Since February, a construction fence has surrounded 301 King Street. Grunley Construction moved onto the site that month. The first phase cleared asbestos out of City Hall's 1960s addition. More of it than expected turned up in the south façade and the interior courtyards, which added 10 weeks to the schedule. In September a high-reach excavator began taking down that 1960s infill one piece at a time, to clear the way for new construction around the restored 1871 building. According to the City's latest construction update, the project should be finished in fall 2028.
That fenced plaza used to anchor Alexandria's holiday season. This year the season has moved toward the Potomac, and more of it than ever is run by the City itself. The tree lighting, the Scottish Walk parade and the Boat Parade of Lights are all now produced out of the same City special events office. Two of them land on the same Saturday a few blocks apart. The smaller, neighborhood-run events on Mount Vernon Avenue take over the weekends after that.
Why the Tree Moved to Prince Street
The 2026 Holiday Tree Lighting is on Saturday, November 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. It's free, all ages are welcome, and the plan includes music and a visit from Santa. The City's listing calls Waterfront Park the "new 2026 location."
The square that used to host it is a construction site. The City Hall renovation page says the plaza and the garage underneath need structural repairs and City Hall needs new building systems, with construction expected to last two years or more. The Market Square Garage is closed for the duration, and Old Town parking is tighter as a result. The Old Town Farmers' Market made a similar move and now sets up at Tavern Square and along Royal Street.
Anyone walking down King Street on the evening of the 21st will pass the fencing, the detours and the haul route at 301 King on the way to the river. The lighting now happens at the bottom of King Street, the same spot where the boats come by two weeks later.
The Scottish Walk Has a New Producer for the First Time in Its History
The second change is about who runs things. The Scottish Walk Holiday Parade began more than 50 years ago as a community event supporting the organization now called the Campagna Center. Over the years the Campagna Center produced it with St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC, Old Presbyterian Meeting House and the City, with the Junior and Supporting Friends of the Campagna Center leading the work. In 2026 the City became lead producer, with the Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria supporting. The City's parade page says the goal is to make the parade an ongoing source of civic pride and a celebration of Alexandria and its communities.
The event has a long record. It started in the 1960s as a Christmas Walk, took on a Scottish theme in 1970, and in 1971 merged with the St. Andrew's Society's celebration. That tied it to John Alexander, the Scottish merchant and ship owner the city is named for. It is one of five Virginia events documented in the Library of Congress Bicentennial Local Legacies Project. In 2007, organizers said 125 groups and 2,500 people took part.
City production changes how groups get into the parade. The City now reviews applications and gives priority to groups that marched in 2024 or 2025. Approved entries pay a $75 fee, charged only after approval. The 55th parade, which Visit Alexandria lists as sponsored by Wegmans, steps off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, in Old Town.
The Campagna Center is still involved, but its fundraiser has its own night now. Taste of Scotland is Friday, December 4, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., with a sponsor rooftop hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Above ALX Community Penthouse + Atrium Gallery, 277 S. Washington St. Proceeds go to the center's programs for under-resourced children and families in Alexandria.
December 5, From Bagpipes to Boat Lights
Since the City now runs both the parade and the boat parade, December 5 works as one long civic day with a single organizer. Here's how the day runs as currently scheduled:
- Del Ray. The Saturday Del Ray Farmers' Market is on the calendar at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, at Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenues.
- 10:30 a.m., Old Town. The Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, with clans in tartan, pipe and drum bands, and terriers and hounds.
- 2 to 8 p.m., the waterfront. Dockside festivities for the 26th Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights.
- 5:30 p.m. The boats start along about a mile of shoreline. The City's viewing area runs from Old Town North to Ford's Landing Park.
- 7 p.m., upriver. The District's Holiday Boat Parade at The Wharf, the second of the two Potomac boat parades that night.
Boat owners who want to take part have until Friday, November 13 to register with the City. Spots are limited and usually fill before the deadline. Registered captains attend a virtual safety meeting on Wednesday, December 2, at 7 p.m. and pick up their parade number signs at the Torpedo Factory Art Center info desk. Registering with Alexandria doesn't sign a boat up for The Wharf's parade. That takes a separate registration with The Wharf. The City says detailed public viewing information and the final schedule are still to be posted, so check alexandriava.gov/HolidayParades in the days before the parade.
Visit Alexandria calls December 4 through 6 Alexandria's Biggest Holiday Weekend. For people who live here, the Sunday after is when the season moves back into the neighborhoods.
The Weekends After Belong to Mount Vernon Avenue
The waterfront has the big civic events. The rest of December happens north of Old Town, mostly along Mount Vernon Avenue, and mostly run by local organizations instead of the City. On Sunday, December 6, two of them open within blocks of each other.
Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
Dec. 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 | Del Ray Artisans 31st Annual Holiday Market | Del Ray Artisans |
Sun., Dec. 6 | Del Ray Holiday Season Kick-Off | Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Oxford & Mount Vernon Avenues |
Sun., Dec. 6 | 4MR: 5th Annual Holiday Makers' Market | 4109 Mount Vernon Ave. |
Thu., Dec. 10 | Shops of Del Ray Holiday Sip & Shop | Along Mount Vernon Avenue |
Sat., Dec. 12 | Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market | Mount Vernon & Bellefonte Avenues |
Sat., Dec. 12 | 11th Annual Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl | Along Mount Vernon Avenue |
Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show | John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St. |
The Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market has the longest run of any event this month. This is its 31st year, and it spans the first three weekends of December. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Its first weekend falls on Visit Alexandria's Biggest Holiday Weekend, so a Friday evening visit fits ahead of the parade the next morning.
Saturday, December 12, is the busiest day on the Del Ray side. The Del Ray Business Association calendar lists the Saturday farmers' market at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, the Vintage & Flea Market at Mount Vernon and Bellefonte, and the 11th Candy Cane Bar Crawl along the avenue, all on the same day. The Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show at John Carlyle Square, near the Carlyle end of town, is on the same Saturday.
Before any of that, the 51st Annual Alexandria Turkey Trot starts and finishes at George Washington Middle School on Mount Vernon Avenue.
Back to the River for the Last Night of the Year
The season wraps up at the same park where it started. New Year's Eve fireworks go off over Waterfront Park at 8 p.m. and at midnight on Thursday, December 31. Between November 21 and December 31, Waterfront Park hosts the free tree lighting, the boat parade's dockside afternoon, and two fireworks shows, while 301 King Street stays fenced and is set to stay that way until fall 2028.
Our team at Jessica Richardson has spent many Decembers in this city and is glad to help you plan around them. Whether you want a good spot along the boat parade route or a quiet table on Mount Vernon Avenue after the Del Ray Artisans market, book an appointment and we'll help you plan your December.
