Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE & COMMUNITY IMPACT
For Saturday, December 7, 2024
NOTE: This impact notice reflects a change to the traffic pattern on Union Street that was announced via a mailer to area businesses and residents. Instead of a local-traffic approach, the traffic will be routed in a one-way pattern in the same approach as last year. See more information below.
Two major parades on Saturday, December 7, 2024, create the foundation of Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend: the 53rd Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade sponsored by Wegmans which kicks off in the morning, and the 24th Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon, which includes waterfront festivities starting in the afternoon and the parade in the evening.
In order to safely produce these signature events, road closures, reserved parking and no parking zones will be in effect on Saturday, December 7.
Event Information
The Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade steps off at S. St. Asaph and Wolfe Streets at 11 a.m. and concludes at Market Square, King and Royal Street, around 1 p.m. View the route map and details at ALXScottishWalk.com.
The Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights starts with dockside festivities in Waterfront Park (2 to 8 p.m.) and a family friendly event at Canal Center (2 to 8 p.m.) The parade will cruise along the waterfront from about 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Find program details and one mile of viewing locations at ALXBoatParade.com.
Text ALXEVENTS to 888777 for event updates.
UPDATED: One-Way Traffic on Union St. in Afternoon and Evening (Same Plan as Last Year)
At approximately 3 PM on Union Street between Duke St. and Queen St., a one-way traffic pattern heading north will go into effect to mitigate increased traffic for the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights.
King St. Pedestrian Zone Includes 200 Block
King Street’s pedestrian-only area (0/unit block and 100 block) will include the 200 block. Lee St. from Duke St. to Cameron St. will be open to local traffic only which includes residents, customers, parking garage patrons and deliveries. The intersection of King St. and Lee St. will be closed to all vehicles. The Alexandria Police Department will have officers present to manage access for local traffic and divert all other vehicles.
Avoid Road Closures
Please be mindful of road closures and parking restrictions on Saturday, December 7. In addition to reviewing the enclosed information, you can download the free Waze app to navigate road closures.
No Parking & Reserved Parking Zones
Areas along the Scottish Walk parade route and adjacent to planned activities in Waterfront Park may have no parking or reserved parking. Please read signs carefully and comply with the times posted. Your cooperation is essential to the success of the events, and the safety of event participants, attendees, and those who live and work in the City of Alexandria.
Business Impacts
Businesses should remind employees and patrons of the impacts of the events. Please schedule deliveries in advance or after the events to minimize the number of vehicles accessing event locations. Deliveries on Union Street may still occur as regularly scheduled using the new traffic patterns established for Saturday, December 7.
ROAD CLOSURES & COMMUNITY IMPACTS – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
Plan ahead to avoid driving in areas with closures. The Alexandria Police Department will be on site to direct traffic and manage key intersections. Signage will be placed in advance of the event to alert drivers to closures and new traffic patterns. Closures and other public space impacts may change based on event conditions and the advisement of on-site safety personnel. Check ALXScottishWalk.com and ALXBoatParade.com for the most up-to-date information on the status of the events and logistical information. Text ALXEVENTS to 888777 for event updates.
| Location | Approximate Time | Access Information |
King St. & N. Royal St., 100 block of N. Royal St. | 3:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.* |
|
Wilkes St. (300 - 700 blocks) between S. Washington St. and S. Fairfax St.
S. Pitt St. (400 - 600 blocks) between Gibbon St. and Wolfe St.
S. Royal St. (400 - 600 blocks) between Gibbon St. and Wolfe St.
S. Saint Asaph St. (400 - 600 blocks) between Gibbon St. and Wolfe St.
Wolfe St. (600 block) | 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.* |
|
S. Saint Asaph St. (100 - 600 blocks) between King St. and Franklin St.
N. Saint Asaph St. (100 - 300 blocks) between Queen St. and King St.
S. Pitt St. (100 - 400 blocks) between Wolfe St. and King St.
N. Pitt St. (100 - 300 blocks) between King St. and Queen St.
N. Royal St. (100 - 300 blocks) between King St. and Queen St.
King St. (300 - 600 blocks) between Fairfax St. and St. Asaph St.
N. Fairfax St. (100 - 300 blocks) between King St. and Queen St.
Queen St. (300 - 600 blocks) between Fairfax St. and Saint Asaph St.
| 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.* |
|
UPDATED (Same plan as last year): Union St. between Duke St. and Queen St. | 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.* | UPDATED (Same plan as last year):
|
| King St. (Unit block - 300 blocks) between Fairfax St. and Strand St. | 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.* |
|
| Lee St. between Duke St. and Queen St. | 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.* |
|
| Prince St. (100 block) between Lee St. and Union St. | 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.* |
|
* Or when deemed safe to do so by Alexandria Police Department.
Map of Scottish Walk route and parade zone road closures:
Map of Boat Parade traffic impacts: