DECEMBER EVENTS ROUND UP

 

Old Town North is Full of Holiday Cheer!

 

Friday, December 6th - Sunday, December 8th

The Art League Holiday Ceramics Sale

Madison Avenue Annex (305 Madison St.)
Friday, 5pm - 8pm
Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Sunday, noon - 5pm

Stop by to shop unique ceramic pieces created by over 40 students and artists of The Art League.  

Register to attend here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-ceramics-sale-tickets-1074662958839

 

Saturday, December 7th

Canal Center Holiday Bazaar/Alexandria Holiday

Boat Parade of Lights

 

Canal Center Plaza
2pm - 8pm (Holiday Bazaar)
5:30pm (Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Begins!)

Head down to Canal Center to experience one of the most anticipated events of the year! Starting at 2pm shop the Holiday Bazaar, listen to live music, and get a great view of the festive boats passing by. Boats will likely start gathering to process before the start of the actual parade.

Jula’s Boat Parade Party is sold out, but make a reservation to join them for brunch before the festivities begin!

To make a reservation, visit:

https://julasotp.com/

Saturday, December 7th

Opening of “The Way of the Gods” Art Exhibit

The Gallery @ Canal Center (11 Canal Center)
2pm - 8pm

Visit The Gallery @ Canal Center (11 Canal Center) for the final art show of 2024.  Combine your visit with shopping at the Holiday Bazaar and watching the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights.  The show will be up through March 15th.

 

Tuesday, December 10th

Old Town North Alliance Annual Meeting

The Hub at Canal Center (99 Canal Center Plaza)
6:30pm - 8:00pm

If you are invested in the future of Old Town North and the implementation of the Arts & Cultural District, please join us for our Annual Meeting.

To register, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-town-north-alliance-annual-meeting-tickets-1076784674949?aff=oddtdtcreator

Friday, December 13th

It’s A House Party!!! Gingerbread & Cocktails

 

St. Elmo’s Old Town North (529 Montgomery St.)
6pm - 9pm

Come get in the spirit of the season and enjoy a cocktail while you decorate a gingerbread house! Cost of ticket includes a pre-built gingerbread house, all the building supplies, and your first cocktail.  Tickets are $35.  

For tickets, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gingerbread-house-party-cocktails-tickets-1097411079079

Saturday, December 14th

Special Winter Yoga Sessions at Canal Center Plaza

 

Canal Center Plaza
9:30am   (Winter Solstice Flow)
10:30am (Gentle Flow and Sound Voyage)

Don’t miss out on the final free community yoga sessions of 2024!

 

Saturday, December 14th

Storytime with Santa at Hotel AKA

 

Hotel AKA Alexandria (625 First St.)
2pm - 4pm

Ring in the season with Santa and Old Town Books at Hotel AKA Alexandria! Enjoy an afternoon filled with delicious treats and holiday tales.  

Tickets available at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-story-time-at-hotel-aka-tickets-1065503743379

Sunday, December 15th

Old Town North Holiday Market and Farmers Market

 

Montgomery Park (901 N. Royal St.)
10:30am - 3:30pm

Sip hot cider while shopping amongst local artisans for all your holiday needs during Old Town North’s free Holiday Market and Farmers Market, cohosted by the Old Town North Community Partnership and Volunteer Alexandria. Browse farmers’ market offerings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and explore the European-style holiday market from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event is rain or shine.

Saturday, December 14th & Sunday, December 15th

Saturday, December 21st & Sunday, December 22nd

Brunch with Santa at Hank’s Oyster Bar

Hank's Oyster Bar
(818 N. St. Asaph St.)
11am - 1pm


Festive family-friendly brunch, live entertainment for the kids, and a special visit from Santa for photos and holiday cheer!

For more information and to get your tickets, visit:

https://hanksoysterbar.com/event/brunch-with-santa/

 

Monday, December 16th & Tuesday, December 17th

“Memories of A Child’s Christmas in Wales”

MetroStage at The Lyceum Presents

Memories of A Child’s Christmas in Wales

The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.)
7pm (both performances)

Join Catherine Flye, Bob McDonald, and pianist Joe Walsh for this staged reading of Dylan Thomas’s beloved classic, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”

Celebrate the holidays in the lovely concert hall at The Lyceum, currently MetroStage’s second home. You may even have an opportunity to sing along with these remarkable performers.

Tickets are $30. To purchase tickets, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/metrostage-at-the-lyceum-presents-memories-of-a-childs-christmas-in-wales-tickets-1050675357277?aff=erelexpmlt

Saturday, December 21st & Sunday, December 22nd

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents:

The Gift of Music Aglow

Saturday, December 21st

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center
7:30pm

Sunday, December 22nd (SOLD OUT)
George Washington Masonic Memorial
3:00pm

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra welcomes violinist Chelsey Green for an array of seasonal classics, carols, and sparkling holiday favorites.

