A Top 10 Christmas Town: Alexandria, Virginia

Many of my readers may know that I live in Alexandria, VA. I love living here. To me, Old Town is what Georgetown used to be decades ago. There are some of the national chains you see in Georgetown, but Old Town Alexandria still has so many charming boutiques and restaurants. I think it’s important for us all to support these local small businesses as much as we can. 

The holidays are a really fun time to live in Alexandria, and it’s no wonder that  HGTV named Alexandria one of their “Top 10 Christmas Towns”. I was shocked to read that, as it seems not to be politically correct to even mention the word “Christmas”. I have to say that I am glad to be a resident in a town where Christmas isn’t a dirty word. We have to have religious freedom, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of taking away freedom from Christians. Anyhow, I digress.

The first weekend in December is the best time to visit Alexandria as there are so many great events happening. One reason for this is the hard work of the Campagna Center which plans the Annual Scottish Christmas Walk weekend. This is the 39th annual event for them, and that is a huge testament to all the wonderful events they have planned. Many of these events are free, which is great as many are struggling this holiday season.

Attending the event isn’t just a great way to enjoy the holidays, it’s a great way to get into the real spirit of Christmas as you will be helping others in need. If you haven’t heard about the Campagna Center, they were founded in 1945, and operate high-quality programs that support children in Alexandria by providing services that allow them to arrive at school ready to learn and ensure they are academically successful at each grade level.

These programs—which serve more than 1,500 children and their families daily—include:

Alexandria Head Start (child development program serving low-income families)Early Head Start (community-based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers)Campagna Early Learning Center (full-day preschool program for all children)

Afternoon Adventures (extended-day preschool program running from 3:00 pm  until 6:00 pm)

Campagna Kids (quality before- and after-school childcare and tutoring)

Wright to Read (tutoring and mentoring to promote literacy)

Building Better Futures (tutoring and mentoring for Latino and non-Latino ESL students)

The Scottish Christmas Walk starts on day with parading Scottie dogs, bagpipers and 100 Scottish clans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fun continues throughout the afternoon: take the kids for ornament decorating at Alexandria Archaeology, from 1 to 4 p.m. and the adults to the tour the lavishly decorated homes of the Campagna Center’s Holiday Designer Tour of Homes, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., throughout Old Town.

Here is a full listing of Scottish Christmas Walk events:

Friday, December 4

 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Christmas Marketplace (One Day Only!)

Vendors sell unique, holiday gift wares in a boutique setting. Admission is free!

Location: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria

Click here to see a list of this year’s marketplace vendors

Heather and Greens Sale

Try a touch of heather and greens to enhance your holiday decorations with a Scottish flair. Purchase fresh heather bundles or a variety of wreaths, garlands, flatwoods, paperwhites, and much more.

Location: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria

Why wait? Place your order now.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Taste of Scotland Patron Hour

This private reception features an exclusive tasting of hard-to-find, rare scotches direct from Scotland distilleries. Patrons will receive a special gift and event recognition. Only Taste of Scotland Patrons will be allowed admittance during this time.

Location: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria

Ticket Price: $150-individual, $250-couple

Become a Taste of Scotland Patron!

8:00 – 11:00 p.m. – Taste of Scotland

Attended by nearly 500 guests, including the Lord Provost of Dundee, Scotland, this special event features hard-to-find, rare scotches direct from Scotland distilleries and light fare. Event is for adults only.

Location: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria

Ticket Price: $100

Purchase Taste of Scotland Tickets!

7:00 – 10:30 p.m. – Christmas Marketplace (Taste of Scotland guests only)

Vendors sell unique, holiday gift wares in a boutique setting. Admission is free!

Location: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria

Saturday, December 5

 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Heather and Greens Sale

Try a touch of heather and greens to enhance your holiday decorations with a Scottish flair. Purchase fresh heather bundles or a variety of wreaths, garlands, flatwoods, paperwhites, and much more.

Location: The Campagna Center, 418 South Washington Street, Alexandria

Why wait? Place your order now.

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

Grand Marshal: Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook

Over 100 Scottish Clans, pipe and drum bands, Scottish dancers, re-enactment groups, Scottie dog groups, dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus will march through the streets of Old Town.

Route: Beginning at the corner of Wilkes and South Saint Asaph Streets in Old Town and ending at King and Royal Streets

Cost: No charge

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Massed Band Concert

Following the parade, the massed band concert takes place at King and Royal Streets in front of City Hall at Market Square.

Cost: No charge

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – The Holiday Designer Tour of Homes

Stroll through lovely properties dressed up for the holidays by acclaimed interior designers and local florists. Tour will be held rain or shine. Tickets are required for the home tour and are non-refundable. Sorry, no pets or children under the age of 12 are permitted on the tour. This year’s Tour features the following six exclusive properties in Old Town Alexandria:

Advance Purchase: $30

Day-Of Purchase: $35 (may also be purchased at homes)

Purchase Home Tour Tickets!

Another amazing thing to do is the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, which is in its 10th year!  Each year, Alexandria’s harbor sparkles when 50 brightly lit powerboats and sailboats led by the Vigilant, Alexandria’s fireboat, parade down the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Alexandria fully decked out in lights and holiday décor. This is a parade like no other in the area! Santa Claus will arrive by fireboat to kick off the evening festivities at 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Marina (One Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314). Kids and dogs will be able to sit on Santa’s lap and get their picture taken for free. The Braddock Brass Quintet and the Bells of Mount Vernon, a hand bell choir from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will headline the live music entertainment. WTOP’s Man About Town, Bob Madigan, will be the emcee and celebrity host of the boat parade. Boaters will compete for prizes in categories such as “Best in Show,” “Best Thinking Outside the Christmas Box” and “Hardiest Souls.” The parade culminates an entire day of holiday festivities throughout Old Town Alexandria.

Holiday Boat Parade Schedule:

Saturday, December 5, 2009

4:00 to 6:00 p.m. – Festivities on the docks at the Alexandria Waterfront (music and entertainment)4:15 p.m. – Santa arrives by boat – pictures with Santa for Kids and Canines5:00 p.m. – Parade starts at the Washington Channel, Water St. off of Maine Avenue, Washington, DC6:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Parade at Alexandria Waterfront 

Location and Transportation

The Alexandria waterfront is located behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which runs north along Union Street, between King and Cameron Streets. See a map of Alexandria.

The closest Metro stop is King Street station, which is about 10 blocks to the east of the waterfront. You can walk from there or take the free King Street Trolley. On-street parking and public parking lots are available within walking distance to the waterfront. Read more about parking in Old Town Alexandria.

Sightseeing Cruises

The public can also take part in the parade itself by riding along on DC Cruises sightseeing boat. The cruise has indoor, heated space, and will feature appetizers with hot apple cider, hot chocolate and a holiday dessert buffet. Tickets for the cruise must be purchased in advance and are $55/per person, and $40/child (including all taxes and gratuities) through Nov. 22nd., $65 and $45 (child) thereafter. An earlier cruise to watch the boats light-up and practice their parade assemblage is $35/adult, $17/child.

Other Fun Holiday Experiences in Alexandria

Continue the celebration throughout the season in Alexandria with holiday tree lightings, candlelight tours, ornament workshops, parades and more.

Check out the Alexandria, Virginia city event calendar.

Also see Virginia is for Lovers website on various holiday events throughout the state.