Holiday Events Near Falls Church: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

FALLS CHURCH, VA — There is no shortage of things to do near Falls Church to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree lightings near Falls Church include:

• City of Falls Church Lighting of the Trees Celebration: Monday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.
• Church Street Holiday Stroll: Monday, Nov. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Light up the Village at Shirlington: Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Fairfax City Festival of Lights and Carols and Tree Lighting: Saturday, Dec. 3, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., tree lighting at 5 p.m.
• Del Ray's tree lighting and Menorah lighting: Sunday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
• Great Falls Tree Lighting: Sunday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., tree lighting at 5 p.m.
• Rosslyn Cheer Tree Lighting: Thursday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland; and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in Northern Virginia may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, Alexandria: Saturday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.
• Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, Alexandria: Saturday, Dec. 3, activities starting at 2 p.m, parade at 5:30 p.m.
• Greater Manassas Christmas Parade, Manassas: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.
• Leesburg Christmas and Holiday Parade, Leesburg: Saturday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch near Falls Church are:

• Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights, Vienna: Friday, Nov. 11 to Jan. 8.
• Winter Lantern Festival, Tysons: Friday, Nov. 25 to Feb. 12
• Ice & Lights, Alexandria: Friday, Nov. 18 to Jan. 1
• Zoo Lights at National Zoo, Washington, DC: Friday, Nov. 25 to Dec. 30
• Enchant Christmas, Washington, DC: Friday, Nov. 25 to Jan. 1
• Bull Run Festival of Lights, Centreville: Friday, Nov. 11 to Jan. 8

Other upcoming holiday events in Falls Church include:

• Holiday Gift and Craft Show with Children’s Shoppe: Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Breakfast With Santa at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.to 12 p.m.
• Falls Church Tree Fest: Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Advent Cookie Concert: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
• Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department's Santamobile: visits from Dec. 15 to 23
• Live Nativity and Lights at the Falls Church Episcopal: Saturday, Dec. 17 from 6 p.m .to 8 p.m.