22nd Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights

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Carol Jean Stalun Photography for Visit Alexandria

Old Town’s historic waterfront will shine for the 22^nd Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. when more than 50 brightly lit boats cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline.

Head to Waterfront Park at the foot of King Street, near the official parade start line at the Alexandria City Marina, for festivities from 2 to 8 p.m. This will include a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, hot chocolate from Dolci Gelati, gourmet popcorn from America’s Favorite Gourmet Popcorn and holiday music from 97.1 WASH-FM. In addition, pick up shortbread from Allens Scottish Shortbread, New York style pizza by the slice from RedRocks Old Town and a lineup from Common Plate Hospitality’s Alexandria-based restaurants Augie's, Mason Social and Urbano 116.

Also at Waterfront Park, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. enjoy hands-on activities from independently owned Alexandria businesses. Shop Made in Virginia presents leather coaster-making and make-your-own gift wrap, joining two annual favorite activities, a Letters to Santa postcard station from paper goods boutique Penny Post and a holiday ornament craft activity from AR Workshop Alexandria.

At 3:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by fireboat at the Alexandria City Marina before attending the annual Holiday Festival at Torpedo Factory Art Center, which takes place from 2 to 8 p.m.

Visitors can also head north to the Canal Center, where the first Holiday Soirée at Canal Center will feature 40+ artist vendors, a gift-priced art gallery, live music, beverages, treats and more. 

For the best parade views and to avoid crowds, guests are encouraged to spread out along a mile of Alexandria’s shoreline in areas without programming that span from Canal Center southward to Ford’s Landing Park. To avoid traffic delays, parade-goers should come to the area earlier in the day and drivers should plan ahead for road closures and new traffic patterns close to the waterfront.