One of Alexandria's most storied fall traditions will soon be back, and there's a reason to act before month's end to participate. The Twig will host its 84th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Old Town — and early-bird tickets are just $45 through July 31. Starting August 1, the price rises to $50, so readers eyeing a September afternoon among Old Town's finest historic interiors will want to buy early.
A walk through Old Town's living history
Held on the last Saturday of every September, the self-guided tour opens the doors of Old Town's private historic residences to the public for a single afternoon. Visitors move from home to home on foot through Alexandria's blocks of 18th- and 19th-century architecture, stepping inside original and preserved structures to see curated artwork and historical collections — the kind of interiors most only glimpse from the sidewalk.
Eight decades of a hometown tradition
The tour's roots run deep. According to an oral history recorded by the City's Office of Historic Alexandria, the homes tour was originally run by the senior auxiliary of the old Alexandria Hospital and handed to The Twig decades ago, when the older group could no longer sustain it. The Twig — formally the Junior Auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital — has carried it ever since, building it into one of Old Town's signature autumn events.
That lineage matters, because the tour is more than a pleasant afternoon: it's a fundraiser. The Twig is an all-volunteer organization of women, with no paid staff, dedicated to supporting Inova Alexandria Hospital. Proceeds from the homes tour and the group's beloved thrift shop have funded major hospital gifts along with a nursing scholarship for working nurses pursuing advanced degrees and support for local breast-cancer screening. When you buy a ticket, in other words, you're touring beautiful homes and underwriting the hospital down the street.
Before you go
A few practical notes for planning the day. The tour runs rain or shine in light weather; only severe conditions would push it to a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 27. Children under 12 are not permitted inside the homes, though infants carried by an adult are welcome, and strollers must be left outside. The Twig's home base is its thrift shop at 106 N. Columbus St. in the heart of Old Town.
Early-bird tickets are $45 through July 31 and $50 beginning August 1, available at thetwig.org.
