News

It’s time to start taking those Christmas trees down.

Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today (Friday) and will last through Friday, Jan. 16. The city will pick up natural Christmas trees and wreaths at residents’ usual waste collection spots during their regularly scheduled collection.


News

Friends of Guest House residents will have a comfy new year, as more than 75 sets of new pajamas and cozy socks were donated to the nonprofit and handed out on Christmas Eve.

The donations are enough to keep the residents outfitted with pajamas for an entire year, and were made possible by Maureen Clyne, a local realtor, who started the holiday effort seven years ago.


News

The Alexandria Fire Department rescued two people stuck inside a flipped vehicle in North Ridge on Wednesday.

The vehicle flipped near the intersection of W. Braddock Road and Davis Avenue at around 1:30 p.m. after the driver crashed into a tree. Firefighters rescued the two occupants within 15 minutes, according to AFD dispatches. Both were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.


Around Town

Santa Claus needs to let loose before handing out all those presents.

On Christmas Eve this Wednesday, Jolly Old St. Nick is returning to the Potomac River for the 40th annual Waterskiing Santa show. The show starts at 1 p.m. outside BARCA Pier & Wine Bar at 2 Pioneer Mill Way.


Around Town

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Rocket Fizz, the soda pop and candy store in Fairlington Plaza.

Owner Tanya Kemp’s store at 1721 Centre Plaza is full of stocking stuffers, from vintage soda and candy, to tchotchkes and gag gifts like wind-up chattering teeth, Pez dispensers and bobbleheads. She told ALXnow that her shop does more business during the Christmas season than any other time of the year.


News

Government offices in Alexandria will close on Wednesday and Thursday to observe Christmas.

Closures this week will affect Alexandria courts, the Alexandria Library, the Department of Motor Vehicles, health facilities, the city’s impound lot and more. Metered parking restrictions and residential permit parking will not be enforced during this period.


Around Town

In a room packed with toys and books, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office gathered more than 50 gift bags for kids today (Tuesday), hoping to spread cheer to children of inmates this holiday season.

Since last month, the office has collected gifts for the families of 55 inmates, with kids receiving five gifts each. It’s all part of Operation Elf, the office’s annual holiday toy drive.


News

The Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site’s annual Christmas in Camp program returns this Saturday, offering a glimpse into Civil War-era holiday celebrations.

The event includes historical reenactors interacting across the museum’s decorated winter camp settings, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria. The educational program lasts from noon to 4 p.m. at the museum — one of the Union Army’s best-preserved forts in the Defenses of Washington — located at 4301 W. Braddock Road.


Around Town

The weather was crisp and cool as hundreds of revelers sang holiday carols at the annual lighting of the Del Ray Christmas Tree and Menorah on Sunday night.

The 36-foot-tall tree is the tallest ever in Del Ray. It was donated by “Mango” Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn of the Homegrown Restaurant Group.


Around Town

Two of Alexandria’s iconic holiday season parades will lead to some road closures throughout Old Town this weekend.

The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights both take place this Saturday, prompting the closures as well as reserved parking and no-parking zone enforcement.


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