This December weekend in Alexandria brings a hefty helping of holiday cheer with festive concerts and markets, bar crawls and opportunities for holiday light viewing.
Locals can get into the spirit with the Alexandria Citizens Band’s holiday sing-along tonight, or try their hand at cookie decorating at the Made in VA store. Folk rock legend Don McLean will make a special appearance at The Birchmere on Sunday night, where he’ll perform a mix of classics and holiday tunes.
Those still making their holiday shopping lists (and checking them twice) can take advantage of Midnight Merriment in Old Town this evening as well as several weekend holiday markets in Alexandria, including the Del Ray Artisans’ 30th annual market.
Discover all that’s happening in your community this weekend (Dec. 12-14), from events and entertainment to live music and more.
Events and activities
Holiday Hootenanny
7:30 p.m. Friday. Piece Out Pizzeria’s celebration invites guests to “get in the spirit” with pizza and live holiday music. Guests are encouraged to bring “sleigh bells, handbells, glockenspiel,” or other instruments. “The audience IS the band!” an announcement reads. Free to attend. 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Croissant Workshop at Sur La Table
9 a.m. Saturday. Sur La Table’s three-hour cooking class will demonstrate how to make two kinds of croissants from scratch, with roasted leek and Gruyere cheese and chocolate fillings. Tickets are $89. 326 King Street.
Wreaths Across America
9:30 a.m. Saturday. Visit Alexandria National Cemetery to lay wreaths in honor and remembrance of fallen service members. Grave-specific wreaths will be placed starting at 9 a.m. Free to attend. 1450 Wilkes Street.
Snow Daze at Aslin Beer Company
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Shop Aslin’s annual holiday market, “enjoy fresh draft releases, and celebrate the season with great beer and holiday cheer.” The market promises “enough holiday spirit (and beer) to make your in-laws tolerable.” Free to attend. 847 S. Pickett Street.
Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl
12:30-6 p.m. Saturday. The 10th annual crawl encourages attendees to eat, drink and be merry, with raffles, trivia, a photo booth and costume contest. Eighteen participating restaurants promise festive libations. Tickets are $17.85 now or $25 at the event. Del Ray.
Cookies & Cocoa: Holiday Cookie Decorating Class
3-5 p.m. Saturday. Made in VA welcomes all to this beginner cookie-decorating class. Each baker will get to make six cookies with four different icing colors, sprinkles “and all the tools necessary to knock this cookie class out of the park!” Tickets are $85. 1121 King Street.
Meet Santa at Lost Boy Cider with St. Baldrick’s
4-6 p.m. Saturday. Attendees can meet Santa Claus himself and help fundraise for kids’ cancer research with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, all while taking pictures and enjoying hot mulled cider and other seasonal treats. Tickets are $15 to bring a kid or pet with free adult admission. 317 Hooffs Run Drive.
Alexandria SantaCon 2025
4 p.m. Saturday. This pub crawl encourages attendees to dress as Santa Claus while exploring Alexandria’s bar and pub scene. “From holiday spirits to festive brews, revel in the merry-making with drink specials designed to warm your heart and ignite holiday cheer.” General admission is $20, or $18 for groups of four. 710 King Street.
Alexandria Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
4 p.m. Saturday. Another Saturday bar crawl option, this crawl is hosted by the same group behind Alexandria SantaCon and starts at the Alexandria Bier Garden. Attendees should wear their “tackiest holiday sweaters” for a promised night of fun. General admission is $24, or $18 for a group of four. 710 King Street.
Music and arts
A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest
5-8 p.m. Friday. “Featuring live music by the Eric Byrd Trio, art projects and activities, tours of the Masonic Observation Deck, and food and drink by local vendors.” Free to attend. 101 Callahan Drive.
Alexandria Citizens Band Holiday Sing-Along Concert
7:30 p.m. Friday. This annual sing-along at the Del Ray United Methodist Church promises “a festive evening of singing your favorite holiday carols and playing fun, holiday tunes.” Free to attend. 100 E. Windsor Avenue
Follow the Season With Alexandria A Cappella Collective
8 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The collective’s men’s and women’s choirs “will perform some of the best a cappella holiday choral music heard anywhere” in a festive 90-minute show. Two married couples will perform a guest quartet of “Better Together.” Tickets start at $15. 3846 King Street
The Weary World Rejoices by Alexandria Choral Society
4 p.m. Saturday. This concert promises “a moving celebration of light in the darkness” with classics like “O Holy Night”, “A La Nanita Nana” and “the profound ‘Lacrimosa’ from Mozart’s Requiem” to uplift listeners through the winter season. Tickets are “pay-what-you-can.” 228 S. Pitt Street
ESP’s InterGalactic Open Mic at Galactic Panther Art Gallery
8 p.m. Sunday. “Witness the magic as creators from all walks of life seize the stage. Whether you’re a budding poet, a seasoned musician, a rap artist spitting fiery bars, or just someone with a joke to share – our stage welcomes you.” Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 for performers and attendees. 1303 King Street.
