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It is almost the season for the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show, also called the Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show. It is a one-day outdoor market near historic Old Town, with local vendors, seasonal food, music, family activities, and access to the broader King Street holiday scene.
As an Alexandria-based moving and storage company serving Northern Virginia, we know how much the neighborhood changes during the holidays, from decorated storefronts to busy sidewalks and packed event days. If you are planning a seasonal visit, a move near Old Town, or a holiday storage question, Division 1 Moving and Storage is here to help.
For questions about moving, storage, packing, or local logistics around the season, you can Get a Quote through our contact page.
The Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market is officially the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show
There are many names for the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show. Visit Alexandria also calls it Alexandria’s biggest Christmas market, while City event listings confirm the event name and venue. Other local listings may use longer variations, including Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show or Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show.
The 2026 market is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It takes place at John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. The event is outdoors, free to attend, pet-friendly, and planned to happen rain or shine.
Location matters. This market is in the Carlyle area immediately southwest of historic Old Town, not directly on the King Street waterfront. That makes it easy to pair with Old Town shopping and dining, but it is not a waterfront festival or the broader holiday retail scene along King Street.
Alexandria has several seasonal markets and holiday shopping experiences. The John Carlyle Square event is the specific one-day Christmas market most likely to match the search. Other events, such as Old Town North’s holiday market, Del Ray Artisans’ fine-art market, and local maker events, are separate experiences.
Local artisans, handmade gifts, food, music, and family activities shape the market experience
The Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show emphasizes local artisans and crafters. Shoppers can expect booths with handmade gifts, holiday ornaments, seasonal décor, jewelry, art, candles, specialty foods, and other one-of-a-kind items. Older event descriptions noted more than 110 artisans, crafters, independent consultants, and small businesses, though the final 2026 vendor count has not been published.
Vendor categories listed for the 2026 event include arts and crafts, holiday ornaments, clothing and accessories, desserts and spices, prepared food, nonprofit organizations, and other commercial exhibitors. That mix makes the market useful for gift-buying as well as browsing.
Visitors looking for a holiday outing rather than a quick errand will find several layers to the event. The market is not limited to shopping, and the strongest visits allow time for food, music, and family stops. Because vendor lineups and menus can change, anyone with dietary or accessibility needs should verify current details before attending.
Handmade and locally focused gifts, including art, ornaments, candles, jewelry, and seasonal décor.
Wearable gifts and accessories, along with home goods and practical stocking stuffers.
Specialty foods, desserts, spices, holiday treats, savory food, and festive drinks.
Holiday carolers and a DJ playing seasonal music.
A children’s ornament-creation station and photos with Santa.
A free, pet-friendly outdoor setting suitable for families and groups.
For families, the children’s activities help turn the market into a manageable holiday stop rather than a shopping-only errand. For adults, the food and music make it easier to linger, compare vendors, and continue into Old Town for lunch, boutiques, or waterfront views.
Old Town’s larger holiday season turns one market into a full neighborhood outing
The market is only one part of Alexandria’s holiday appeal. Old Town is known for brick sidewalks, centuries-old architecture, gas lamps, decorated doors, and twinkle lights along King Street. That setting gives the area a historic, village-like feel that fits holiday shopping.
The King Street corridor stretches about one mile from the King Street-Old Town Metrorail station to the Potomac waterfront. Along that corridor are more than 200 independent restaurants and shops, making it easy to build a day around the market.
Holiday shopping is especially strong because Alexandria promotes more than 100 independent boutiques with clothing, jewelry, home décor, books, toys, locally made goods, pet gifts, and specialty items. Local shopping guides identify examples such as Made in ALX, AR Workshop Alexandria, Pippin Toy Co., Red Barn Mercantile, Boxwood, The Old Town Shop, and Bellacara among the many retailers along King Street and nearby side streets.
Dining is also a major part of the season. Restaurants and cafés decorate interiors and patios, and Visit Alexandria highlights holiday dining, heated outdoor seating, cocktails, coffee stops, sweets, and waterfront restaurants as complements to shopping. A practical plan is to reserve lunch or dinner in advance, then use cafés and bakeries for warm drinks or a break.
The regular Old Town Farmers’ Market can be a useful add-on when operating in its temporary location during City Hall construction. It is described as one of the nation’s oldest continually operating farmers’ markets at one site, with produce, breads, cheeses, pastries, flowers, artisan goods, and seasonal specialties. In 2026, it is temporarily relocated to the 100 block of North Royal Street and Tavern Square because of Market Square work.
Holiday tree lighting, boat parade, and nearby markets add more reasons to visit Old Town
Old Town’s seasonal calendar includes signature traditions beyond the John Carlyle Square Christmas market. The city’s Holiday Tree Lighting is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026, with the event beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing from about 6 to 8 p.m. The free program is expected to include Santa’s arrival aboard the King Street Trolley, festive music, the tree lighting, and holiday cheer.
The precise 2026 tree lighting location was still listed as to be announced in the latest city recreation information because of Market Square renovations. Traditionally, the setting has been Market Square at or near City Hall, where the seasonal tree has been a major photo stop. Visit Alexandria describes the Market Square tree as approximately 40 feet tall and decorated with nearly 40,000 lights.
