December is here and that means Old Town Alexandria officially feels like a European Christmas village🌟! If you’ve never been, it’s a special place to see. The second you step foot here; you’ll instantly feel the magic all around. This will be our third Christmas living here right in the heart of Alexandria and the anticipation for all the festive activities just gets bigger and bigger each year. If you’re planning on making your way to Old Town to celebrate, below are my top recommendations for the best things to do in Alexandria during the holiday season.
The Best Things to Do in Alexandria During the Holidays
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Go Shopping on King Street
King Street, Old Town Alexandria’s main street, is full of charming boutiques and it’s a great place to get started on your holiday shopping. A few locally owned King Street favorites include The Lucky Knot, The Hour, Bishop Boutique, Red Barn Mercantile & Penny Post.
Festivities kick off just before Thanksgiving when many local boutiques hold holiday open houses, then comes plaid Friday (Old Town’s black Friday) and small business Saturday.
Tip: The Old Town Trolley runs up and down King Street all day long and is free to the public. It’s a great way to get around (especially when it’s freezing cold outside!)
Visit The Holiday Tree in Market Square
Located right at the center of town, you’ll find the Holiday Tree in Market Square. We’ve taken holiday pics here every year since we moved in! If you happen to make your way there before noon on a Saturday, you’ll catch the Old Town Farmer’s market. We love going to the market. Perfect way to start a Saturday!
P.S. If you arrive in the morning and want to grab a coffee & a breakfast sandwich, head over to Dolce Gelati. It’s a local coffee and gelato shop right across the street. We go there often, and highly recommend!
Attend The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
The weekend after all the shopping events kickoff, the parades kick off. Every year during the first weekend of December, the annual Scottish Christmas walk parade takes place mid-late morning. It’s such a fun, festive event. Listening to the bagpipes and seeing tartan everywhere really gets you in the holiday mood! If you do happen to make it out, be sure to arrive early. This is a big weekend in Alexandria and parking fills up fast!
Attend The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
If you want to make a day of it, after the Scottish Christmas walk, The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights kicks off at dusk. Shortly before dusk head down to the Alexandria waterfront, find a spot along the water and enjoy watching all colorful boats pass by. If you’re deciding which weekend to visit Alexandria during the holidays, this is definitely the most popular weekend to do so.
Warm Up in a Cozy Winter Igloo at King and Rye
King & Rye has its very own winter igloos. How fun is that? They’ve turned their cocktail garden into a winter wonderland. Order your favorite warm winter drink and enjoy an afternoon or evening at King and Rye.
P.S. if you don’t make it over to King and Rye for the holidays, bookmark this for a fun winter activity to do later in the season. From what I’ve heard, the igloos will be available for booking through March. Tip: Make your reservation early before spaces book up!
Take In the Scenery at Night
Last, but certainly not least, if you have the chance, stick around Old Town until the sun goes down. The holiday lights are stunning! Wander off King Street to see all the beautiful homes around the area decked out for the holidays, then walk over to King Street, hop on the Old Town Trolley and take the trolley up toward the Masonic Temple (a historic landmark that sits at the end of town). As you ride the Trolley up King, you’ll enjoy seeing the tree lined trees covered in twinkly lights.
If you want to take the full ride up King, pick-up the trolley down towards the waterfront. It’s about a 5-mile ride from start to finish. If you’re staying outside Old Town, you’ll conveniently find the metro station at the end of the ride!