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Christmas in Old Town Alexandria

Feel the Magic of the Winter Holidays in Alexandria, Virginia

By Rachel Cooper, About.com

Photo © Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association
The holiday season in Old Town Alexandria is magical… Historic streets decorated brightly for the holidays, entertainers on street corners drawing a crowd, colorful shop windows inviting visitors to enjoy the holiday season and create lasting memories. Explore the festivities from King Street in Old Town Alexandria to Del Ray's nostalgic Mount Vernon Avenue and the shops in the City's West End, Alexandria. See Photos of Christmas in Old Town Alexandria

Schedule of Christmas Events in Old Town Alexandria

City of Alexandria's Tree Lighting Ceremony
Historic Market Square in Old Town, 301 King Street. Friday, November 27, 2009, 7-9 p.m. Rain or shine. Enjoy musical entertainment, caroling with a community sing along, and greetings from the Mayor and Santa Claus.

Torpedo Factory Art Center Open House
December 3, 2009, 6-9 p.m. Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and celebrate the holiday season with live jazz, an art raffle, door prizes, wine, and refreshments.

Scottish Walk Weekend
December 3-5, 2009. The Campagna Center hosts a weekend holiday celebration. Hundreds of Scottish clansmen with their bagpipes gather for the traditional favorite Scottish Walk Parade on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., in Old Town. See photos of the parade. The weekend includes a tour of historic homes and a Christmas Marketplace and Café.

Annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
December 5, 2009, 3-8:30 p.m. Dozens of festively decorated pleasure boats light up the sky along the Potomac River. The parade begins at Alexandria's waterfront and culminates at Washington Channel at Water St. off of Maine Avenue, Washington, DC.

Old Town Candlelight Tours
December 12, 2009. Historic Alexandria will host candlelight tours at four festively decorated historic sites in Old Town. George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, Gunston Hall, and Woodlawn Plantation will also host festive events in historic settings throughout the month.

Christmas in Camp at the Fort Ward Museum
December 12, 2009, noon to 4:00 p.m. Experience the festive sights and sounds of Christmas during the Civil War at this popular family event that features living history, music of the period, decorations, refreshments and tours. Suggested donations are $2/adults and $1/children.

Colonial Ringers Handbell Ensemble at the Lyceum Museum
December 20, 2009, 3-5 p.m. Enjoy some holiday merriment with the area’s premier English handbell ensemble, “The Colonial Ringers and the Canterbury Ringers,” as they perform a wide variety of Christmas music. Join in and sing along with your favorite Christmas carols.

2009 Holiday Concert Schedule

Enjoy the music of the season performed by local talent in Old Town Alexandria as a break between shopping, on your way to dinner, or just to get in the spirit of the holidays. All concerts are held at Market Square, 301 King St. Note that they are cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

2009 Dates and Performers to Be Announced

Transportation and Parking in Old Town

The City of the Alexandria makes getting to and around Old Town easy with the Dash About free bus shuttle, which runs every 15 minutes, Fridays, 7 p.m.- midnight; Saturdays, 10 a.m.- midnight; Sundays, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. The colorfully-painted Dash About travels from the King Street Metro to the Ramsay House Visitors Center at 221 King Street, returning to the Metro with stops along the way. Passes for free parking at 2-hour meters are also available for out-of-town visitors at the Visitors Center. See a map of Alexandria

For updated information on holiday events, call the Ramsay House Visitors Center at 703-838-5005.

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