Christmas in Old Town Alexandria

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 25, 2011, 7-9 p.m. Rain or shine. Enjoy musical entertainment, caroling with a community sing along, and greetings from the Mayor and Santa Claus.

Christmas at Mount Vernon
November 25, 2011 - January 6, 2012, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate. Themed decorations, a gingerbread Mount Vernon, historical chocolate-making demonstrations, and 18th-century dancing will be offered. Visit Aladdin, George Washington's Christmas Camel, take special Mansion tours, and make a Chocolate Toast to Christmas.

Torpedo Factory Art Center Open House
December 2, 2011, 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 2-3, 2011. 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 3, 2011 at 11 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 3, 2011, 4-8:30 p.m. Dozens of festively decorated pleasure boats light up the sky along the Potomac River. The parade repeats in Georgetown on Dec. 5th.

Old Town Candlelight Tours
December 10, 2011. 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 10, 2011, 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 18, 2011, 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.

City of Alexandria Holiday Concert Series

Enjoy the festive sounds of the season by local performers including barbershop, folk, Hanukah favorites, hand bell ringers and good old fashioned caroling. All the performances are free and held outdoors at Market Square, 301 King St.

• Sat. Nov. 26, 2011, 1-2 p.m. Potomac Harmony Chorus, featuring women's barbershop.
  
  
• Sat. Nov. 26, 2011, 2-3 p.m. NOVA/DC Institute Choir, made up of talented young adult musicians from the Washington DC metro area.
  
  
• Sun. Nov. 27, 2011, 2-3 p.m. Steven Gellman, featuring acoustic folk.
  
  
• Sun. Nov. 27, 2011, 3-4 p.m. Project Natale, featuring jazzy holiday music.
  
  
• Sun. Dec. 4, 2011, 2-3 p.m. Alexandria Singers, featuring choral holiday music.
  
  
• Sun. Dec. 4, 2011, 3-4 p.m. Ein Lanu Z'man, a band featuring Hanukkah and other Jewish music.
  
  
• Sat. Dec. 10, 2011, 1-2 p.m. Bell's Angels Handbell Choir, St. John's Lutheran Church, featuring handbells.
  
  
• Sat. Dec. 10, 2011, 2:-3 p.m. Alexandria Harmonizers, featuring men's barbershop.
  
  
• Sun. Dec. 11, 2011, 2-3 p.m. Celebration & Tower Ringers Handbell Choir, St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, featuring handbells.
  
  
• Sun. Dec 11, 2011, 3-4 p.m. Angela Bryant-Brown, featuring inspirational & holiday music.

Concerts will be cancelled due to inclement weather. For up to date information, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at (703) 746-5592.

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.