<ro>Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 1-3
Location: 418 S. Washington St.
Description: The Campagna Center honors Alexandria’s Scottish heritage with a weekend of events. Christmas Marketplace, with café, boutiques and sale of heather & greens, Noon-5 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the center.
Scottish Walk parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday throughout Old Town with more than 100 Scottish clans dressed in tartans and playing bagpipes, living history units, dog clubs and antique cars.
Cost: Holiday Designer Tour of Homes features six charming, architecturally interesting homes decorated for the holidays throughout Old Town. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. $20 in advance, $25 that day.
More Information: www.scottishchristmaswalk.com or 703-549-0111
<ro>Holidays at Mount Vernon
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 1-Jan. 6
Times: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
Description: The Washingtons' seasonal entertaining is authentically interpreted daily, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day with the rarely seen third floor open.
Cost: regular admission prices.
More Information: Call 703-780-2000 or visit www.mountvernon.org.
<ro>Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Holiday Open House
<cal2>Date: Dec. 1
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: 105 N. Union St.
Description: The artists of the Torpedo Factory Art Center invite you to celebrate the season with live music by “Standard Fare,” an art raffle, door prizes, select libations and open studios offering hors d’oeuvres.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-4565, ext. 2 or visit www.TorpedoFactory.org.
<ro>'The Nutcracker'
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2-18
Times: Performances weekends at noon, 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
Location: Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.
Description: The Alexandria Ballet presents its annual, abbreviated version of the holiday favorite.
Cost: $15, $10 for children.
More Information: Call 703-548-0035 or visit www.nvfaa.org.
<ro>Holiday Festivities at Market Square
<cal2>Dates & Times: Dec. 2 - David Alberding plays contemporary Christmas music, 6-7 p.m.
Dec. 3 - Island Christmas with Stephen Samuel, Caribbean music, 2-3 p.m.
Dec. 4 - Project Natale plays holiday jazz, 2-3 p.m., and the Alexandria Singers perform 3-3:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 - The Alexandria Pipes & Drums perform Scottish music, 7-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 - Bell's Angels of St. John's Lutheran Church, a handbell choir, performs, 1-2 p.m., and the West Springfield High Pizazz Show Choir performs 3-4 p.m. Russ Downs plays country and blues, 2-3 p.m. in the arcade in the 100 block of King.
Dec. 11 - St. Matthew's English Handbells performs at 1 p.m. and the Ship's Company Chanteymen performs at 2 p.m.
Dec. 16 - St. Matthew's English Handbells performs 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 17 - The Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra performs Russian folk music 2-3 p.m.
Dec. 18 - Hazamir of Alexandria Hanukkah, a Jewish teen a cappella group, performs 2-3 p.m.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-4686 or visit www.funside.org.
<ro>King Street Gardens Holiday Tree Lighting
<cal2>Date: Dec. 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: in the park at King St. and Diagonal Rd.
Description: Santa Claus appears at this annual event
Cost: Free
<ro>PLANTATION CHRISTMAS & FAMILY HOLIDAY BUFFET
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2-3
Times: Program 6:30-9:30 p.m.; buffet seatings at 6 & 8 p.m.
Location:
Description: Tour the candle-lit house with cider by the glowing fire, open-hearth cooking demonstrations and carriage rides. Buffet of Yuletide fare available.
Cost: Tickets $36.95 for program and buffet; $14 for program only, with discounts for children. Reservations required.
More Information: Call 703-550-9220 or visit www.gunstonhall.org.
<ro>Alexandria Harmonizers
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2-3
Times: Shows at 8 p.m. Dec. 2, 4 and 8 p.m. Dec. 3.
Location: concert at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St.
Description: The award-winning chorus presents its second Harmony Holidays A Capella Traditions
Cost and More Information: Tickets at www.harmonizers.org or 703-922-5992
<ro>Mount Vernon by Candlelight
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2-4, 9-11
Times: 5-8 p.m.
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
Description: Learn about the Washington's Christmas traditions, meet historic characters and tour the home by candlelight, including the rarely seen third floor.
Cost: Varies
More Information: Call 703-780-2000 or visit www.mountvernon.org.
<ro>'A Christmas Carol'
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2-11
Times: Performances at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9; 3 p.m. Dec. 4; 2 and 4 p.m. Dec. 4, 10 and 11.
Location: The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St.
Description: Charles Dickens' holiday classic
Cost and More information: Tickets available at www.thelittletheatre.com or 703-683-0496.
<ro>The Santa Train
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23
Times: 1:20 p.m. and travels to Manassas, returning at 3:30 p.m.
Location: King Street Train Station
Description: Santa's Holiday Express departs from historic King Street train station with Santa and his elves on board. Souvenirs and activities during brief stopover in Manassas.
Cost & More Information: Tickets available only at Whistle Stop Hobbies, 130 S. Royal St. Call 703-549-4912.
<ro>Lights of Love
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
Description: Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Lights of Love awards.
Cost: Free.
More Information: Call 703-664-7000.
<ro>A Soldier’s Christmas
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 3
Time: Noon-4 p.m. (immediately after the Scottish Walk parade)
Location: Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St.
Description: Experience life in Colonial Alexandria during the holidays, with military drilling by the First Virginia Regiment, music, officers and ladies entertaining, and games for children.
Cost: Admission $4, $2 for ages 11-17, free for 10 and under.
More Information: Call 703-549-2997 or visit www.carlylehouse.org.
<Ro>Archaeology's Ornament Workshop
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Location: Third floor of the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St.
Description: Families decorate ornaments made of dough inspired by the artifacts found at Alexandria Archaeology.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.
