Christmas 2019: What's Open, Closed In Alexandria

Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday, meaning local government and other services will take a break mid week. It's a given that many services are closed on Christmas Day, but others will be closed Christmas Eve and surrounding days as well.

We've rounded up the closings and schedule changes to know around Alexandria. Schools are closed for an extended winter break, while other services will be closed on Christmas Eve and Day.

City of Alexandria government offices: Closed Dec. 24-25.

State offices: The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Alexandria Circuit Court, Alexandria General District Court, and Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (520 King Street) will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, through Thursday, Dec. 26. The Court Services Unit will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office at 2681 Mill Road will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25.

Alexandria City Public Schools: Closed Dec. 23-Jan. 3.

Animal shelter: The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, with animal viewing beginning at noon. The Animal Shelter will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

DASH Bus and King Street Trolley: DASH will operate on its regular weekday schedule on Dec. 24, except that service will end at 7 p.m. Any trip scheduled to start at or before 7 p.m. will operate in its entirety. Any trip scheduled to start at 7:01 p.m. or later will not operate. On Wednesday, Dec. 25, there will be no regular DASH service. The free King Street Trolley will operate on its regular schedule on Dec. 24 and 25, every 10 to 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., between the King Street-Old Town Metro Station and waterfront.

Health department: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King Street), Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard Street), and Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School (3330 King Street) will be closed Dec. 24-25.

Historic sites and museums: All City of Alexandria museums will be closed Dec. 24-25. During the winter, the Black History Museum is also closed on Sundays and Mondays and the Fort Ward Museum Historic Site is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703-746-5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703-746-4911; the emergency mental health services or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703-746-3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1-888-832-3858; and the sexual assault hotline at 703-683-7273.

Impound lot: The city's impound facility (5249 Eisenhower Avenue) will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25. The Impound Facility is closed every Saturday and Sunday, and on all observed city holidays. Fees will continue to accrue on Saturdays and Sundays, but not on holidays.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library (520 King Street) will be closed Dec. 24-25. Talking Books will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1.

Metrorail: On Dec. 25, the Metro system will be open 8 a.m.-11 p.m. and operate on a Sunday schedule. Parking will be free at all Metro parking facilities, and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. There are no scheduled changes for Dec. 24.

Metrobus: Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25. See bus timetables.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits on Wednesday, Dec. 25. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no parking zones, loading zones, or spaces for persons with disabilities). Temporary no-parking signs will be enforced on Dec. 25.

Post offices: Closed on Dec. 25.

Recreation and art centers: All City of Alexandria recreation facilities will be closed Dec. 24-25. The Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open on Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Dec. 25.

Trash and recycling: Residential refuse and recycling will be collected on Tuesday, Dec. 24, but will not be collected on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Collection will be delayed by one day for residents who normally receive service on Wednesday or Thursday (Wednesday's collection will move to Thursday; Thursday's collection will move to Friday). The Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Center (3224 Colvin Street) will be open on Monday, Dec. 23.