Festival Celebrates Five Years of Fast Cars, Fashion, and Fun in Alexandria – while Supporting Local Charities
Alexandria, Virginia – The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, known as one of the most prestigious and premiere car events on the East Coast, returns to Alexandria on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presenting sponsor Burke & Herbert Bank, returns for the fifth year in a row to support the signature event that stretches across lower King Street and the surrounding side streets near Old Town’s waterfront, to showcase rare and exotic cars.
The Festival has garnered tens of thousands of spectators to the lower King Street area, doubling foot traffic to local businesses, generating widespread media coverage, and raising money for Alexandria-based nonprofits. The event is a high-sensory spectacle for participants, spectators and car enthusiasts, allowing them to experience the “Speed & Style” variety of exotic supercars and vintage motorcycles rarely seen sitting still for up-close viewing.
Center-stage at noon, a unique Fashion Demonstration will be hosted by Maria Elizabeth of Alexandria-based Salon DeZEN. Maria will discuss the elegance and importance of natural fashion and its profound impact when paired with beautiful automobiles. An award presentation highlighting cars judged to be the finest in 11 categories, will immediately follow the Fashion Demonstration.
“We’re thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style for the fifth straight year,” said David P. Boyle, chair, Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. “As Alexandria’s hometown bank, being a part of bringing a festival of this magnitude to the heart of our city and right outside the doors of our historic Headquarters means a lot to us. We couldn’t be happier that Alive! and Community Lodgings – two valued local organizations – will benefit from the proceeds.”
New for this year, the event will include pre-war exotic cars, a myriad of different sponsors showcasing their goods under canopies strategically dispersed throughout the Festival area, and live rock and jazz music provided by two well-known local bands.
Old Town Alexandria is recognized as a “stylish and quaint” location that perfectly correlates with the theme of the car show: To incorporate fashion as part of its “Style” element.
This year’s Alexandria-based charitable nonprofits ALIVE! and Community Lodgings will be the event beneficiaries. ALIVE! is dedicated to fighting poverty and hunger and Community Lodgings aids impoverished families that experience homelessness to build a more sustainable life. “This incredible event continues to grow in so many amazing ways – more cars, more people, more fun, more impact for Alexandria, and more funds for our local charities,” said Rick Myllenbeck, Founder and Chairman of the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style. “If you haven’t seen a fast, exotic, wicked-cool car like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, or Cobra up close and in-person, this is the event for you! Combine that with high-style, fashion, music and fun, and you now know why this is such a special event. Please join us! Everyone is welcomed.”
In addition to the Festival itself, the pre-Festival High-Octane Ball will take place the night before, on Saturday, May 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. The formal, ticketed gala event will highlight the “Style” element of Speed & Style featuring a glamorous ‘60s, retro Austin Powers theme. Tickets are now available for single or group tables. Partygoers can enjoy great food, wine, libation, live music, and a silent auction. As with the Festival, all proceeds go to the featured local charities.
EVENT DETAILS
What: 5th Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, Presented by Burke & Herbert Bank
When: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Where: Lower Blocks of King Street around Market Square area (200-500 blocks of King Street,
and the 100 blocks of North and South Fairfax St.; North and South Royal St.; and North and
South Pitt St.)
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Website: festivalofspeedandsyle.com
Cost: Festival is Free – open to all! Tickets are needed for the High Octane Ball on May 18.
Weather Plan: Rain or shine
Social Media:
FB: FestivalofSpeedandStyle.com
Instagram: @FestivalofSpeedStyle
About The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization chartered to generate funds to be donated to Alexandria- based nonprofit organizations. Now in its fifth year, The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, brings together exquisite cars and motorcycles, with enthusiasts of fashion, art, music, and style, to create a one-day festival of good energy and fun. It celebrates the heart and spirit of the Alexandria, VA community and highlights the elegance and style of Old Town.
2024 Charity Recipients
Founded in 1969, ALIVE! Is the largest private safety net for the needy in the city of Alexandria, VA, addressing short-term to long-term needs for those less fortunate in the community.
Community Lodgings founded by eight Episcopal churches in 1987 mission is to lift families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through Transitional Housing, affordable housing and youth education programs.
