Your Guide to Holiday Parade Day in Alexandria 2024

Based on anticipated attendance, arriving early and using public transportation and alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged. Transportation options include Metrorail (Blue and Yellow lines) from the King Street station, water taxi, Capital Bikeshare, taxi and free DASH buses, which run from 6 a.m. to midnight. Throughout Saturday, the free King Street Trolley (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) will run a modified route from the King Street Metro to the Lyceum (201 S. Washington St) and back until 10 p.m.

If you do drive, plan to park a fair distance from the parade locations. Find a map of garages on the City of Alexandria’s parking page and avoid driving in the Scottish Walk parade zone.

Find additional details on road closures and the community impact around Scottish Walk and the Boat Parade. View a map of traffic patterns during the Boat Parade here.

Plus, make a weekend of it with special holiday hotel packages.

Pictured: Chadwicks; Image Credit: Scott Suchman for Visit Alexandria

Before the fun begins, grab breakfast at Chadwicks, Table Talk, Laporta’s, Hummingbird, Hen Quarter or one of Alexandria’s popular brunch spots. For a quick grab-and-go option, pick up a fresh pastry and hot drink to-go from the Old Town Farmers’ Market, located steps from the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade. Select vendors will stay after the parade ends and into the afternoon.

The city celebrates its Scottish heritage with the iconic 53^rd Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade beginning at 11 a.m. 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, community groups as well as terriers and hounds and more.

Bring a pop-up chair to enjoy the parade from anywhere along the mile-long route through Old Town; just be sure not to block sidewalks, streets and residences. While we love furry friends, they may be more comfortable at home given the high volume of attendees and dogs participating in the parade.

For dining post-Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, we recommend making a reservation to guarantee you’ll be seated during a busy day or else enjoying a fast casual meal. Try Old Town restaurants slightly off the beaten path of the parade, but within walking distance, like Eddie’s Little Shop & Deli, The Italian Place, Southside 815 or Sisters Thai. Or, warm up with a latte from Misha’s Coffee or Turkish Coffee Lady.

Image Credit: Evan Michio for Visit Alexandria

After the morning parade and re-fueling, squeeze in some holiday shopping and pick up stocking stuffers during The Old Town Shop’s Christmas Bazaar or step back in time at Carlyle House’s Scottish Walk Open House.

Then, check out the pre-Boat Parade programming, including the following:

Canal Center at Old Town North Waterfront

• Festivities return to the Old Town North waterfront with the Canal Center Art Mart from 2 to 8 p.m. The holiday bazaar will feature 40+ artists, food and drink vendors, a sculpture art exhibit in the Art Gallery and live music by Yellow Door Concert Jazz.

Alexandria City Marina (0 Cameron St.)

• Holiday Festival at Torpedo Factory Art Center (2 to 8 p.m., 105 N. Union St.)
• Santa arrives by fireboat at the Alexandria City Marina (3:30 p.m., 0 Cameron St.)

Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)

• Activities (2 to 5:30 p.m., 1 King Street)
  • Little ones can write postcards to Santa with Penny Post, fashion holiday ornaments with AR Workshop Alexandria and design a Christmas tree with Pippin Toy Co. Plus, they can craft sustainable gifts with ALX Dog Walk and create a Christmas crown with Lee-Fendall House Museum.
  • Holiday music from 97.1 WASH-FM will deliver a festive atmosphere all day, and their street team will round out the Waterfront Park experience with giveaways throughout the afternoon.

• Food and Drink Options (2 to 8 p.m.)
  • Enjoy a pop-up beer garden from Alexandria’s award-winning Port City Brewing Company. Sip hot chocolate from Dolci Gelati and enjoy food options such as empanadas from Tequila & Taco, pizza by the slice from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, gourmet popcorn from A.M. Kettle and cookies and snacks from Together We Bake.

At 5:30, more than 50 brightly lit boats will cruise along Old Town Alexandria’s Potomac River shoreline during the 24^th Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon.

Transportation Tips:

• Be sure to arrive as early as possible to minimize delays due to traffic or crowds.
• Leave your car behind and travel via Metrorail (blue and yellow line to King Street Metro), bus, Lyft, Uber, taxi, Capital Bikeshare and more.
• Note that parking garages closest to the waterfront fill up in advance of the event, and new traffic patterns and street closures near the waterfront go into effect at around 3 pm. See a traffic map here. Check out more transportation and parking information.

Viewing Vantage Points:

Experience the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights at viewing locations along one mile of the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. Start time will vary as the parade proceeds southward on the Potomac River, beginning around 5:30 p.m. at City Marina, but earlier at northern viewing points and later to the south.

Note that depending on conditions, guests in viewing locations north of Founders Park (e.g. Canal Center, Rivergate Park, and Oronoco Bay Park) may see the lighted boats in the process of staging rather than in a single-file parade line.

Below are suggested parade viewing areas:

• Canal Center Plaza (11 Canal Center Plaza)
• Rivergate City Park (2 Montgomery St.)
• Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
• Founders Park, 351 North Union Street
• Alexandria City Marina, 0 Cameron Street (limited visibility)
• Waterfront Park, 1 King Street and 1A Prince Street
• Point Lumley Park, 1 Duke Street
• Robinson Landing, 7 Pioneer Way
• Windmill Hill Park, 501 South Union Street
• Shipyard/Harborside Park, 1 Wilkes Street
• Ford’s Landing City Park, 99 Franklin Street

Pictured: Kismet Modern Indian; Image Credit: Scott Suchman for Visit Alexandria

Keep the fun going and clink glasses with a reservation for drinks or mocktails at King & Rye, Kismet Modern Indian or Brabo Brasserie. Or, warm up with an elevated dining experience at Elaine’s, Josephine or Oak Steakhouse.

Text “ALXEVENTS” to 888777 to receive event updates.

Discover everything Alexandria has to offer this holiday season.