For Immediate Release: December 4, 2009
Saturday, December 5 – City of Alexandria Hosts Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
The City of Alexandria invites the public to attend the 39th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade at 11 a.m. in historic Old Town. The centerpiece of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, the parade celebrates the City's Scottish heritage, featuring more than 100 Scottish clans, bagpipe and drum bands, living history reenactment groups, dog clubs, and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C., partners with The Campagna Center and the City to sponsor the annual parade. All proceeds will support the Campagna Center’s programs to ensure children in Alexandria are academically successful at each grade level. For more information, call 703.549.0111, or visit www.scottishchristmaswalk.com.
Saturday, December 5 – Ornament Decorating Workshop for Families
Be inspired by the colors and patterns of pottery excavated in Alexandria and make a memorable holiday keepsake! The Alexandria Archaeology Museum,105 N. Union St., #327, will host a free ornament decorating workshop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can decorate and take home dough ornaments that are shaped like artifacts from the museum’s own collection. For additional information, please call the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.
Saturday, December 5 – Holiday Concert in Old Town Alexandria
Enjoy the music of the season in Old Town Alexandria at a holiday concert at Market Square, 301 King St. At 2 p.m., the Family Choir of Beth El Hebrew Congregation will perform Hanukah favorites. For more information, call the City’s Special Events hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.
Saturday, December 5 – Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Alexandria's harbor will sparkle when 50 brightly lit powerboats and sailboats fully decked out in lights and holiday décor take part in the 10th annual Burke & Herbert Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Santa Claus will arrive by fireboat to kick off the evening festivities at 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Marina, 1 Cameron St. Kids and dogs will be able to sit on Santa's lap and get their picture taken for free. The Braddock Brass Quintet and the Bells of Mount Vernon, a hand bell choir from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will headline the live music entertainment.
Saturday, December 5 & Sunday, December 6 – Pet Photos with Santa
Celebrate the season by having your companion animal photographed with Santa! The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria holds its annual "Pet Photos with Santa." Call 703.838.4774 to make your appointment. Drop-ins are welcome, but an appointment will ensure a spot. The sitting fee for this event is $45 with different photo packages available.
Sunday, December 6 – 12th Annual Holiday Art Show
Find just the right gifts for everyone on your list—and something wonderful for yourself! Women artists will be selling their artwork, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. More than 30 exhibitors will display pottery, handmade clothing, scarves, purses, jewelry, crafts and much more! Complimentary refreshments and raffle drawings will be held throughout the event. Fifteen percent of the proceeds will be donated by the Friends of the Commission for Women to support programs of the Office on Women. For more information, contact Lisa Baker at 703.746.5030 or e-mail lisa.baker@alexandriava.gov.
Sunday, December 6 – 35th Annual Toys for Tots Benefit Square Dance
The City of Alexandria’s 35th Annual Toys for Tots Benefit Square Dance is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Lee Center Exhibit Hall, 1108 Jefferson St. This year’s theme, “Gonna Thrive at 35,” features a performance by Capital Squares Demonstration Team at 3 p.m. For additional information, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation
Sunday, December 6 – Holiday Concert in Old Town Alexandria
Enjoy the music of the season in Old Town Alexandria at a holiday concert at Market Square, 301 King St. Shir Tze’ir, a performer of Jewish a cappella music, will perform at 2 p.m. For more information, call the City’s Special Events hotline at 703.883.4686.
Monday, December 7 – “Tea and Talk” Sharing Parker-Gray and Civil Rights Stories
The public is invited to “Tea and Talk,” an event where residents can share the story of their civil rights experiences in Alexandria and how it was shaped by the Parker-Gray School and Charles Houston. It will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. “Tea and Talk” is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please reply by December 4 by calling 703.746.5588 or e-mailing aca@alexandriava.gov.
Tuesday, December 8 – 3rd Annual iMovie Mentors Film Festival
The 3rd Annual iMovie Mentors Film Festival will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Old Town Theater, 815 King St. iMovie Mentors serves boys from George Washington Middle School by matching them with adult male mentors to produce short films on topics of interest. Boys will arrive at the theater via stretch limousine at 5:30. Please arrive on time for this red carpet event! Admission is $5, including popcorn and soda. DVDs will be on sale for $6. For further information, contact Linda Odell at 703.746.4499 or e-mail linda.odell@alexandriava.gov.
Wednesday, December 9 – Annual Apartment Managers’ Seminar
At the annual Apartment Managers’ Seminar, get practical advice on establishing criteria and a standardized tenant selection plan, and learn how your policies impact people in need of housing in Alexandria. The seminar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 905 Wythe St. A complementary continental breakfast will be provided by Kettler. For further information, contact Melodie Seau, Office of Housing, at 703.746.4990.
