Saturday, December 3, 2022

51^st Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

Part of Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend

December 3, 2022
Parade starts at 11 a.m.
Old Town Alexandria

Alexandria was founded in 1749 by Scottish merchants and was named after Scotsman John Alexander who owned the land that became Alexandria. Today, the city continues celebrating its heritage with the iconic Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, as well as terriers and hounds and more. This year’s Grand Marshal is Redella “Del” Pepper, the recently retired, longest-serving member of Alexandria City Council with more than 36 years of service to the community.

See this year’s parade line-up here.

The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is produced by Visit Alexandria in partnership with Campagna Center and the City of Alexandria.

To volunteer as a banner carrier or for other event production positions, sign up here.

Text “ALXEVENTS” to 888777 to receive event updates.

Parade Route Map

Event Status

The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade will take place rain or shine.

Text “ALXEVENTS” to 888777 to receive additional event updates.

Your Guide to Holiday Parade Day in Alexandria 2022

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FAQs

Admission: The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is free and open to the public. No tickets are required to attend.

Viewing Areas: Enjoy the parade from anywhere along the mile-long route through Old Town. If watching Scottish Walk by Market Square, please do not climb on trees, planters, or walls.

Seating: While we have no reserved seating areas, attendees are welcome to bring a pop-up chair. However, we ask that you don’t block sidewalks, streets or residences.

Participants: Many have participated in this event for decades and others are participating for the first time. Stay tuned for a list of registered participants.

All Scottish Walk participants were part of an official application and registration process in advance of the event. Same-day registration is not permitted. No walk-up or drive-up participation is allowed.

Food & Beverage: The Old Town Farmers’ Market in Market Square is open from 7 a.m. through the conclusion of Scottish Walk, pick up a snack or shop small at one of the many businesses in Old Town Alexandria. Following Scottish Walk, it’s recommended to make a reservation at restaurants to guarantee you’ll be seated during a very busy day.

Dogs: We anticipate a high volume of attendees at this event and dogs that are official participants of the Scottish Walk. While we love furry friends, they may be more comfortable at home. Service animals allowed. If you must bring your dog, please no retractable leashes.

Restrooms: Portable toilets will be available on N. Royal Street behind the Grandstand. There are also public restrooms at the Alexandria Visitor Center located at the corner of Fairfax and King Streets. Part of the parade route is close to Old Town’s commercial corridor on King Street.

Photography/Videography: Photographers will be present to capture images to be used in future promotional use. By attending the festival you are granting permission for your photo to be captured. Personal photography is allowed, but please stay out of the way of the parade participants.

Neighborhood Impact/Safety: Please be mindful of people around you and know that a significant portion of the route passes residential areas. Please dispose of trash properly and spread out along the route. Help us ensure that sidewalks remain accessible and passable. Please do not cross the parade route in front of vehicles and keep a close eye on children and dogs.

Transportation

Based on anticipated attendance, the use of public transportation and alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged. See the list below to consider your options and plan your trip.

Metro: The parade is accessible via Metrorail (blue line) from the King Street station.

King Street Trolley: Throughout Saturday, the free King Street Trolley will run a modified route from the King Street Metro to the Lyceum (201 S. Washington St) and back.

Water Taxi: For information on pricing and schedules, click here.

Capital Bikeshare: There are several dock stations within Old Town and in Old Town North near the Mount Vernon Trail and Oronoco Bay Park. Please utilize the Capital Bikeshare corral with additional capacity located at the corner of Prince and Union Streets. For more information, please visit capitalbikeshare.com.

Dockless Mobility: There are various dockless mobility devices throughout Old Town including e-scooters and e-bikes. Please note there is no riding on sidewalks per City code or along the expanded King Street pedestrian zone from the 200 block of King Street to the waterfront. When possible, please park in a scooter corral or bike rack so as not to block the sidewalk.

DASH Bus: The DASH bus is free. DASH buses run as early as 6 a.m. and as late as midnight on both Friday and Saturday.

Taxi: The following companies currently operate within the City of Alexandria:

GoGreen Cab: 703.212.2000, gogreentaxicab.com
King Cab: 703.549.3530, kingcabcompany.com
Union Cab: 703.683.1200
VIP Cab: 703.333.5800, viptaxiva.wordpress.com
White Top Cab: 703.683.4004
Yellow Cab: 703.549.2500, alexandriayellowcab.com

Parking: Please consider all travel options as parking availability is limited on weekends. Find a map of garages on the City of Alexandria’s parking page.