Redella “Del” Pepper finished a historic 36-year term on Alexandria’s City Council earlier this year, but the former City Council member is back and will be at helm of this year’s Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.
The parade is set to make its return the first weekend in December.
“Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria announce the selection of Redella “Del” Pepper as the Grand Marshal for the 51st Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade taking place on Saturday, December 3, 2022,” the Campagna Center, organizers of the parade, said in a release. “Pepper’s selection as Grand Marshal recognizes her status as the longest-serving member of Alexandria City Council with more than 36 years of service to the community.”
Pepper was elected to the Council in 1985 and officially finished her term on Jan. 1 this year. Pepper served as Vice Mayor three times during her time on the Council.
The Campagna Center said Pepper will be at the head of the procession she walked and rode in many times over the years.
“As Grand Marshal, Pepper will kick off the parade festivities and lead the delegations from the step-off point at the corner of S. St. Asaph and Wolfe Street, progressing through Old Town Alexandria and concluding in front of Market Square on King Street,” the Campagna Center said. “More than 100 community groups will join the celebrations.”
The release also noted that this year also marks the state of a new partnership between the Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria.
“Visit Alexandria is assuming logistical responsibilities for the event,” the release said. “Preserving the biggest holiday weekend experience ensures the continuation of a key economic driver for the city’s small business and hospitality communities and preserves a historic signature event that is a source of civic pride.”
What if all those ghosts were really a ploy by Tiny Tim to get Ebenezer Scrooge to let his dad off work on Christmas day?
That’s the plot of “Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol” by Ken and Jack Ludwig. The Little Theatre of Alexandria (600 Wolfe Street) will perform the play from Dec. 3 to Dec. 17 instead of the traditional “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
“We’ve been doing ‘A Christmas Carol’ every year for decades,” LTA Board of Governors Chair Russell Wyland told ALXnow. “We’ve been asking how often we can go to the well, and we wondered if people wanted a different take. We didn’t stray too far from the story, but did something a little different.”
There are no distancing requirements, although audience members still have to wear face masks throughout performances. The show is an hour long without intermission.
Tickets cost $23 for all seats and ages.
Visit Alexandria announced today that the city’s famous Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade will be returning for its 51st year early next month.
The parade features dozens of Scottish clans represented in full regalia, along with pipe and drum bands and costumes. According to Visit Alexandria, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, starting at 11 a.m.
“Alexandria was founded in 1749 by Scottish merchants and was named after Scotsman John Alexander who owned the land that became Alexandria,” the report said. “Today, the city continues celebrating its heritage with the iconic parade.”
The parade traditionally features over 35 Scottish clans gathering from around the region and across the country.
“Bagpipers include the Kiltie Band of York and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums plus a bagpiping Santa closing the parade,” Visit Alexandria said in a release. “A pipe band and color guard will be presented by St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, D.C., which is a charitable and social fraternity of Scottish descendants established in Alexandria in 1760, and a founding parade partner along with Campagna Center and the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.”
After walking the parade route, the pipe bands reassemble at Market Square for a concert.
“The parade kicks off on S. St. Asaph Street at the corner of Wolfe Street and progresses north to Queen Street, east to Fairfax Street, south to King Street, and west to terminate in front of City Hall,” the report said. “For the best views, spread out along the one-mile parade route.”
The parade is the centerpiece of a broader weekend of holiday activities, including the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday afternoon starting at 5:30 p.m.
“The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is produced by Visit Alexandria through a new partnership with Campagna Center and the City of Alexandria,” the release said. “The weekend kicks off on Friday, December 2 with the Campagna Center’s Taste of Scotland, a festive cocktail party at the Torpedo Factory Art Center featuring whiskey-tasting stations, hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine bars and a custom art exhibit.”
