From literary events and garden sales to gourmet dining and historic commemorations, George Washington’s Mount Vernon offers something for everyone this August and September. As summer winds down, Alexandrians can explore the estate’s rich history and enjoy a full calendar of special events designed for families, students, history buffs, gardeners and runners.
Visitors also can take advantage of two new value-pricing programs to help ensure the iconic historic site remains broadly accessible. Visitors who purchase an admission ticket in 2025 at full price now will have unlimited daytime visits to Mount Vernon for the remainder of the year. Additionally, on Tuesdays at the Mount Vernon Inn, children ages 12 and under will receive a free kid’s meal for every adult entrée.
Upcoming events are highlighted below.
Meet the Authors: 2025’s Best Books on the Founding Era on Tuesday. August 12. Hear from the five finalists for the 2025 George Washington Prize as they discuss their important new books on the founding era. This annual award, sponsored by George Washington's Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, recognizes the past year’s best works on the nation’s founding era. The authors will be available for book signings immediately following the conversation. Learn more.
Book Talk: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America on Tuesday, August 19. Historian Kostya Kennedy discusses his book, The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America. Detailing one of America’s most famous founding events, the book offers new research into little-known aspects of the story Americans have heard since childhood but hardly understood. Learn more.
Alexandria Restaurant Week at the Mount Vernon Inn and Restaurant from August 22 -31. Savor delicious dishes at special prices while soaking in the rich history of Washington’s beloved estate. A perfect pairing of dining and American heritage. Reservations recommended. Learn more.
Situation Room Experience for Homeschoolers on Friday, August 29. Homeschool students can step back in time to 1790s Philadelphia with a role-playing experience, the Situation Room. During this 75-minute game, actions will decide the fate of the young nation. Learn more.
Mount Vernon After Hours Exclusively for Members on Friday, August 29. Mount Vernon is open late this summer for members. Members and their guests may explore the grounds after hours, purchase a picnic from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant and dine al fresco on the lawn. Members also receive 10% off on all purchases from the Shops. Learn more.
Fall Plant and Garden Sale on Saturday, Sept. 6. The cooler fall weather makes it a great time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. Shop for seasonal color and heirloom plants along with native perennials, trees and shrubs grown at Mount Vernon. And, the exclusive General's Choice line features plants propagated from seeds or cuttings collected from plants growing on George Washington's estate. Learn more.
George Washington Patriot Run on Sunday, Sept. 7. Cross the finish line with George Washington's Mansion in view. Registration is now open for the annual 10-miler and 5K race. Participants receive a T-shirt and finisher medal, and the Finish Festival offers music, food and beverages, and a free beer for each runner. Learn more.
Please note that Mount Vernon has embarked upon a landmark Mansion Revitalization project. During visits, preservation teams are restoring the framing, masonry, drainage and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring America’s first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come.
The Mansion will always remain open during this vital work, with individual rooms taken off display as work progresses. The Education Center exhibit on George Washington’s life will be off display for an extensive rebuild until Spring 2026. However, the expansive estate remains open to visitors, including the museum, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.