Friday, December 11 – Thomas Jefferson High School Chorus
Enjoy the music of the season in Old Town Alexandria at a holiday concert at Market Square, 301 King St. At 7 p.m., the Thomas Jefferson High School Choral Department will present a choral holiday performance. Following its performance, the Thomas Jefferson High School Choral Department will move to the Torpedo Factory Arcade, King and Union Sts. for caroling at 8 p.m. For more information, call the City’s Special Events hotline at 703.883.4686.
Coming Soon!
Saturday, December 12 - Kwanzaa Celebration and Film Screening
The Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., will host two free Kwanzaa programs. At 11 a.m., Brian Sales explores the history of Kwanzaa, performing the Libation Ceremony and leading a presentation of the holiday principles through illustrations and food samplings. At 4:30 p.m., award-winning filmmaker, M.K. Asante, Jr., presents his film, “The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration” (71 minutes). Narrated by Maya Angelou, it traces the holiday’s growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality as a global, pan-African holiday embraced by more than 40 million celebrants. A discussion follows the film screening. For more information, call 703.838.4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org.
Saturday, December 12 – Christmas in Camp Open House
Get into the holiday spirit and learn how Christmas was observed during the Civil War by attending Fort Ward Museum’s annual Christmas in Camp Open House at the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., at 5 p.m. This popular family-oriented event features a patriotic Santa Claus, living history presentations, period music, Victorian decorations, refreshments, tours and crafts. The suggested donation is $2 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, call Susan Cumbey at 703.838.4848 or visit www.fortward.org.
Saturday, December 12 & Sunday, December 13 – Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours
Take a break from the fast pace of the season and experience the unique charm and history at Old Town Alexandria’s most popular holiday event. Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House and the Apothecary Museum by candlelight and enjoy seasonal decorations, entertainment and light refreshments. Sunday features kid-friendly tours and a special activity! Tour times are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (65 and older), and $5 for children (ages 6-17). Reservations are recommended. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.historicalexandria.org or call 703.838.4242.
Ongoing!
Annual Christmas Tree Sale
The Annual Christmas Tree Sale to benefit the Alexandria Police Youth Camp is held by the Amtrak Station, 110 Callahan Dr. The sale will be ongoing, weeknights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until they are sold out!
Through Tuesday, December 15 – Alexandria Office on Women Seeks Donations for Children’s Holiday Party
Every year, the Alexandria Office on Women organizes a holiday party for mothers and children who have been recently served by the Domestic Violence Program. More than 100 families receive a bag of gifts, which they can take home, wrap and place under their tree. If you would like to make a donation, please bring unwrapped toys and gift cards to the Office on Women, 421 King Street, Suite 400 no later than December 15. We are also available to pick up donations if you are unable to bring them to our office. The deadline for delivery or pick-up of unwrapped gifts is Friday, December 11. For more information, call 703.838.4911.
Through Friday, December 18 – Community Partners for Children Holiday Toy Drive
Each holiday season, Community Partners for Children (CPC) collects toys for deserving kids in the Alexandria area, and asks the community for help. Make a cash contribution by sending your check to Community Partners for Children, P.O. Box 2738, Alexandria, VA 22301. Leave a doll, toy truck, game, or any other new toy for a deserving child or a grocery gift card at any CPC donation box. More than two dozen donation boxes are conveniently located throughout the City of Alexandria. In order to find out the nearest donation box, contact Pat Miller at pmiller1806@comcast.net or 703.683.2570. For more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, contact Kendra Chambers at kendrajanedc@aol.com or 703.717.0373.
Through Thursday, December 24 – Alexandria Fire Department Toys for Tots Drive
The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD), is collecting toys for needy families and underprivileged children during the 2009 holiday season. For many years, AFD has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps to support its Toys for Tots Campaign. Residents can drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Alexandria fire station through December 24. Donated toys may not be used as weapons or considered to be weapons (i.e., toy guns or knives of any kind). The toys are intended to go to children ages 0-17 years of age. For more information, visit www.dctoysfortots.org.
Donors Needed for Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Holiday Sharing Program
Be part of the holiday spirit and reach out to eligible low income families, foster children, and elderly or disabled citizens through the DHS Holiday Sharing Program. You will get “wish lists” for children or senior citizens, which will include necessary clothing (jeans, warm jacket), a toy or recreational item, a book and perhaps one family request (used computer, towels, pots and pans). Gift cards from stores such as Old Navy, Target, and Best Buy are also needed for teens in foster care. To sign up online, visit alexandriava.gov/HolidaySharing. For more information, e-mail holidaysharing@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5663.
For more information, contact Natasha Duggal, Communications Intern, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3962 or natasha.duggal@alexandriava.gov
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