Your Guide to Alexandria’s Most Insta-Worthy Holiday Spots

As the temperature drops, bundle up and stroll beneath glittering lights draped over the trees lining historic King Street. Soak up the holiday magic as you pass by flickering lamps and sparkling store displays (and pop in for seasonal shopping). Then, line up the perfect angle to see the canopy of branches twinkling in the twilight all the way up the King Street Mile.

Old Town residents love to spruce up their door décor with seasonal greenery. Wander off the beaten path for doors draped in garland, festive holiday wreaths and adorable detail work. Foray to the 600 block of Princess Street, the 200 block of N. Columbus Street, the 100 block of S. Patrick Street, or forge your own festive path. Inspired to grab some greenery of your own? Explore the collection at Greenstreet Gardens.

Come twilight, the city streets shimmer with seasonal spirit. Find flickering gas lamps and cascading Christmas lights among bright-lit displays from the subtle to the spectacular to catch your eye—and your camera’s viewfinder.

Find the height of holiday cheer at Alexandria’s Market Square, where the city’s seasonal tree cuts a sparkling silhouette against the evening sky. See the stunning spectacle come to life at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 19, 2022. Snap the tree from all angles and pose before the dazzling backdrop. Find another picturesque pine, plus a bright-lit menorah, during Del Ray’s annual Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting on December 4.

On December 3, 2022, capture the colorful revelry of the 51st Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade. The parade on Saturday at 11 a.m. floods Old Town with Scottish-style merry-making while saluting Alexandria’s Scottish history. Bring your camera for kilted bagpipers caravanning in front of historic townhouses and plaid-wearing pups parading down centuries-old streets. Keep snapping for Scottish dancers, reenactments groups, local dignitaries and the D.C. region’s most beloved Santa.

Ice and Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run will return this year, featuring an ice rink, multiple holiday light displays perfect for Instagramming, a retail area, food, music and more. Ice & Lights is open nightly from November 18, 2022 to January 1, 2023, and then for skating only on weekends from January 7 to February 26, 2023.

Image Credit: J. Weilepp Photography for Visit Alexandria.

Continue your holiday photo tour along Old Town’s scenic streetscapes and support local businesses to boot. Check out resplendent displays at stores like Twist Boutique, Red Barn Mercantile, Today’s Cargo and more. Pop in for gift-shopping as you snag consignment fashion, home décor, the perfect piece of jewelry and more.

As the next stop on your picturesque pilgrimage, head to the artsy Del Ray neighborhood’s made-for-strolling Mount Vernon Avenue to see delightful displays hand-painted on storefront windows. Don’t miss Del Ray’s holiday happenings, including the annual Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting on December 4, 2022, which will include thousands of luminarias, and the 7th Annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl on December 10.

Experience First Night Alexandria’s fireworks show above the Potomac River. The midnight show will last for approximately 10 minutes. Visitors are encouraged to spread out among the viewing areas listed below, and wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, if social distancing cannot be maintained.

Prime viewing locations:

• Canal Center Plaza (Center Canal Plaza)
• Rivergate Park (2 Montgomery St.)
• Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
• Founders Park (351 North Union St.)
• Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)
• Windmill Hill Park (501 South Union St.)
• Fords Landing boardwalk (99 Franklin St.)
• Jones Point Park  (Jones Point Dr.)
• George Washington Masonic Temple (101 Callahan Dr.)

Header image credits, left to right: Instagram user @velogirl22, @scenefrommyrun and @adam_brockett