George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria

It was not our intention to see it, but we ran in to it all the same. Since I have the day off for Presidents Day - a perk I only enjoyed since working for the federal government - we decided to have lunch in Old Town Alexandria and then do a few errands. We had no problem having lunch, but finding parking was a trick because streets were completely blocked off with no parking signs. Then I realized it was the holiday and this was George Washington's stomping grounds. He had a townhouse in Alexandria, and spent a lot of time here. So it isn't just the Presidents' Day parade, it is the George Washington Birthday parade. As we drove out if the city, we were met with participants on their way toward the festivities. I think I liked the Continental Army dude with his cell phone most. A lot of the animals arrive from Mount Vernon. As an aside, the donkeys who pull the river barge in Georgetown relax at Mount Vernon on the off season. Alexandria probably looks a lot like it did when George walked the streets. We didn't have the time to stop and watch all the action, but at least we got a feel for it.