To purchase tickets for Saturday’s performance, visit:

https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D9FQaIAN

Sunday’s performance is SOLD OUT.  Check this link in case tickets become available:

https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D96HfIAJ

Saturday, December 21st and Sunday, December 22nd

Petals and Post Holiday Pop-Up at West Elm

West Elm
(925 N. St. Asaph St.)
Saturday, 10am - 5pm Sunday, 11am - 5pm

Did you know that West Elm often features local artists and makers with pop-ups in their Alexandria store? On December 21st and 22nd, shop an assortment of hand-made, hand-selected vintage, and new gifts from Petals and Post (@petalsandpost on instagram).  Two specialties are hand-poured candles in carefully selected vessels and vintage postcards.

Tuesday, December 31st

New Year’s Eve Party at Jula’s on the Potomac

 

Jula’s on the Potomac (44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 401)
4:30 pm (Early Seating & Fireworks)
8:30 pm (Second Seating & Fireworks)

There are still seats left for Jula’s New Year’s Eve Party, but they won’t last long! Enjoy a three-course prix fixe dinner, open access to the balcony and terrace to view the fireworks, music from DJ Mr. Potter at the early seating and live music from Jazz Quartet Improviso at the second seating, and a Veuve Clicquot champagne toast with fireworks at midnight.

To purchase your New Year’s Eve Party experience, visit:

https://mailchi.mp/julasotp.com/celebrate-new-years-eve-2025

Tuesday, December 31st

Special New Year’s Eve Menu at a.lounge+bar at Hotel AKA

 

Hotel AKA (625 First St.)
5pm - 10pm

This New Year’s Eve, a.lounge+bar at Hotel AKA will be offering a special New Year’s Eve menu in addition to their regular dinner menu.  The exquisite menu features dishes like white sturgeon caviar with tallow fried chicken skin; an elevated surf and turf with petite filet, butter poached scallops, and black truffle potato puree; and heritage duck breast confit.  Finish your meal with goat’s milk cheesecake with brown butter graham crumb and topped with raspberry gelée and gold flake.

To check out the special New Year’s Eve menu, visit:

https://dqesq4kyrvn2s.cloudfront.net/stayaka.com-1078091968/cms/pressroom/aloungebar_new_years_eve_specials.pdf

To reserve a table for New Year’s Eve, visit:

https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?restref=1374070&lang=en-US&ot_source=Restaurant%20website&corrid=8e23811f-5568-49fe-84ea-2e719b180360

Tuesday, December 31st

New Year’s Eve Gatsby Gala at MacMillan Spirit House

 

MacMillan Spirit House (500 Montgomery St., Ste. 140)
8pm - 12:30am

Ring in the New Year with the glitz and glamour of the Roaring 20’s! Enjoy a three-course prix fixe dinner, prohibition-era cocktails, the finest champagne, and live jazz music all evening.

To purchase tickets, visit:

https://www.themacmillanspirithouse.com/event/new-years-eve-gatsby-gala/

 

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

New Year’s Day Volunteering - Invasive Kudzu Removal on the Mt. Vernon Trail

 

Mt. Vernon Trail just north of Old Town North
10am-noon

Start the new year off right by volunteering with Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail to help remove invasive Kudzu on the trail.

For more information about the November 30th trail clean-up, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-year-day-volunteering-invasive-kudzu-removal-on-the-mount-vernon-trail-tickets-1047023153437

 

Special Holiday Offerings in Old Town North

Hotel AKA

Treat yourself to a staycation at the chic Hotel AKA to revel in the holiday cheer (or take a break from your busy holiday schedule)!

  • “Merry Moments” includes in-room hot chocolate and cookies and a late checkout so you can maximize your relaxation. To reserve, visit:

https://www.stayaka.com/hotel-aka-alexandria/exclusives#offer-merry-moments

  • “New Year’s Eve Retreat” offers the opportunity to stay in a suite with a balcony so you can take in the fireworks display without even leaving the comfort of your room. Your stay includes valet parking, a $250 food & beverage credit, and a late checkout so you can enjoy a leisurely morning on New Year’s Day. To reserve, visit:

https://www.stayaka.com/hotel-aka-alexandria/exclusives#offer-new-years-eve-retreat

Royal Restaurant

  • Wine Down Wednesdays - 50% off all bottles of wine on Wednesdays!

  • Check out their special Christmas Menu offering Prime Rib with garlic mashed potatoes and honey-glazed carrots and Spiral Ham with mashed sweet potatoes and garlic green beans. Follow their instagram @royalrestaurantalx or check their website www.royalrestaurantva.com for details.

Hank’s Oyster Bar

Linda Vitello