Alexandria’s largest holiday weekend typically combines the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade with the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. The most recently published full schedule placed the Scottish parade at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the boat parade at about 5:30 p.m., with waterfront activities beginning in the afternoon.
The boat parade is a major waterfront tradition, with more than 50 illuminated boats cruising along roughly one mile of the Potomac shoreline. Viewing areas include Oronoco Bay Park, Founders Park, the City Marina, Waterfront Park, Point Lumley Park, Robinson Landing, Windmill Hill Park, and parks farther south toward Ford’s Landing.
Other holiday markets can round out the season, but they should not be confused with the John Carlyle Square event. The Del Ray Artisans Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market focuses on local art and fine craft at 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue. The Old Town North Community Partnership Annual Holiday Market is generally held at Montgomery Park, 901 North Royal Street, with local vendors, baked goods, specialty foods, greenery, decorations, caroling, and family activities.
Made in ALX also supports the local maker scene. Its permanent King Street marketplace at 415 King Street focuses on Alexandria-made art, gifts, and handmade goods, and recent holiday maker events have included more than 25 local vendors, food, music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere.
Parking, Metro, trolley service, and walking routes affect how smooth your visit feels
Old Town is highly walkable, but the market’s John Carlyle Square location is not directly at the waterfront. That is helpful to know before choosing transportation. Visitors can make the day easier by deciding whether the priority is the market, the King Street shopping corridor, the waterfront, or all three.
From the King Street-Old Town Metrorail station, visitors can use the free King Street Trolley to reach central Old Town. The trolley runs along King Street between the station and City Hall or Market Square, stopping every two to three blocks. Both the Blue and Yellow Metro lines serve the King Street-Old Town station.
The waterfront is about a mile from the Metro station, or roughly a 25-minute walk depending on pace and destination. The trolley is free, runs approximately every 15 minutes, and operates from about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., including holidays, although special-event service can be modified.
Drivers have options, but holiday timing matters. Old Town has more than 20 garages and lots, plus metered street parking. On busy holiday weekends and waterfront event days, nearby spaces can fill quickly. Market Square Garage is closed during City Hall renovations, so visitors should check alternative garages before arrival.
For the Christmas market, garages and lots near Carlyle may be more convenient than parking near the waterfront. For parade days, Metro, trolley, bus, rideshare, or walking is often more practical than trying to park beside the river. Parade-day guidance notes that garages closest to the waterfront can fill in advance, street closures may begin in the afternoon, and traffic patterns can change.
For families or shoppers carrying purchases, the simplest strategy is often to park once, shop on foot, and use the trolley rather than move the vehicle repeatedly. Comfortable shoes matter, too. Brick sidewalks, winter weather, and a full day of browsing can feel longer than the map suggests.
Half-day and full-day itineraries help visitors pair the Christmas market with Old Town traditions
A good holiday visit starts with realistic timing. The Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so it works as the centerpiece of a half-day outing or the first stop in a longer day. Arriving close to opening gives families and gift shoppers the best chance to browse before the middle of the day gets busier.
For a half-day market itinerary, arrive near John Carlyle Square shortly before 11 a.m. Browse artisan booths, stop for holiday food, and leave time for children’s crafts or Santa photos. Afterward, head toward King Street for lunch, then spend one to two hours visiting independent boutiques and local-gift shops.
For a half-day Old Town itinerary, begin at the King Street-Old Town Metro station and ride the free trolley toward City Hall. Walk east through the decorated King Street corridor, stop at a café, continue toward Waterfront Park and the Torpedo Factory area, and finish with an early dinner near the Potomac.
A full-day market-and-waterfront plan gives the strongest sense of the season. Spend late morning at the John Carlyle Square Christmas Market, have lunch in Carlyle or Old Town, then shift to King Street for boutique shopping and seasonal displays. In the afternoon, walk toward Waterfront Park, browse nearby galleries, and pause for coffee or a festive drink before dinner.
Parade-day planning should be more deliberate. Arrive early by Metro, trolley, or rideshare, watch the Scottish Christmas Walk in the late morning, have lunch along King Street, and browse shops while waiting for waterfront festivities. Reach a selected viewing area before the boat parade begins around 5:30 p.m.
If you are moving into or out of Alexandria during the holidays, timing around event traffic, parking, packing, and storage can make a noticeable difference. Division 1 Moving and Storage helps local residents plan moves, packing, storage, junk removal, and related services with Northern Virginia neighborhoods in mind.
Before your visit, confirm the final vendor list, weather policy, tree-lighting location, trolley routing, parking status, and any special-event street changes. Reserve dining ahead, dress in layers, and plan for walking. With that preparation, the Old Town Alexandria Christmas market can become part of a full seasonal day built around local makers, decorated streets, waterfront traditions, and independent shops.
If the holiday season also brings a move, downsizing project, packing need, or storage question, our Alexandria team can help you plan it with less stress. Get a Quote or Call us today at (571) 970-3189.