Alexandria Among Best Christmas Towns In World: Oprah Magazine

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria is one of the Christmas towns worth traveling to not just in the DC region but around the globe, according to a new list from Oprah Magazine.

The city is one of 19 places that has "perfected" the holiday season every December, the magazine says. All towns on the list come from North America and Europe.

Alexandria's holiday cheer materializes in the form of parades, displays and other traditions. The magazine says this about Alexandria: "For a traditional American Christmas, head to Alexandria, Virginia, where the Old Town's streets and 18th-century row houses bustle with good cheer each December." Rounding out the city's appeal are carolers, hand bell choirs and proximity to Mount Vernon.

The holiday season is packed with events in Alexandria. Among the traditions are the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, held the same weekend as the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend and Parade. In Old Town, some returning events are the volunteer-run Waterskiing Santa show on Christmas Eve and Alexandria Harmonizers Carol Crawl on Dec. 10. Del Ray has its own traditions, such as the Holiday Season Kick-Off on Dec. 8 and Candy Cane Bar Crawl on Dec. 14.

Check out Oprah Magazine's full Best Christmas Villages in the World list.