Del Ray Holiday Season Kick-Off 2019: Tree Lighting, More

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Del Ray will kick off the holiday season after the Thanksgiving holiday with a tree and menorah lighting, photos with Santa and more. The Del Ray Holiday Season Kick-Off will happen at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Mount Vernon and East Oxford Avenues.

The event begins with the lighting of the Christmas tree and Menorah. This year's tree is provided by Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn of Pork Barrel BBQ, Holy Cow and the sushi bar.

Volunteers are needed to help with the event. Sign up for a time slot here.

After the lighting, join your neighbors to sign Christmas carols and take photos with Santa. The jolly man in red will likely take photos until 7 p.m. The T.C. Williams High School Choir will be performing. In between the festivities, stroll down Mount Vernon Avenue to see thousands of luminarias, as well as businesses open late with hand-painted window displays.

The best decorated tree contest voting also starts Dec. 8 and continues through 5 p.m. Christmas Day. Local nonprofits decorated 12 trees and displayed them along Mount Vernon Avenue for voting. The winning nonprofit will get a $500 donation from the Del Ray Business Association.

Anyone attending the Holiday Season Kick-Off is asked to bring donations for Carpenter's Shelter, Alexandria's homeless shelter. The following items can be dropped off in marked boxes at the event: disposable diapers, wash cloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, Metro SmarTrip cards and Target or Walmart gift cards.