“The Nutcracker” by Metropolitan School of the Arts
Noon and 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. “Enjoy a magical escape into the fairytale world of Ballet as Metropolitan School of the Arts brings you The Nutcracker.” Tickets start at $35. 4915 E. Campus Drive.
Don McLean’s ‘A Starry Starry Christmas’ at The Birchmere
7:30 p.m. Sunday. Listen to the legendary “American Pie” singer perform a night of hits and holiday favorites. Tickets start at $79.50. 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Alexandria Library’s Oddball Cinema: ‘The Concessionaires Must Die!’
2 p.m. Sunday. “This example of goofy low-budget filmmaking done right is filled with so many references to famous movies that you can’t possibly catch them all in one viewing.” Watch at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library for free. 5005 Duke Street.
Holiday markets and shopping
Midnight Merriment in Old Town
8 p.m.-midnight Friday. Red Barn Mercantile, Pippin Toy Co. and Penny Post will remain open late tonight for “Midnight Merriment” festivities with refreshments and holiday-themed activities. Free to attend. King Street.
Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. “This festive event is a holiday shopper’s dream, featuring tons of seasonal items like unique gifts, holiday décor, and more, all crafted by talented local artisans.” Free to attend. 300 John Carlyle Square.
Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market
All weekend. The 30th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market offers all kinds of artisan-made gifts and goodies, with different artists featured each weekend. See daily hours on the Del Ray Artisans’ webpage. Free to attend. 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Gustave Marché de Noël Gift Market
All weekend. This European-inspired holiday market has artisan gifts, festive treats, photos with Santa Claus and pony rides for kids. Try raclette and s’mores while making ornaments and shopping for gifts. Market times and more information are available online. Free to attend. 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Visit a farmers’ market
Saturday and Sunday. Check out Old Town’s historic market on Saturday morning, or swing by markets in Del Ray and Southern Towers. On Sunday, markets are open in Old Town North, Four Mile Run, the West End and Southern Towers. Multiple locations.
Family-friendly fun
Storytime for Little Historians
10 a.m. Saturday. Kids ages 5-8 are encouraged to attend this story time at the Alexandria Black History Museum, featuring books “written by and about African American people and other communities of color.” Free to attend. 902 Wythe Street.
Ice & Lights, Skating at Cameron Run
All weekend. Daytime ice skating at this wintry venue’s outdoor rink is available from noon-4 p.m. this weekend, while the village light displays and night skating are open daily from 5-10 p.m. Village tickets start at $9. 4001 Eisenhower Avenue.
Winter Crafts & Carols at Lee-Fendall House
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Attendees are invited to “experience the joys of the winter season” by creating, crafting and caroling at this community event. There will be live music, a “crafting corner,” knitting, “sweet treats and delicious drinks.” Sessions will run for one hour from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets start at $5 for kids and $10 for adults. 614 Oronoco Street.
Alexandria Holiday Lights Bicycle Ride
6 p.m. Saturday. “It’s that time of year again!” The Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is hosting a family-friendly bike ride around Del Ray to view holiday lights. The ride kicks off at the traffic circle at the south end of Main Line Boulevard. Free to attend. 1000 Main Line Blvd.
Alexandria Holiday Lights Walk
6:30 p.m. Saturday. The Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will also host a community lights walk, which starts in front of the Verizon on Mount Vernon Avenue. “The residents of lovely Del Ray put on a great holiday light show every year, and we plan to see it on foot!” Free to attend. 1316 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Christmas in Camp at Fort Ward
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday. This historical event features reenactments of the holiday season during the Civil War era at one of the Union Army’s best-preserved forts in the Defenses of Washington. Free to attend, with a $2 per person suggested donation. 4301 W. Braddock Road.
Specialty Tour: A Magical Apothecary
11 a.m. Sunday. Recommended for kids 8 and up, this tour of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum teaches about “the muggle botanical science that inspired the potions and herbology of Harry Potter’s wizarding world.” Guests can make their own “magical potion.” Tickets are $15, or $12 for Historic Alexandria members or volunteers. 105-107 S. Fairfax Street.
Support ACHS Sports
All weekend. From Friday to Saturday, check out scheduled games and meet times for boys basketball, boys and girls’ wrestling, swim and dive and indoor track. Various locations.
