Story + Photography by Catherine May Taylor

The Lee-Fendall House in Old Town Alexandria recently hosted their annual Sips & Secrets event. The event featured a 1920s speakeasy experience with classic Roaring Twenties cocktails and period music played by local artists. The house’s history is deepy rooted in the Prohibition era and the annual event aims to educate the community about American history through the house’s history.

Attendees ardently embraced the theme by wearing 1920s-themed costumes and participating in a period dance contest. The Fidgety Feet dancers warmed up the crowd early in the night while The Foggy Bottom Whomp-Stompers played a jovial mix of jazz and ragtime.

The Lee-Fendall House fall roster of events includes tours exploring the connection between the house and the castle where Downton Abbey is filmed and ghost tours.