Mount Vernon, VA – 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, locals and visitors alike 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 amid inflation. 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 highlights include are detailed below. Related photos for usage are available here, with attribution to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Meet the Authors: 2025’s Best Books on the Founding Era on August 12th. 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 August 19th. 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 on August 22 -31st. Savor delicious dishes at special prices while soaking in the rich history of George Washington’s beloved estate. A perfect pairing of dining and American heritage. Reservations recommended. Learn more.
Situation Room Experience for Homeschoolers on August 29th. Homeschool students can step back in time to 1790s Philadelphia with a roleplaying 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 August 29th. 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 September 6th. 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 September 7th. 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.