Holiday Events Near Mount Vernon: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

MOUNT VERNON, VA — There is no shortage of things to do near Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon include:

• National Harbor's tree lighting: Nightly every half hour from sunset to 9 p.m.
• City of Falls Church Lighting of the Trees Celebration: Monday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.
• Light up the Village at Shirlington: Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Melwood's Miracle on 23rd Street: Friday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m. to 8 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.
• 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.
• Town of Dumfries Christmas Parade on Main Street, Dumfries: Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch near Mount Vernon are:

• Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon: Dec. 16-17 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• 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
• Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights, Vienna: Friday, Nov. 11 to Jan. 8.
• Winter Lantern Festival, Tysons: Friday, Nov. 25 to Feb. 12
• Bull Run Festival of Lights, Centreville: Friday, Nov. 11 to Jan. 8

Other upcoming holiday events include:

• Holiday Candlelight Tour at Mount Vernon: Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 18
• Del Ray Artisans Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market: Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends
• Mount Vernon Flea Market-Arts & Crafts Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• River Farm Holiday Open House: Thursday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl: Saturday, Dec. 10 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Snow Daze at Aslin Beer Company: Saturday, Dec. 10 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.