For as long as most of Old Town can remember, the city's holiday tree has been lit on Market Square, in front of City Hall at 301 King St. This year that square is a construction site. The tree lighting is on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St., and the City's own calendar lists it as a "New 2026 location."
Alexandria Living Magazine put the reason plainly. Market Square is closed for the City Hall renovation, so the tree lighting moved to the water, and most other traditions are back in their usual spots. That one change shifts where the whole season happens. The renovation of City Hall, Market Square and the underground garage is expected to wrap up in fall 2028, so this year's arrangement will probably come back for at least one more December. The crowds will head to the river, and the blocks they used to fill are the ones that need them most.
What Moved Off the Square, and Where It Landed
The tree is the second Market Square tradition to move. The Old Town Farmers Market went first, relocating on Jan. 10, 2026, to the 100 block of North Royal Street and the Tavern Square courtyard, across from its old home. It still runs Saturdays, rain or shine, from 7 a.m. to noon, according to the City's farmers market page.
Here's where the season's main dates fall in 2026:
- Sat., Nov. 21, 6 to 8 p.m.: City Holiday Tree Lighting at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. It's free and includes music and a visit from Santa.
- Sat., Nov. 28, all day: Small Business Saturday across Alexandria. Hours vary by shop.
- Sat., Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: The 55th Scottish Walk Holiday Parade on King, Royal and Fairfax streets.
- Sat., Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m.: The 26th Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, with dockside festivities from 2 to 8 p.m.
- Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St.
This season's big gatherings sit at the river, along the parade streets, or up near John Carlyle Square. None of them sit on the square the city has rallied around for generations.
The Block That Needs the Foot Traffic
The neighbors of the construction fence have been feeling this since summer. In September, ALXnow reported that street parking next to 301 King St. had been halted, sidewalks were closed, and construction noise was constant. The paper also reported that Today's Cargo, the gift and home goods shop at 117 N. Fairfax St., was having an unusually slow summer. The Zebra reported fewer walk-in customers at The Warehouse, 214 King St., and connected that to lost parking and changes in pedestrian access.
Next door, Carlyle House Historic Park has seen fewer visitors. NOVA Parks Executive Director Justin Wilson, a former Alexandria mayor, told ALXnow:
"We have definitely seen impacts due to the moving of the farmer's market, the loss of street parking, the loss of the parking garage and just general challenges with foot traffic."
The City's answer so far is a monthly interdepartmental task force. Its recommendations include garage partnerships and parking validation, a short video series featuring businesses next to City Hall, and earlier notice of city events. Staff said they would reevaluate the plan in January. That timing makes this holiday season the first real test. Old Town's busiest shopping weeks fall between the tree lighting and that January review.
Who's Open Around the Fence
In September, Visit Alexandria published a list of businesses around Market Square that are open during construction. For a holiday shopping list, it's a good starting point.
For gifts: Today's Cargo, Arielle Shoshana Perfume, the romance bookshop Friends to Lovers, The Spice & Tea Exchange of Alexandria, the women's boutique Donna Lewis, and Made in ALX, where everything is made by people from Alexandria or the surrounding region.
For a break between stops: Dolci Gelati for gelato and coffee, Kisso Asian Bistro, Life Alive Organic Cafe, which Visit Alexandria calls new to King Street, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.
For out-of-town guests: Carlyle House, built in 1753 by city co-founder John Carlyle, plus Gadsby's Tavern Museum and Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant in the same historic complex.
Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 is a natural day to work through that list. The farmers market also helps. It now sits on North Royal, right beside these shops, so a Saturday morning produce run already puts you on the right block.
Dec. 5 Runs From the Parade Streets to the River
The first Saturday in December carries the most weight this year. Visit Alexandria bills Dec. 4 to 6 as "Alexandria's Biggest Holiday Weekend." Both parades fall on Saturday, and the Scottish Walk is under new management. In 2026 the City of Alexandria took over as lead producer of the parade, which the Campagna Center has long been tied to, with support from the Campagna Center and Visit Alexandria. The tradition reaches back to a Christmas Walk in the 1960s and first took a Scottish theme in 1970. A 1971 merger with the St. Andrew's Society's celebration then made it fully Scottish, in honor of the city's Scottish heritage and its namesake, the Scottish merchant John Alexander.
One way to spend the day:
- Watch the Scottish Walk from King, Royal or Fairfax Street between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Have lunch and shop around the construction fence while the crowd is already on those streets.
- Walk down to the waterfront once the dockside festivities open at 2 p.m. They stretch from Old Town North to Ford's Landing Park.
- Find a spot along the Potomac before the boat parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Visit Alexandria describes a one-mile river route and a Port City Brewing pop-up beer garden at Waterfront Park.
There are also a few new names near the river and on lower King. Cana Café has said it is aiming for a December opening at 100 S. Union St., the former Starbucks storefront, once construction is finished. Farther up the street, at 404 King St., Twosome Place announced an Oct. 17 grand opening for the South Korean café brand's first U.S. location. ALXnow described its menu as specialty coffee, Korean-inspired drinks, cakes and all-day food.
Getting Down There Without the Market Square Garage
Since the Market Square Garage is closed, parade day and tree lighting night both lose the lot many people used to count on. The City points drivers to Courthouse Garage at 111 S. Pitt St., North Union Street Garage at 220 N. Union St., and Thompson's Alley Garage at 10 Thompson's Alley. Visit Alexandria also lists Tavern Square Garage at 418 Cameron St. The free Saturday parking at Courthouse and Tavern Square is for farmers market shoppers during market hours, so plan to pay for an evening on the waterfront. Metered street parking along King Street is $2.75 an hour, according to Visit Alexandria.
The easiest option skips the garage entirely. The free King Street Trolley runs every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year. It connects the King St–Old Town Metro end of town to the river, so it works for both ends of Dec. 5. Before driving in on parade day, check the City's Holiday Parades page for 2026 street details. Last year's closure notice was written for Dec. 6, 2025, and doesn't apply to this year's route.
The City Hall, Market Square and garage renovation is expected to be finished in fall 2028.
If you own a home a few blocks from Market Square and want to know how the renovation years might factor into its value, Wasinger & Co can put together a free home valuation that accounts for what's happening on your block right now.
