ALEXANDRIA HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS
Details
FREE EVENT; BRING A CHAIR TO SIT ON, IF YOU WISH
ATTEND AND ENJOY ON YOUR OWN
December 6, 2025
Parade starts at 5:30 p.m.
Festivities begin in the afternoon
Old Town Alexandria Waterfront
Old Town Alexandria’s historic waterfront will shine for the 25TH Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon as dozens of brightly lit boats cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline. Enjoy dockside festivities in Waterfront Park including a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, food, activities and more.
Stay tuned for this year’s participating boats and themes.
The parade is produced by Visit Alexandria in collaboration with the City of Alexandria, City Cruises Anchored by Hornblower and the Old Dominion Boat Club. Amazon is proud to sponsor the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights and partner on such a beloved community event.
## PARADE DETAILS
Parade Start Time and Duration: The parade route stretches for one mile along Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront. The Old Town North Waterfront offers the first glimpse of boats before they cruise to the Alexandria City Marina/ Waterfront Park and continue south to end at Ford’s Landing Park near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and its duration can vary from 30 minutes to one hour.
*Please note that the above times are subject to change based on cruising speeds, river conditions and total participants.
Parade Viewing Areas: The parade stretches for one mile along Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront. Please note there is limited visibility within the Alexandria City Marina (0 Cameron St.) while the following parks offer a more comfortable, less crowded viewing experience. Visitors can also watch the parade on the water with City Cruises anchored by Hornblower’s Holiday Boat Parade of Lights tour.
- Founders Park, 351 North Union Street
- Alexandria City Marina, 0 Cameron Street
- Waterfront Park, 1 King Street and 1A Prince Street
- Point Lumley Park, 1 Duke Street
- Robinson Landing, 7 Pioneer Way
- Windmill Hill Park, 501 South Union Street
- Shipyard/Harborside Park, 1 Wilkes Street
- Ford’s Landing City Park, 99 Franklin Street
## GETTING HERE & AROUND
Based on anticipated attendance, the use of public transportation and alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged. See the list below to consider your options and plan your trip.
Metro: The parade is accessible via Metrorail (blue line) from the King Street station.
King Street Trolley: Stay tuned for details on a modified route for the free King Street Trolley during Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend.
Parking: If driving, please note parking garages closest to the waterfront fill up in advance of the event, and street closures near the waterfront are often in effect based on the high volume of traffic. Find a map of garages on the City of Alexandria’s parking page.
Capital Bikeshare: There are several dock stations within Old Town and in Old Town North near the Mount Vernon Trail and Oronoco Bay Park. For more information, please visit capitalbikeshare.com.
Dockless Mobility: There are various dockless mobility devices throughout Old Town including e-scooters and e-bikes. Please note there is no riding on sidewalks per City code or along the expanded King Street pedestrian zone from the 200 block of King Street to the waterfront. When possible, please park in a scooter corral or bike rack so as not to block the sidewalk.
Water Taxi: Enjoy the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights from the Potomac River with CityCruises by Hornblower. Find more information here.
DASH Bus: The DASH bus is free. DASH buses run as early as 6 a.m. and as late as midnight on both Friday and Saturday.