Alexandria Cider Festival 2024

Held in the garden of the historic Lloyd House
220 N. Washington St.
November 23, 2024
1-5 p.m.
$55 in advance, $65 at the door. Tickets available here. Minimum Age: 21

Celebrate Virginia Cider Week (November 15 – 24) in Alexandria with a special tasting festival at historic Lloyd House on Saturday, November 23, between 1 and 5 p.m.  Hosted by the Office of Historic Alexandria in partnership with the Virginia Association of Cider Makers, this event includes cider tastings, a souvenir cider glass, live music, tavern games, local crafts and organization booths, and a little history too! While enjoying a selection of Virginia ciders, learn more about the growing Virginia cider industry and its connection to Alexandria history. The Alexandria Cider Festival includes offerings from Albemarle Cider Works, Blue Bee Cider, Lost Boy Cider, and more. Roaming Coyote and Scuttlebutt Bakeshops food trucks will be available for food purchases.

Cider was a popular beverage in 18th and early 19th century Alexandria and offered at area taverns, including Gadsby’s Tavern. Thomas Jefferson cultivated eighteen varieties of apples in his orchard at Monticello (planted between 1769 and 1814). Today, there are over 30 different apple varieties grown specifically for cider production throughout Virginia. Cider is fermented like wine, not brewed like beer. One of the most common misconceptions amongst consumers is that hard cider is made in just ‘one’ style rather than the many different styles that are produced. Virginia Cider Week was established by the Virginia General Assembly on September 5, 2012 to recognize this growing segment of Virginia’s economy.

Tickets are $55 (November 1-22), and $25 designated driver tickets and may be purchased through The Alexandria Shop. Minimum Age: 21. Check in at The Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $65, if space is available.

Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711. 

About the Office of Historic Alexandria 

The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the history of the City of Alexandria with eight museums, historic sites, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits and public programs. Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serves as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic. 

About the Virginia Cider Association

The Virginia Cider Association's mission is to connect, inform, and promote Virginia’s cider industry. It supports members by educating the public on craft cider, advocating on legislative issues, and fostering industry cooperation. Through partnerships and programs, including Virginia Cider Week, the Association works to enhance market exposure and strengthen the industry statewide. For more information, visit https://virginiacider.org.