What's Open, Closed For Christmas 2021 In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Christmas falls on a Saturday in 2021, so there will be various closings on the days before. That means a shortened work week for many, and many students are on winter break the entire week.

Some services are closed for Christmas Eve (Friday, Dec. 24). Other closures will begin on Thursday, Dec. 23 and continue through the weekend. Residents should prepare for additional closures the following week around New Year's Eve on Friday, Dec. 31.

If you're around on Christmas Eve, head to the waterfront for the annual Waterskiing Santa show at 1 pm. This tradition has been going on for 36 years, delighting spectators with Santa, the Grinch and other characters on water skis or jet skis. The show is visible anywhere along the waterfront between Founders Park and Point Lumley Park.

Below are the closures to know around Christmas in Alexandria.

City of Alexandria government offices: City government offices will be closed on Dec. 23 and 24.

Alexandria City Public Schools: Schools are closed for winter break from Dec. 20 to 31.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: On Dec. 24, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment only, for virtual and in-shelter animal visits. To make an appointment, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-by-Appointment. The shelter will be closed on Dec. 25. Animal emergencies or wildlife concerns can be directed to 703-746-4444.

Courts: The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are closed on Dec. 23 and 24. The Court Service Unit will be closed Dec. 23 and 24.

DASH Bus: On Dec. 24, the fare-free DASH bus will run on a Sunday service schedule. On Dec. 25, DASH will operate with regular Saturday service. The free King Street Trolley will operate from King Street Metro to Alexandria City Hall every 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit dashbus.com for more information.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): All DMV customer service centers in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Road in Alexandria) will be closed Dec. 23 through Dec. 25.

Health department: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King Street), Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard Street) and Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria City High School (3330 King Street) will be closed on Dec. 23 and 24.

Historic Alexandria: All City of Alexandria museums, except the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum (105 N. Union Street) will be open Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703-746-5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703-746-4911; the emergency mental health services or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703-746-3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1-888-832-3858; and the sexual assault hotline at 703-683-7273.

Impound facility: The city’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Avenue) will be closed on Dec. 23 and Dec. 24. Fees will accrue while the facility is closed on Saturdays and Sundays but will not accrue on holidays.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library (520 King Street) will be closed Dec. 23 to Dec. 25. For more information, visit alexlibraryva.org.

Metro: Metrorail operates on a weekday schedule and Metrobus operates on a Saturday schedule on Dec. 24. Metrorail and Metrobus will run on a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25. Visit www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables for more information.

Old Town Farmers Market: The Old Town Farmers Market will be open Dec. 24 from 7 a.m. to noon with free parking at Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax Street) from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Farmers Market will be and will be closed Dec. 25.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits Dec. 23 through Dec. 25. The suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited such as no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities. Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.

Post offices: Some locations may have limited or extended hours on Dec. 24. Check with your local post office. All post offices are closed on Dec. 25.

Recreation, nature and art centers: On Dec. 23, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King Street), Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) and Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue) will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all other facilities will be closed. On Dec. 24, the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all other facilities will be closed. On Dec. 25, all recreation, nature and art centers will be closed. On Dec. 26, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King Street) will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street) will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., all other recreation, nature and art centers will be closed.

Trash and recycling: Residential refuse, yard waste and recycling will be collected on the regularly scheduled day during the weeks of Dec. 20 and 27. The Household Hazardous Waste Electronic Collection Drop-off Center (3224 Colvin Street) will be closed on Dec. 25. Christmas tree collection will begin on Jan. 3 through Jan. 31. Leaf collection will happen on Dec. 23 and 24. Visit alexandriava.gov/ResourceRecovery for more information.