The Alexandria Christmas parade, the Scottish Walk, steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in Old Town. Boat parade 5:30 p.m.; tree lighting Nov. 21.

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the city’s Holiday Parades and Celebrating the Holidays pages and its events calendar.

Alexandria’s holiday season starts with the tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 21, and peaks on Saturday, Dec. 5, when the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade fills Old Town in the morning and the Boat Parade of Lights cruises the waterfront after dark. All three events are free. This year the City of Alexandria produces both parades itself for the first time, with help from the Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria.

Updated Nov. 1: the city confirmed Waterfront Park as the tree lighting site, and the Carlyle Christmas Market now closes at 4 p.m. Viewing spots for both parades are still not posted.

Who to call

  • Parades and city holiday events: City special events, specialevents@alexandriava.gov, 703-746-4665 for disability accommodations (three days ahead)
  • City services: Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311
  • Text alerts: text HOLIDAYSALX to 855-925-2801 for event and weather updates

Alexandria Christmas parade 2026: the short answer

Alexandria does not hold a parade called the “Christmas parade.” Its Christmas parade is the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, long known as the Scottish Christmas Walk, and in 2026 it is Saturday, Dec. 5, at 10:30 a.m. in Old Town. The same evening, the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights starts at 5:30 p.m. on the Potomac waterfront.

  • Morning parade: 10:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m., King, Royal and Fairfax streets.
  • Boat parade: 5:30 p.m., Old Town North to Ford’s Landing Park, dockside events 2 to 8 p.m.
  • Cost: free; no tickets.
  • Not yet posted (as of Nov. 1): the city says public viewing spots, the list of boats and the final schedule will be posted “shortly” on its Holiday Parades page. We will add them here.

The dates at a glance

Date Event Where Time
Saturday, Nov. 21 Holiday Tree Lighting Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 Scottish Walk Holiday Parade King, Royal and Fairfax streets, Old Town 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Waterfront, Old Town North to Ford’s Landing Park Parade 5:30 p.m.; dockside 2-8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve fireworks Waterfront Park 8 p.m. and midnight

Holiday Tree Lighting, Nov. 21

The city’s annual tree lighting runs 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, with Santa arriving on the King Street Trolley, the lighting of the tree and holiday music. The city’s event listing now confirms Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St., a new location for 2026. It is free and open to all ages. City Hall and Market Square, the usual holiday centerpiece, are closed for renovation.

Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, Dec. 5

The 55th parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. and runs until about 12:30 p.m. along King, Royal and Fairfax streets. Scottish clans in tartan march with pipe and drum bands, terriers and hounds, and community groups.

The parade began more than 50 years ago as a thank-you to the city from the Campagna Center, then the Alexandria Community Y, and took its Scottish theme in 1970 and 1971, honoring John Alexander, the Scottish merchant and ship owner the city is named for. The Library of Congress recorded it as one of Virginia’s Bicentennial Local Legacies.

Want to march? Groups apply on the city’s Holiday Parades page by Sunday, Nov. 1. The city reviews every application and emails decisions Nov. 9-13; groups that marched in 2024 or 2025 get priority. The fee is $75, due only after approval.

The Campagna Center’s Taste of Scotland whisky tasting, a ticketed fundraiser for adults 21 and over, is the night before, Friday, Dec. 4, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at 277 S. Washington St. Tickets and details.

Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, Dec. 5

Lit-up boats cruise the Potomac along the Old Town waterfront, from Old Town North to Ford’s Landing Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. Dockside festivities run from 2 to 8 p.m. around Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. Boaters register with the city by Friday, Nov. 13, and must attend a virtual captain’s safety meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2; the city bars political decorations, signs and music on parade boats. The Wharf’s separate boat parade in Washington follows at 7 p.m. The city says public viewing spots, the list of boats and the final schedule will be posted on the Holiday Parades page.

Getting there

Parking in Old Town is tighter than usual while City Hall and Market Square are renovated. The city asks people to take DASH, the King Street Trolley or Metrorail, or to walk or bike. Expect street closures in Old Town on the morning of Dec. 5; our road closures page will list them when the city posts them.

Other holiday events

  • Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle St. Free admission. Details.
  • Festival of Light concert by the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive.
  • Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon, with evening programs Dec. 19 and 20 at George Washington’s estate south of the city. Mount Vernon calendar.

What this means for you

  • Mark Saturday, Dec. 5, for both parades; arrive by transit.
  • Groups that want to march must apply by Nov. 1.
  • Sign up for the city’s HOLIDAYSALX texts for weather changes on event days.

Related guides: things to do this month, getting around Alexandria and Alexandria history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Alexandria Christmas parade 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Alexandria’s Christmas parade is the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. and runs until about 12:30 p.m. along King, Royal and Fairfax streets in Old Town. The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights follows at 5:30 p.m. the same day on the waterfront. Both are free.

Can my group march in the Alexandria Christmas parade?

Groups apply on the city’s Holiday Parades page from Oct. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. The city reviews applications Nov. 2-6 and emails decisions Nov. 9-13. Late applications are not considered, and the $75 fee is due only after approval.

When is the Alexandria tree lighting 2026?

The city’s Holiday Tree Lighting is 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The city confirms Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St., a new location this year; Santa arrives on the King Street Trolley. It is free.

When is the Scottish Christmas Walk parade in Alexandria?

The 55th Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, along King, Royal and Fairfax streets in Old Town. The city produces it for the first time this year.

When is the Alexandria boat parade of lights?

Saturday, Dec. 5. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. along the Old Town waterfront, from Old Town North to Ford’s Landing Park, with dockside activities from 2 to 8 p.m.

Does Alexandria have New Year’s Eve fireworks?

Yes. The city lists fireworks at 8 p.m. and midnight Thursday, Dec. 31, at Waterfront Park.