM
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The upcoming Portside in Old Town Summer Festival in Waterfront Park in City of Alexandria returns Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22.  The event includes Friday evening jazz performances and readings by Alexandria poets as part of the 46th Annual ALX Jazz Fest @ Portside. Saturday, the festival continues with an eclectic music lineup, local food, hands-on art, historical activities and more.

Reserved parking information, one-block closure details, and other transportation options are below. Attendees and local business employees are encouraged to leave their cars at home and utilize one or more of the many transportation options.

Reserved Parking

To facilitate event production and logistics, some areas near Waterfront Park will be reserved for event use only:

  • Load-In:  Thursday, June 20 (5:30 a.m.to 11:59 p.m.) Unit block of Prince St. (north side only), parking spaces on Strand St. adjacent to Waterfront Park
  • Friday, June 21 & Saturday, June 22 (12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.) Parking spaces on Strand St. adjacent to Waterfront Park, all parking spaces on the unit block of Prince St. (north and south sides).
  • Friday, June 21 (9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) & Saturday, June 22 (9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) Six spaces on the east side of Union St. between Prince St. and Wales Alley.
  • Load-out: Sunday, June 23 (12 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Unit block of Prince St. (north side only), parking spaces on Strand St. adjacent to Waterfront Park

Block Closure

block closure picture

To increase safety, the unit block of Prince St. will be closed on Saturday, June 22, with access restricted to event personnel and performers/vendors starting at 12 p.m. The Alexandria Police Department will manage the closure and place signage near the intersection of Duke & Strand St. to alert motorists of the closure at Prince & Strand St. Streets will open at the conclusion of the event, or when officers deem it safe to do so. Boat Club members, patrons of Chadwicks and The Strand Lot should enter the area from Duke St.

Deliveries

Businesses that anticipate deliveries on Thursday, June 20, Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 should continue to use Union Street as part of normal operations. Contact Charlotte Hall to advise of specific details or concerns.

Transportation

Based on anticipated attendance, festival communications efforts encourage attendees to utilize the following public transportation and alternative modes of transportation. Driving to the event and parking near the waterfront or on the street are not recommended.

  • Metro: The King St-Old Town Metrorail station is located on King Street. Both Yellow Line and Blue Line trains stop at the King St-Old Town station, which is a 25-minute walk from the waterfront at the east end of King Street. As an alternative to walking, you can take the free King Street Trolley from the Metrorail station to Market Square and walk 5 minutes down King Street to Waterfront Park. The Metrorail runs until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
  • King Street Trolley: The free King Street Trolley runs from Market Square to the King Street Metro every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • DASH Bus: The DASH bus is free. The 30 and 31 line drops off at Market Square, three blocks from Waterfront Park. Dash buses run as early as 6 a.m. and as late as midnight on both Friday and Saturday.
  • Capital Bikeshare: There are several dock stations within a short walk of the event site located at Prince Street & Union Street, Duke Street & Union Street, 908 King Street, 301 King Street, King Street & S. Patrick Street, and S. Royal.
  • Dockless Mobility: There are various dockless mobility devices throughout Old Town including e-scooters and e-bikes. Please note there is no riding on sidewalks per City code or along the expanded King Street pedestrian zone from the 100 block of King Street to the waterfront. When possible, please park in a scooter corral (Prince & Strand) or bike rack so as not to block the sidewalk or driveways.
  • Water Taxi:  The Water Taxi stops at Old Town, The Wharf, Georgetown and National Harbor. For information on pricing and schedules, visit cityexperiences.com/washington-dc.
  • Rideshare: Lyft and Uber. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off locations on King Street should occur in the 300 block near or at Market Square (301 King Street). Attendees should not attempt to be picked up directly at the waterfront based on restricted access to streets within the vicinity of the event.
  • Taxi: The following companies currently operate within the City of Alexandria:
  • Parking: Please consider all travel options. Driving to the event and parking near the waterfront or on the street is not recommended. Street parking is extremely limited on weekends, and parking lots may also have limited availability. The 100 and 0 block of King Street is a permanent pedestrian-only zone. If choosing to drive and park, we recommend:
    • Parking at a garage or lot away from the waterfront. Courthouse Square Garage (111 S. Pitt St.) is a 7-minute walk from the festival and only $5, or HB Parking’s surface lot (300 N. Lee St.) is a 6-minute walk.
    • Refer to the map of garages on the City of Alexandria’s parking page. Many garages near the waterfront on Union Street reach capacity.
    • Download the ParkMobile app if you do plan on parking on the street. Some street parking is only offered as pay-by-phone.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you. Please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960. 

Alexandria at 275: Connecting to our past to define a brighter future.

Since its 1749 founding, the historic city of Alexandria has played a major role in our nation’s story and reflected its progress toward inclusivity. Join us at events from April through September as we mark Alexandria's 275th anniversary and embark on the next chapter in our City’s vibrant history at alexandriava.gov/ALX275.