Boat Parade of Lights Set to Sail the Potomac

Brightly lit sailboats and powerboats light up the Potomac River Saturday, Dec. 1 beginning at 5:15 p.m., culminating a day of holiday events in Old Town Alexandria.

Alexandria’s annual Boat Parade of Lights rings in December when dozens of colorfully lit powerboats and sailboats parade down the Potomac River. On Saturday, Dec. 1, at the new earlier start time of 5:15 p.m, the parade begins, led by Alexandria’s fireboat Vigilant and Washington, D.C.’s fireboat John H. Glenn Jr., named for the former astronaut and U.S. senator. The boats are dressed to impress a panel of judges who will award prizes in a dozen categories including Best in Show, Thinking Outside the Christmas Box and Hardiest Souls. Pre-parade festivities begin at 3 p.m. at the city marina behind the Torpedo Factory and include free photos with Santa Claus for kids and canines plus free hot cocoa and cider. This year’s boat parade is …

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It's a Ruff Life

It's a Ruff Life: Santa Claws is Coming to Town

Get in the holiday spirit with your dog this weekend.

Did you wake up Friday anxious to get into the Christmas spirit? Did you make trips to and from your attic while still in your pajamas because you couldn’t wait to pull out all of your decorations? Did you race out to Lowe’s and Home Depot in hopes of taking advantage of the Black Friday sales on lights and garland? Or in our case, a 12-foot inflatable Santa that I fear you can see from Arlington? Did you put on your favorite albums and get lost in the world of decorating? I did, and it was lovely. I’m new to Old Town, so I’m enjoying taking every advantage of the festive offerings in the month of December. I made a list on my computer called ‘Holiday fun’ and I look forward to checking off every item. With everything on my list and most …

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