For most of Old Town's history, the holiday season has started at Market Square. This year the square is behind construction fencing. The tree that would have gone up beside City Hall will be lit two blocks east at Waterfront Park, and the City of Alexandria now produces the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, which for more than 50 years was a nonprofit's gift to the city. The City is hosting the December boat parade as well.
Together, those changes move the season toward the river and put its biggest public days in the City's hands. The calendar is new from the November tree lighting through New Year's Eve, and Waterfront Park, at the foot of King Street, is now where most of it happens.
Why the Square Is Out Until 2028
The fencing at 301 King St. is for the City Hall renovation. Grunley Construction has been on site since late February. The City's October 26 construction update says crews found asbestos they hadn't expected in the 1960s south façade and the interior courtyards, which added 10 weeks to the schedule. Completion is now expected in fall 2028.
The work that started in September takes down the 1960s infill section so that the 1871 City Hall can be restored and modernized. Below ground, a temporary pile system has been going in to support the edges of the Market Square garage before it is taken apart.
That rules out Market Square as a gathering place for at least two more holiday seasons. The City's holiday page says the renovation has limited parking in Old Town and asks people to check transportation updates before every event.
The Tree Moves to the Water on November 21
The City's 2026 Holiday Tree Lighting is Saturday, November 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. It's free, with music and a visit from Santa. The City's event listing calls it a "New 2026 location."
Waterfront Park is also where the City holds its New Year's Eve fireworks, at 8 p.m. and midnight on December 31. The boat parade passes the same shoreline. With the tree there too, the season's three big public events now happen within sight of the Potomac.
| Date | Event | Where | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 21, 6–8 p.m. | Holiday Tree Lighting | Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. | City of Alexandria |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Plaid Friday | Shops citywide | Visit Alexandria promotion |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Shops citywide | Visit Alexandria promotion |
| Fri., Dec. 4, 6:30–10 p.m. | Taste of Scotland | Above ALX, 277 S. Washington St. | The Campagna Center |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. | Scottish Walk Holiday Parade | King, Royal and Fairfax streets | City of Alexandria |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. | Holiday Boat Parade of Lights | Old Town North to Ford's Landing Park | City of Alexandria |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show | John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St. | Listed by Visit Alexandria |
| Thu., Dec. 31, 8 p.m. and midnight | New Year's Eve Fireworks | Waterfront Park | City of Alexandria |
The City Now Runs the Parades
The City's Holiday Parades page says that in 2026 the City of Alexandria became the lead producer of the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade, with the Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria in support. This year's parade is sponsored by Wegmans. The City is also hosting the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights.
The City's own history of the event explains what that handoff means. The walk started in the 1960s as a Christmas Walk put on by the organization now called the Campagna Center, then known as the Community Y, to thank the city for its support. The Scottish theme first appeared in 1970. In 1971 the event merged with the St. Andrew's Society's celebration in honor of John Alexander, the Scottish merchant the city is named for. A 1986 bulletin quoted on the City's parade history page described the walk as "a gift from the members of the Alexandria Community Y to the City of Alexandria." Forty years later, the City is producing that gift itself.
The Campagna Center still has its own event that weekend. Taste of Scotland runs Friday, December 4, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Above ALX Community Penthouse + Atrium Gallery, 277 S. Washington St.
December 5 Puts Everything on One Saturday
With one organizer for both parades, the City has scheduled them on the same day, Saturday, December 5. The full day looks like this:
- 7 a.m. to noon. The Old Town Farmers' Market opens at its temporary home on the 100 block of N. Royal St. and in the Tavern Square courtyard.
- 10:30 a.m. The Scottish Walk Holiday Parade starts on King, Royal and Fairfax streets.
- 2 to 8 p.m. Dockside activities run along the Old Town waterfront.
- 5:30 p.m. The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights begins. The City's holiday page gives the route as Old Town North to Ford's Landing Park.
- 7 p.m. The District's Holiday Boat Parade follows the same evening. The City encourages boaters to enter both.
So the day starts with produce on N. Royal and ends with lighted boats on the Potomac, all on one City-run schedule. The boat parade also has a check-in point on land. Accepted boaters pick up their parade number signs at the Torpedo Factory Art Center info desk.
Saturday Mornings Are Across the Street
The farmers' market move matters every week, not just on December 5. The City says the Old Town Farmers' Market had been held at Market Square without interruption since 1753. On January 10, 2026, it moved across the street to the 100 block of N. Royal St. and the Tavern Square courtyard, where it will stay for the length of the renovation.
The schedule hasn't changed. According to the City's market page, the market runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, year-round, rain or shine, with more than 70 vendors selling produce, baked goods, flowers, meats, dairy and specialty items. That includes the Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The parking is what changed. Market shoppers can park free at Tavern Square Garage, 418 Cameron St., or Courthouse Square Garage, 111 S. Pitt St., on Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Shopping Weekend Has New Places on King Street
Visit Alexandria is promoting Plaid Friday on November 27 and Small Business Saturday on November 28 as citywide shop-local days. Several of the King Street storefronts on a shopping route this year didn't exist last December.
- Twosome Place, 404 King St. The Zebra reported that the Korean café opened its first U.S. location here in October, serving specialty cakes, drinks and savory dishes.
- Long Dark House, 1510 King St. This science-fiction and horror bookstore opened September 5, according to The Zebra.
- Madame Coco's Emporium, 1510 King St. The chocolatier's website now points customers to the address it shares with Long Dark House.
- Seven Teahouse, 101 S. Royal St. The tea shop has taken a corner storefront a few steps south of King, as ALXnow reported.
Down by the river, the 200 block of King Street stays closed to cars this season. City Council made its pedestrian status permanent in September 2025, so foot traffic heading down from the shops toward Waterfront Park has the street to itself for that block.
The one big market of the season is a bit outside Old Town proper. The Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show sets up at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., on Saturday, December 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Alexandria's listing mentions local artisan goods, carolers, a DJ, food, children's crafts and photos with Santa.
Getting Around the Fence
The Market Square Garage has been closed since February 9 and will stay closed for the whole construction period. The fencing also closed the sidewalks and street parking along N. Royal, N. Fairfax and Cameron streets around City Hall. A strip of sidewalk is still open along King Street in front of the building.
The City's Old Town parking page lists Courthouse Garage, North Union Street Garage and Thompson's Alley Garage as alternatives. North Union and Thompson's Alley are both close to the waterfront events. On Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, the City doesn't require payment at parking meters.
The free King Street Trolley runs every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, holidays included, according to Visit Alexandria. The City Hall stop at N. Fairfax and King will move several times during construction. The first move put it around the corner at 302 King St., and DASH announces each later move. Starting at 11 a.m., the trolley runs every 15 minutes, which covers a trip down to Waterfront Park for the dockside activities or the 5:30 p.m. boat parade.
Seasonal changes like these also shape the presentation and timing of a spring listing in Old Town. If you're thinking about selling once Market Square is back, Abrams Residential can help you plan around both the construction schedule and the market calendar. Schedule a complimentary home strategy consultation.