Del Ray's First Thursday Kicks Off In 2021 With Petal Porch Party

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Del Ray's First Thursday will return in 2021 by getting involved with cherry blossom-related activities.

First Thursday: Petal Porch Party will be held from 6 p.m. to dusk on Thursday, April 1. The event will continue in a virtual format, and residents are encouraged to celebrate with takeout from their favorite Del Ray restaurants to enjoy on their porches or in their yards.

Del Ray is participating in the National Cherry Blossom Festival's Petal Porch Parade, which features displays around the region. Residents are encouraged to decorate their yard, window or any space viewable from the street or sidewalk in a cherry blossom theme. The best decorated porch in Del Ray will win a $50 gift card to Del Ray restaurant, retailer, or wellness provider.

Residents can find Petal Porch Parade displays and register on the festival's website. If your house isn't on the National Cherry Blossom Festival map, email drbanews@gmail.com to have your house included in Del Ray's First Thursday Petal Porch contest.

Aside from the Petal Porch Parade, participate in the Cherry Blossom Challenge by finding cherry blossoms hidden in storefronts along Mount Vernon Avenue starting on April 1. Find them all by April 15 for a chance to score $50 to your favorite Del Ray business.

First Thursday also collects donations for a different local cause each month. Residents are encouraged to donate colored pencils (12-pack), crayons (24-pack), and reusable water bottles (new, kid-friendly, BPA-free sport/water bottles) for Mount Vernon Community School and Maury Elementary School's Blessings in a Backpack program. On April 1, plastic donation bins will be placed along Mount Vernon Avenue by 4 p.m.

First Thursdays are held the first Thursday of each month from April to September. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the events were held as outdoor street festivals along Mount Vernon Avenue.