Singers wanted for older adults choir in Alexandria — “Encore Creativity for Older Adults (Encore), an arts education nonprofit, is hosting two 15-week choral programs for people 55 and over beginning the second week of January.” [Zebra]
Christmas in camp in Alexandria — “Fort Ward reenacts Civil War Christmas.” [Alexandria Gazette]
New Capital Bikeshare station in Alexandria — “New station alert! Check out this new, 11-dock station installed at Fillmore Avenue & Bisdorf Drive.” [Twitter]
Waterskiing Santa returns Dec. 24 — “Now in its 36th year, the Waterskiing Santa returns with his band of merry fellow waterskiing friends — and The Grinch.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
It’s the holiday season, so expect a series of closures and reduced services toward the end of this month.
In a press release, the City of Alexandria ran offered an overview of what services will be open and when.
“All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24, in observance of the Christmas holiday; and Friday, December 31, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday,” the city said.
What follows is a rather lengthy list of openings and closings that will be included verbatim at the end of the article.
Some of the highlights are that the Old Town Farmers’ Market will be open on Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, from 7 a.m. to noon. Free parking will be offered in the Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax Street) from 5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The market will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 25, but will be open as usual on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1.
Speaking of parking: the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit districts, and other areas with signed parking time limits from Thursday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Dec. 25, and on Saturday, Jan. 1.
“This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities),” the city said. “Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.”
For those looking for something to do on Christmas Eve, the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24.
In terms of transit, on Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, DASH bus will operate on a Sunday service schedule. On Saturday, Dec. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 1, DASH will operate on a regular Saturday service. The King Street Trolley will continue to operate through the holidays.
Visit Alexandria has also put together a small guide to local restaurants continuing to serve food on the upcoming holidays.
The full list of closures is available below the jump:
Families and friends looking to celebrate are in for an annual holiday tradition. For the third year, Ice & Lights: The Winter Village At Cameron Run is open with light displays, Christmas trees and ice skating.
The winter village (4001 Eisenhower Avenue) opened in mid-November, and will shut down on Jan. 2. The ice skating, however, will remain open on weekends until Feb. 27. General admission to the park is $8 and ice skating is $12.
“It takes Cameron Run staff, NOVA Park volunteers, and contractors three months to install all of the lights and displays,” NOVA Parks said on its website. “A lot of hard work goes into preparing for this awesome show.”
The Sushi Bar at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue is closing for good tonight (Dec. 7), and will soon reopen as a Christmas-themed pop-up bar, owner Bill Blackburn informed ALXnow.
“Joy On The Avenue – A Christmas Pop-up Bar” will open in its place sometime next week, Blackburn said.
The Sushi Bar opened in 2013 — next door to sister restaurants Pork Barrel BBQ and Holy Cow Del Ray, which are all owned by the Homegrown Restaurant Group.
“It’s long been our intention to close it by the end of the year and to change it into something new,” Blackburn said. “We decided to accelerate that plan. Tonight will be the last night of The Sushi Bar. “
The bar will have light appetizers, and will serve holiday wine, beer and cocktails.
“We’re going to do that until the 31st instead, and then close it and remodel to a new concept,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn anticipates unveiling a new concept soon and then reopening at the end of February 2022.
Hundreds of people turned out for the lighting of the menorah and Christmas tree at Pat Miller Square in Del Ray on Sunday night, December 5.
The evening was full of families and friends caroling with hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Retiring Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne made the countdown to light the 30-foot-tall tree.
“Thank you for 43 years of supporting me,” Lawhorne said. “I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Last year’s public tree lighting was canceled by the pandemic, and the event was a little smaller than in years past. Santa Claus, for instance, made a drive-by appearance, but was unable to stop for photos due to his busy schedule.
It was a clear and slightly brisk Saturday afternoon (Dec. 4) in Old Town for the Campagna Center’s 50th Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.
The parade, which was canceled last year due to the pandemic, is one of the most popular events in the city.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner was the grand marshal, and along with the mayor and other local dignitaries, waved at dozens of Scottish clans and bagpiping groups, including the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums.
The Campagna Center is hosting the 50th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend with the iconic parade scheduled for Saturday, Dec.4.
The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and will be marshaled by Sen. Mark Warner. The event is planned to start at St. Asaph and Queen Streets and end outside City Hall.
“At the Campagna Center’s iconic Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, 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, as well as terriers and hounds,” Visit Alexandria said on its website.
The event was canceled last year.
Photo via The Campagna Center/Facebook
