9/11 25th Anniversary Ceremonies in the DMV: Where DC Area Families Gathered

Editor’s note: The 2026 ceremonies are over. Save this page to find details for 2027.

Sept. 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the devastating Sept. 11, 2001 attacks — an anniversary that many DMV-area residents are marking with special ceremonies. We’ve put together a list of events across DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland where families can pause, reflect and honor those who were lost and those who responded. 

Note that details can occasionally shift closer to the date, so it’s worth double-checking the linked source before you go.

25th Anniversary September 11 Remembrance Ceremony

A special ceremony marking the 25th anniversary, hosted by the City of Fairfax at its Veterans Amphitheater.

• Date: Sept. 10
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Address: Veterans Amphitheater, City Hall campus, 10455 Armstrong St, Fairfax, VA

25th Anniversary Special Remembrance Ceremony

Prince William County’s flagship 25th-anniversary ceremony, honoring the county’s 22 residents lost on 9/11 with an evening of remembrance, reflection, and music, plus personal reflections from those whose lives were changed by that day.

• Date: Sept. 10
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Address: Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA

25th Anniversary Commemoration

This Friday, Arlington County will gather to remember the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony at Fire Station 5 honors those we lost, their families, survivors and the first responders who stepped up for our community. If you want to take part, you have a few options. The event itself is nearly full and parking is tight, so the county recommends watching the YouTube livestream or joining a satellite viewing at one of four Arlington libraries or the County Board Room at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center. More than 200 first responders are expected, including many who responded at the Pentagon. Please note, South Hayes Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. between 15th Street South and South Fern Street.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 11 a.m. to noon
• Address: Fire Station 5 National Landing, 1750 S. Hayes St., Arlington, Va.

9/11 “In Honor Of” Community Event

Hosted annually by the Northern Virginia Veterans Association with the Manassas Museum and Freedom Museum, featuring first-person stories from those who were there. This event has recurred every year on the Manassas Museum Lawn; the organizers had not yet posted a 2026-specific announcement at time of writing.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Address: 100 Central Plaza, Manassas, VA

September 11th Observance

The Leesburg Town Council holds a brief remembrance ceremony at the town’s Freedom Memorial; the park stays open afterward for private visits to the memorial.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: Morning ceremony at 8:30 a.m.; Candlelight Vigil at 7:30 p.m.
• Address: Freedom Park, 101 Colonel Grenata Circle SE, Leesburg, VA

25th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

The City of Rockville, partnering with Montgomery County, will hold its ceremony at the county’s 9/11 memorial honoring the 11 Montgomery County residents lost that day.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Address: Courthouse Square Park, corner of East Jefferson Street & Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD

25th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

The City of Alexandria’s annual ceremony, marking its 25th year, honoring victims, survivors, and first responders — including the “Return to Quarters” bell ceremony.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 10-11 a.m.
• Address: Alexandria Police Department Headquarters, 3600 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA

Mass to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

A Mass to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC with Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio presiding. This spot has real historical resonance — it’s where crowds gathered to pray on the afternoon of the attacks themselves in 2001.  

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 5:15 p.m.
• Address: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Crypt Church, 400 Michigan Ave., Washington, DC

Kensington Volunteer Fire Department’s 9/11 memorial

A candlelit 25th-anniversary remembrance service will be held at the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department’s 9/11 memorial, which holds actual WTC and Pentagon artifacts. 

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Address: Northwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, MD

Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial

A community ceremony honoring the six Great Falls residents lost on 9/11, with a color guard, patriotic music, and a candlelight vigil. This is the 25th-anniversary edition of the annual ceremony.

• Date: Sept. 11
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Address: Great Falls Freedom Memorial, behind the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA

2026 9/11 Memorial 5K/Half

A scenic run through the heart of Georgetown, held the weekend after the anniversary, honoring those lost on 9/11.

• Date: Sept. 12, 2026
• Time: 7:30-11:30 a.m.
• Address: 3530 Water St NW, Washington, DC

Brandi Calhoun

Brandi Calhoun is the assistant editor of Washington Parent. She is a graduate of Texas State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and has worked as a writer and editor since 2015. Her experience includes contributing to a range of niche, local, and national publications, including USA Today/Gannett.