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

What a day for a parade it was in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The wailing of bagpipes sailed through Alexandria’s historic streets as thousands of community members gathered to watch the 54th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.


Around Town

Hundreds of Alexandria residents gathered on Saturday to celebrate Alexandria’s annual Christmas tree lighting in Market Square.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins announced the magical arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, who got into town on a Christmas-themed King Street Trolley. They helped city leaders count down the lighting of the 40-foot-tall plastic tree, which is adorned with some 38,000 lights.


Around Town

Alexandria will celebrate its international sisterhood with Caen, France, next week during a “Bienvenue Beaujolais” wine tasting fundraiser.

Guests at the cultural, culinary evening can expect guided wine tastings and French cuisine to commemorate Beaujolais Nouveau Day, an annual celebration of the year’s first release of the red wine.


Around Town

The Alexandria Police Department has a few tips for families to have a safe Halloween tomorrow (Friday).

Trick-or-treaters should wear light-colored or reflective costumes and carry flashlights or glow sticks for visibility, the department recommended. Families can also add contact cards inside their kids’ costumes in case they are separated, according to an APD flier distributed on social media this week.


News

Alexandria is hosting a pre-construction open house for the upcoming N. Columbus Street sanitary sewer project in Old Town West.

Construction on the $1 million project is expected to begin in December at the 600 block of N. Columbus Street and last until November 2026. City plans entail disconnecting the area’s sewer line from the combined sewer and connecting to a separated sewer line.


News

The staff of Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer, D-Va., are hosting an event tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss his office’s constituent services.

Beyer’s staff will host the “Congress in our Community” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the James M. Duncan Branch Library at 2501 Commonwealth Avenue. No appointment is necessary to attend, Beyer said in a note to the Del Ray Citizens Association.


Around Town

A free kids’ event at an Alexandria elementary school next month will combine recycling, crafting and competition.

The “Recycled Royal Rumble” is happening from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 at Patrick Henry K-8 School’s athletic field (4653 Taney Avenue). The outdoor challenge tasks kids to create medieval-inspired armor and costumes using cardboard, recycled materials and household items.


Around Town

A local entrepreneur is kicking off preparations to launch a new Del Ray event space with a “Wicked”-themed Halloween party and fundraiser this week.

Lee Raynes, the former owner of Bellies & Babies consignment shop, is hosting the party to preview her next business model, an event space called Together Creative Studio. The party starts at 4 p.m. on Friday at 2603 E. Randolph Avenue.


News

Thousands of superheroes, witches, princesses, and other costumed revelers attended the 29th annual Del Ray Halloween Parade along Mount Vernon Avenue Sunday afternoon.

The grand marshal of the parade was Mount Vernon Community School 5th grader Linci Campos Cifuentes, who rode with her principal along the parade route. The event is one of the best Halloween parades in the country, according to USA Today.


News

The Alexandria City Council will host a town hall meeting on Nov. 5 (Wednesday) at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center (1108 Jefferson Street) in Old Town.

“Members of the Alexandria City Council will be present to speak about the issues impacting you and your family. You can also get the latest news on upcoming projects and initiatives in Alexandria,” the city said in a release.


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