R Kennedy for Visit Alexandria
A participant in the Scottish Walk in Old Town Alexandria.
A nip of fall is in the air, school is in full swing, pumpkin lattes are the drink du jour ... that can mean only one thing: The holidays are right around the corner, and Alexandria is brewing up some big plans for one heck of a holiday season ahead!
You'll want to mark your calendars for some of these can't-miss events, previewed by Visit Alexandria. At the top of your list, be sure to include the 51st Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the 22nd Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon during Alexandria’s “Biggest Holiday Weekend.”
- See the city sparkle during the City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony: Ring in the city’s official start to the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Market Square, with the lighting of the 40-foot tree adorned with nearly 40,000 twinkling lights, plus enjoy appearances from Alexandria’s Town Crier and Santa himself.
- Stock up on gifts in the “Shop Small” destination: With hundreds of locally owned small businesses lining its streets, Alexandria is the Washington, D.C., area’s small business hub. Visitors can stroll historic streets twinkling with holiday traditions and find special discounts and gifts onPlaid Friday, Alexandria’s Black Friday experience, and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25-26.
- Scottish kilts and dazzling boats kick off December with parades during Alexandria’s “Biggest Holiday Weekend:” The 51st Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is set to paint the town in tartan on Saturday, Dec. 3, during the season’s most spectacular holiday weekend. At the parade honoring the city’s 1749 founding by Scottish merchants, dozens of Scottish clans process through the streets of Old Town, joined by regional pipe and drum bands plus terriers and hounds. That evening, Old Town Alexandria's historic waterfront shines at sundown as dozens of brightly lit boats cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline during the 22nd Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon. Visitors can enjoy dockside festivities, a pop-up beer garden and much more.
- Ignite your holiday spirit at the Del Ray Holiday Tree & Menorah Lighting: The Del Ray neighborhood will come together on Sunday, Dec. 4, for the annual Christmas tree lighting, Menorah lighting and holiday carols. Enjoy hand-painted holiday windows in storefronts and start your holiday shopping with a stroll down Mount Vernon Avenue, which will be illuminated by thousands of luminarias.
- Celebrate the holidays at George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Visit the first president’s home for its landmark holiday event, Christmas Illuminations, set to return Dec. 16 and 17, 2022, featuring a fireworks and holiday lights show over the Potomac River. Special candlelight tourswill take place on select weekends throughout November and December.
- First Night Alexandria: The largest family -friendly, budget-friendly New Year’s Eve event in the region returns for its 28th year on Saturday, Dec. 31. A community celebration of the arts, First Night Alexandria rings in the new year with music, comedy, dance and a fireworks show.