<ro>Holidays on the Avenue
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3
Times: 6-9 p.m.
Location: Stretches from Commonwealth to Monroe avenues along Mount Vernon Avenue.
Description: The Del Ray neighborhood kicks off the holiday season with its annual holiday tree lighting at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, luminaries display and entertainment.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-4825 or visit www.visitdelray.com.
<ro>Annual Holiday Parade of Lights
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Marina at the foot of Cameron St., behind the Torpedo Factory
Description: Alexandria's harbor lights up when more than 50 brightly lit sailing and powered leisure boats cruise along the Potomac River at the City's historic waterfront. Festivities begin at 3 on the docks with Santa, children's author Leslie Young and Scottie dog Plaid, the U.S. Marines, WASH FM and the Starbucks Cheer Patrol.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-5005
<ro>Del Ray Artisans' Holiday Market
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3-4
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. (Preview reception 7-10 p.m. Fri.)
Location: Del Ray Artisans
Description: Twenty local artists present fine art and craft, plus a food sale to benefit Katrina relief for New Orleans artists.
Cost: Free
More Information: Call 703-838-4827 or visit www.delrayartisans.org.
<ro>Home For The Holidays Tea At Woodlawn
<cal2>Date: Dec. 3-4, 10-11
Time: Noon and 2 p.m.
Location: Woodlawn Plantation
Description: Enjoy a special blend of tea and period confections while learning about tea customs of the early 19th century. Afterward take an in-depth tour of this beautiful historic house.
Cost: $25, $30 including tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House. Reservations required.
More Information: Call 703-780-4000, ext. 27 or visit www.woodlawn1805.org.
<ro>Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Holiday Concert
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 4 and 11
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Dec. 4-The Church of the Epiphany Washington, DC; Dec. 11-Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall Alexandria, VA.
Description: Join the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic for their annual holiday concert. Joining them for Bach’s “Magnificat in D, BWV 243” is the NOVA Community Chorus with Dr. Mark Whitmire, Director.
Concert continues with Saint-Saens’ “Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor” with Felicia Zhang, Piano, WMP Concerto Competition Winner and Kazik’s “Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra: with euphoniumist Danny Helseth (world premier). Concert closes with Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll.”
Cost: $10-general admission, free-18 years and younger.
More Information: Call 703-799-8229 or visit www.washingtonmetrophilharmonic.org.
<ro>Living Christmas Tree at First Baptist Church
<cal2>Dates: Dec. 8-11
Times: Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 10, 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 11, 5:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: 2932 King St.
Description: For Sam, it started out as a perfect December day - sunny skies, crisp clear air, and a nice layer of fresh snow. But then, an unexpected mishap gives Sam a break from his regular routine. Amidst the chaos that ensues, Sam has a life changing experience.
To find out what happens, come and enjoy the cast, chorus and orchestra of First Baptist Church of Alexandria's 2005 production of the Living Christmas Tree, "A Christmas Break." Featuring traditional and contemporary Christmas music, a 25-foot Christmas tree with over 20,000 synchronized lights, and a story that is sure to inspire, the presentation has something to offer every member of the family.
Cost: Online tickets cost $5.00 plus a $1.00 surcharge per order.
More Information: Call 703-299-3614 or visit www.fbcalexnadria.org.
<ro>A Victorian Holiday Tradition
<cal2>Date: Dec. 10
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St.
Description: Learn to make your own kissing ball of boxwood from the garden while learning about other holiday practices dating to Victorian times.
Cost: $20; reservations required.
More Information: Call 703-548-1789 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.
<ro>Christmas in Camp Open House
<cal2>Date: Dec. 10
Time: Noon-4 p.m.
Location: Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Road
Description: Learn how the holiday was observed during the Civil War with living history interpreters, period music and light refreshments.
Cost: Admission Fee.
More Information: Call 703-838-4848 or visit www.fortward.org.
<ro>Kwanzaa Workshop
<cal2>Date: Dec. 10
Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St.
Description: This is a fun family event.
Cost: Free.
More Information: Call 703-838-4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org.
<ro>Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours
<cal2>Date: Dec. 10
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Description: Enjoy the warmth and beauty of the holiday season at five festively decorated historic sites in Old Town. Light refreshments served.
Cost: Tickets $20, $15 for seniors, $5 for ages 6-17.
More Information: Call 703-838-4994 or visit www.historicalexandria.org.
<ro>Colonial Handbell Ringers
<cal2>Date: Dec. 11
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Description: Enjoy music performed with more than 60 bronze bells plus a sing-along of carols.
Cost: Free.
More Information: Call 703-838-4994 or visit www.alexandriahistory.org.
<ro>Tea & Tour At Lee-Fendall
<cal2>Date: Dec. 11
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St. $25.
Description: Learn about Victorian family traditions and holiday decor with this tour, followed by tea.
Cost: $25, reservations required.
More Information: Call 703-548-1789 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.
<ro>Alexandria Singers
<cal2>Date: Dec. 18
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Rd.
Description: The popular local group gives their annual holiday concert
Cost: Tickets $15 & $20, with discounts for students, seniors and active military. More Information: Call 703-941-7464 or visit www.alexandriasingers.com.
<ro>First Night Alexandria
<cal2>Date: Dec. 31
Time: 7 p.m.-midnight.
Location: King and Washington streets and throughout Old Town.
Description: Non-alcoholic, family-oriented New Year's Eve celebration with music, performing arts and fireworks at midnight.
Cost: Admission Fee.
More Information: Call 703-838-5005 or visit www.firstnightAlexandria.org.