Artwork courtesy of organizers.
The Alexandria Restaurant Cherry Challenge concludes Sunday, Feb. 8.
Alexandria’s “Cherry Challenge” culinary contest, which kicked off Sunday, Jan. 25, will conclude this coming Sunday, Feb. 8 so be sure to get out and sample some delectable cherry creations.
Restaurants across Alexandria compete for customer votes on the best cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, and/or dessert. This restaurant contest kicks off a month of festivities hosted by Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC) that includes the nation’s original and largest George Washington Birthday Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is sponsoring the Cherry Challenge for the third consecutive year.
“This unique event helps generate buzz for Alexandria restaurants, encourages chefs to get creative, and boosts customer traffic,” said Kristen Eastlick, who is a George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee member and chair of the event. “The #GWCherryChallenge lets us offer a tasteful event that keeps George Washington's memory alive in his hometown. We’re thrilled that historic Mount Vernon has graciously sponsored this whimsical event.”
“As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026, it’s only fitting to start the year by honoring the man at the center of it all,” said Julie Almacy, vice president of media and communications at Mount Vernon.
“Sponsoring the George Washington Birthday Parade Cherry Challenge is the perfect way to celebrate George Washington in his hometown. The Washington family loved cherries — so much that our archaeology team found some perfectly preserved from the 18th Century in glass bottles beneath Mount Vernon in 2024. We’re proud to support the Alexandria restaurant community in this delicious tribute.”
Diners, both dine-in and take-out, will receive QR codes to vote electronically for their favorite cherry entries based on three criteria: taste, presentation, and creativity. Diners will rate each item from one to three cherries for a maximum score of 9 on each ballot. Point totals for each dish are divided by the number of ballots to get the average score. The highest average in each category wins.
The contest concludes on Sunday, Feb. 8. Winners will be notified prior to the George Washington Birthday Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Restaurants participating in this year’s #GWCherryChallenge include:
- A.Lounge+Bar at Hotel AKA Alexandria
- Augie’s Mussel House
- Bastille Brasserie & Bar
- Buzz Bakeshop
- Chadwicks
- Dishes of India
- Don Taco
- Elaine’s
- Frankie’s Kitchen & Cocktail Bar
- Jula’s on the Potomac
- Kiwi Kuisine Pie Shop
- Mason Social
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
- Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company
- The Light Horse Restaurant and Bar
- The People’s Drug
- Trademark
- Urbano 116
- Vaso’s Mediterranean Bistro on King
- Whiskey & Oyster
Organizers noted that more restaurants were joining throughout the contest. The full list of participating restaurants can be found at https://washingtonbirthday.com/2026-cherry-challenge.
Guests are encouraged to share photos and descriptions of the cherry dishes they tasted on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) by using the hashtag “#GWCherryChallenge” or by posting them to the George Washington Birthday Celebration’s Facebook page.
Other George Washington Birthday Celebration events in Alexandria include the Feb. 14 George Washington Birthday Parade, a month-long Hunt for Washington, a George Washington Birthnight Dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern and more. For the full schedule of this year’s events, visit washingtonbirthday.com/2026-events or follow the GWBCC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
The George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC) is a city-appointed volunteer committee charged with coordinating annual events to celebrate the birthday of George Washington in his adopted hometown. Sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible and essential to each year’s successful celebration. To find out more about sponsorship and donation opportunities, go to www.washingtonbirthday.com/donateor email gwbirthdayevents@gmail.com.
