ALEXANDRIA CHRISTMAS SCOTTISH WALK

Okay, I have to admit - this one is sort of far, a bit of a drive.  But, oh how I love the thrills-me-to-the-very-fiber-of-my-being CHRISTMAS SCOTTISH  WALK, this Saturday  (Dec 1) in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Lockhart Lady Trio ~ Mim, Mom et moi ~ enjoyed its revelries on several occasions, and Mom & I went took them in a couple times on our own.  Totally well worth the gas!

We’d be up at the crack of dawn, picking up coffee and a smackeral at Wawa’s, stopping to refuel on Empire Biscuits & shortbread at the much-missed Bit o’ Scotland bakery in Newark (DE). 

Excitement mounted as we clicked off the different exits, finally hitting the Capital Beltway and – at long last – the Woodrow Wilson Bridge across the Potomac, connecting Maryland & Virginia.  Just a hop, skip & jump from Alexandria!

After our first visit down, we always tried to park close to the mega nice Holiday Inn *, the perfect place for a reviving cup of coffee & late breakfast, mapping out where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, well-armed with material on what was happening in relation to the Walk & things that always beckoned us in that beautiful city.

Even over the years we attended, the Christmas Scottish Walk grew from basically a parade featuring thrilling bagpipers to a much more extensive array of related events.  Today, the Walk has events over both Friday & Saturday.  But the highlight is still the parade!

Picture hundreds of Scottish clansmen marching through Old Town Alexandria, bagpipes a-blazing, along with pipe & drum bands, Scottish dancers, re-enactment groups, Scottie dog groups, dignitaries and - ta da! - Santa Claus.

In its current guise, the weekend is consistently ranked by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the South, drawing nearly 30,000 people.  It is immensely popular with families, and it’s not unusual to see three or more generations enjoying the festivities.  

Events are held rain or shine.  In the event of severe weather on the morning of the parade, you can call event sponsors, The Campagna Center, at (703) 549-0111 for a recorded message on any delays or cancellations.  But as they remind one & all – “We are a hardy folk and if the streets are open, we plan to march!”

PARADE – begins at 11:00 a.m., commencing at the intersection of Wilkes Street and South St. Asaph Street, then heading north on South St. Asaph Street to Queen Street, turn right on Queen Street to North Fairfax Street, turning right and heading south on North Fairfax Street. It  will then turn right on King Street, and pass the reviewing stand at King and Royal Streets (Market Square) to the ending point at the intersection of King and Pitt Streets.   

CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE and Heather & Greens Sales - boutique style shopping offers unique holiday gifts and holiday decorations with a Scottish flair.  November 30, 2012, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DESIGNER HOME TOURS - This special annual event features a tour of historic Old Town Alexandria homes decorated for the holidays by acclaimed interior designers and local florists.  Saturday, December 1, 2012. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; tickets are required - Advance Purchase is  $30, or $35 at the door.

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend events will be held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 101 Callahan Drive in Alexandria.

There's more, much more to do in Alexandria, especially on December 1!!

ALEXANDRIA  HOLIDAY  BOAT  PARADE  OF  LIGHTS ~ ~ Alexandria offers an array of delights all year, but especially right now.  Be sure to stay in town through the early evening, since you will not want to miss the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights spectacular, as festively decorated pleasure boats light up the sky along the Potomac River.  (The District's fireboat, the John Glenn, spouts water 70 feet into the air!)  Over a mile of power and sail boats parade from the the Alexandria Harbor to the Washington Channel, captains & crews doing their best to out do each other, competing for prizes under categories including "Best in Show," "Best Thinking Outside the Christmas Box," and "Hardiest Souls."  

Everyone keeps an eye out for the arrival of Santa, arriving at the Alexandria marina docks, where he’ll disembark to visit children dockside at the marina’s gazebo (and, of course, be available for photos).  Santa is expected around 4:15 p.m.; the parade starts at 5:00 p.m., at the Alexandria Waterfront;  from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., travels up  Washington Channel, Water St. off of Maine Avenue, Washington, DC;  festivities at the Alexandria Waterfront continue from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.. 

The Alexandria waterfront is located behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which runs north along Union Street, between King and Cameron Streets.  

SHOPPING  &   DINING ~ ~  Am hesitant about making suggestions on dining & shopping, other than to say that Alexandria is world-renown for both its stores &restaurants.  (I haven’t been down to Alexandria, VA since Mom’s Summer 2001 fall & hospitalization at the awesome  INOVA Alexandria Hospital*.)  My suggestion - check out online sources for most up-to-date recommendations.

*I cannot mention the Old Town Holiday Inn and INOVA Alexandria Hospital without offering a moment of thanks & appreciation of both.  When Mom had her fall in the wee small hours of a Sunday morning, the Holiday Inn staff sprung into action.  For the next few weeks, they were a rock for a very shaky daughter, letting me use the office computer & fax to communicate back & forth with far-off family;  the restaurant staff practically took me under their wing, making me feel comforted & in the midst of friends.  The care Mom received from the doctors & nurses of INOVA Alexandria was the best she ever received.  And when I found myself unexpectedly without a place to stay one night, they let me bunk in with Mom (which was actually against hospital policy), which meant that I was there at 3:00 a.m. that morning, when she awakened me to see that she could raise her paralyzed arm & leg about a foot above the bed!!  Without INOVA Alexandria, I would have missed what would turn out to be the high water mark of Mom's condition.