Del Ray's First Thursday: Honoring Military Families (ICYMI)

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Even as Alexandria's birthday and Independence Day celebration wrapped up last weekend, there's still one more event to honor the red, white and blue.

During Del Ray's First Thursday: Red, White & Blue will honor military families with patriotic activities on July 13. The monthly street festival is held from 6 p.m. to dusk along Mount Vernon Avenue.

Along with patriotic activities, the free event will offer discounts for veterans and military families at select local businesses, live music, an old-fashioned cake walk, and more at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square (Mount Vernon and Oxford Avenues). A full list of businesses offering military discounts will be available at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square and at www.visitdelray.com.

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Some of the planned activities include:

• Honor Guard and Flag-folding demonstrations with The Old Guard and The Friends of Rocky Versace
• Live music by Mars Rodeo at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
• An old-fashioned cake walk at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square and cupcake walk at Bellies & Babies
• Card-making for deployed military at Top It Off and Bean Creative
• WWII Letters From The Front Lines with Duncan Library at the breezeway between Greener Cleaner and Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray
• Patriotic Face Painting at The Purple Goose
• Patriotic Pet Photo Booth by Doggywalker.com
• 'Tique Crafts -- upcycled cheese boards at Cheesetique
• Where's The Sheriff? -- mystery location!
• Patriotic Mocktails at Kiskadee
• Watermelon Seed-Spitting Contest at Pork Barrel BBQ
• Meet-and-greet with organizations serving military families and veterans, including Team RWB, National Military Family Association, American Military Partner Association, Military Spouse JD Network, and Next Step Pilates

First Thursday collects donations for a different organization each month, and July's recipient will be United Through Reading. The non-profit allows service members to video record storybooks to their children at home. The organization strives to address the bedtime stories children miss when their family members are deployed. Attendees at First Thursday are encouraged to bring Dr. Seuss books to the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square and at Bellies & Babies Consignment Boutique (1913 Mt Vernon Ave).

Held by the Del Ray Business Association, this month's event is also sponsored by the Jen Walker Team. The street festival is held the first Thursday of the month from April to September along Mount Vernon Avenue.

Image by Wayne Hulehan, courtesy of the Del Ray Business Association