How are you ringing in the new year in Alexandria?
A number of local bars and restaurants are doing it up in style on Dec. 31. From Old Town to Del Ray, Arlandria and the West End, here’s a roundup of shindigs that will send you into the early morning hours of 2026.
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.
A popular holiday-themed bar crawl is returning to Del Ray this Saturday.
The 10th annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m., encouraging attendees to eat, drink and be merry, according to a flier posted by the hosting Del Ray Business Association. This year’s crawl includes raffles, trivia, a photo booth and costume contest, along with 18 participating restaurants promising festive libations.
The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will consider new “No Turn on Red” restrictions at an intersection near Del Ray and North Ridge, after a vehicle struck a woman and her child there in October.
The restrictions would apply to all approaches at the five-legged intersection of Russell Road, Monroe Avenue and High Street, an area that connects single-family neighborhoods to churches and child care facilities, according to the city. The staff recommendation is part of the board’s consent agenda during its 7 p.m. meeting tonight (Monday).
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.
A Christmas-themed pop-up bar has officially opened its doors in Del Ray.
Joy on the Avenue opened its doors at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue on Nov. 22 and will remain until Jan. 4, when it will wrap with its annual Festivus party.
A holiday tradition is around the corner in Del Ray, and some festive helpers are needed.
The 15th annual Del Ray Holiday Season Kick-Off starts at 5 p.m. this Sunday at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square on 2311 Mount Vernon Avenue. The event features holiday songs performed by the Alexandria Children’s Chorus, appearances by city leaders and even Santa Claus himself.
A pet store from Del Ray opened its newest location over the weekend at the Belle View Shopping Center.
The Dog Store is now open at 1612 Belle View Blvd, replacing a vacancy left by the Pampered Pet Boutique & Bakery earlier this year. Owner Paul Haire founded the shop’s first location in Del Ray in 2014, after opening Your Dog’s Best Friends daycare in 2003.
Several roads in Del Ray will close tomorrow (Thursday) to accommodate the neighborhood’s 50th annual Turkey Trot.
Closures will be in effect from approximately 6-11:30 a.m., starting at Mount Vernon Avenue between Braddock Road and Glendale Avenue, according to an announcement from the Alexandria Police Department.
The Department of Beer and Wine finally has a new home in Del Ray.
The gourmet beer and wine shop held a soft opening over the weekend at its new location at 2805 Mount Vernon Avenue. The location was formerly occupied by the ASAP Printing and Mailing Company and shares the building with a Truist bank.
Why is love so hard? Does ketamine-assisted therapy actually work? How can you tap into your “inner healer”? A new podcast hosted by two Del Ray-based clinical psychologists hopes to answer these questions and more.
Earlier this month, Doctors Eleni Boosalis and Lauren Fisher of Del Ray Psych & Wellness launched the premiere episode of Shrinks On Tap. Aiming to raise mental health awareness and normalize counseling, the pair hosts informal conversations from a podcast studio set-up inside their practice, while sipping on non-alcoholic beverages.
