Family Events

Through Dec. 15

Holiday Gift Drive. At Hollin Meadows Elementary School, 2310 Nordok Place. Donate an unwrapped gift to help Hollin Meadows students and families. Toys, books, LEGOs, puzzles, multicultural dolls, board games, and gift cards are being accepted. Contact Nancy Engler at recordingsecretaryhmpta@gmail.com.

Through Jan. 6

Christmas at Mount Vernon. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. Visit George Washington’s estate and see Aladdin the camel on the grounds, in honor of the camel that Washington paid to visit Mount Vernon in 1787. Stroll through Mount Vernon’s modern buildings and view sparkling holiday decorations, featuring 12 dazzling Christmas trees, and historical chocolate-making demonstrations. Also visit the rarely-open third floor of the Mansion. All is included in the general admission price which is $17 for adults, $16 for seniors, $9 for youth ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under. Visit www.mountvernon.org/christmas for more.

Dec. 20

Mount Vernon by Candlelight. 5-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. Take character-guided tours, listen to caroling, watch 18th-century dancing, and see a reproduction of Martha Washington’s “Great Cake” recipe. “Mrs. Washington” and Aladdin the Christmas camel will also be on site. Tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for youth. Visit www.mountvernon.org/christmas for more.

Saturday/Dec. 12

Breakfast with Santa. 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road. Eat a pancake breakfast, make crafts, and play games. $5 per person, families of 5 or more pay a flat $25 family rate. Visit www.facebook.com/MVHSClassof2019.

Civil War Christmas in Camp at Fort Ward. 12-4 p.m. at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road. Visitors meet a Civil War-era Santa at this holiday event exploring how Christmas was observed during the Civil War. The program features living-history interpreters, a Victorian Christmas tree, refreshments, readings of The Night Before Christmas and a patriotic Santa Claus inspired by a Thomas Nast illustration for Harper’s Weekly newspaper. Suggested donation is $2 for adults, $1 for children. Call 703-746-4848 or www.fortward.org.

Christmas Candlelight Service. 5:45-8 p.m. at Alexandria Presbyterian Church, 2405 Russell Road. This service of lessons and carols will feature APC choirs, brass quintet and carol singing. Reception to follow. Free. Visit www.alexandriapres.org for more.

“A Christmas Carol.” 7 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. NYC actor / playwright, Greg Oliver Bodine performs “A Christmas Carol.” This one-man play is based on the condensed version Dickens himself used on his historic reading tours of the United States. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children. Visit www.nvfaa.org.

Saturday-Sunday/Dec. 12-13

Christmas Tree Sale. 12-4:30 p.m. at 2911 Cameron Mills Road. Find 4-13 foot fresh-cut fir trees. Trees priced $35-175. Call 304-703-1350.

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours. 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, 3-6 p.m. on Sunday at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St; Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St; Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St.; and The Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St. Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, The Lloyd House and Lee-Fendall House. Seasonal libations may be purchased along the tour. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for active military and seniors (65 and older), and $5 for children (ages 6-17). Visit www.shop.alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-4242.

Friday-Saturday/Dec. 18-19

Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon. 5:30-9 p.m. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. Enjoy choir performances, fireworks, visit with re-enactors, learn 18th-century dance moves, learn how chocolate was made in the 18th century, and more. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Visit www.mountvernon.org/christmas for more.

Tuesday-Thursday/Dec. 22-24

Meet Santa. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at Union Street Public House, 121 S. Union St. Children get approximately five minutes to meet and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. A $20 fee reserves a time slot, professional photos with be available for purchase. Visit www.unionstreetpublichouse.com.

Thursday/Dec. 24

Water Skiing Santa. 1-2 p.m. at Old Town Alexandria Waterfront, between King and Oronoco streets. Attend a holiday-themed watersports show along the Potomac. Free. Visit www.waterskiingsanta.com.

Thursday/Dec. 31

First Night Alexandria. 2 p.m.-12 a.m. at venues throughout Old Town and Alexandria. This 21st annual New Year’s Eve celebration will feature more than 175 performances at 29 indoor venues, with live music, dancing, children's face painting and games. The afternoon’s Seventh Annual Fun Hunt is accompanied by all-new activities for families and pets. There’s an old fashioned carnival at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray. First Night’s fireworks finale returns with a spectacular display over the Potomac River at midnight. Tickets are $20 before Dec. 14, $30 after. Admission for children 12 and under, seniors, military, and volunteers are free. Visit www.firstnightalexandria.org.

Fine Arts

Through Jan. 3

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery: “Winter Wonderland.” Gallery hours at The Torpedo Factory Art Center–Studio 18, 105 N. Union St. Artists working in textile focus on “sparkle and shine, clean and white.” Free. Visit www.potomacfiberartsgallery.com.

Friday/Dec. 18

Holiday Wine Tasting. 7-9 p.m. at The Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. The Factory Society, the official young-professionals group of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, hosts an after-hours holiday wine tasting. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with resident artists in their studios and watch them work while meeting and networking with other young-professionals. Wines and light desserts will be paired with each studio along the tour. Tickets are $30. Visit www.torpedofactory.org/holidaywine.

Performing Arts

Through Dec. 27

“A Broadway Christmas Carol.” Various times at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St. Created by Kathy Feininger and directed by Michael Sharp, this MetroStage holiday tradition is a cross between the classic Dickens’ tale and Broadway parodies. Tickets are $50. Visit www.metrostage.org.

Thursday/Dec. 10-13

“A Stable Christmas.” Various times at First Baptist Church Alexandria, 2932 King St. Join the cast, chorus, and orchestra of First Baptist Church of Alexandria’s 2015 production of the Living Christmas Tree, “A Stable Christmas.” The production features traditional and contemporary holiday music, a 25-foot Christmas tree filled with 110+ singers and 50,000+ synchronized lights and the story of Jim and Dot, as they begin their lives together. Tickets are $7 each plus a $1 service charge per transaction. Visit www.fbcalexandria.org for more.

Sunday/Dec. 13

“Nutcracker in a Nutshell.” 1 p.m. at Nannie J. Lee Center–Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St. Metropolitan School of the Arts, of Alexandria and Lorton, presents a 30-minute Nutcracker performance for younger audiences, who are looking for an abbreviated version of the classic Nutcracker. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for ages 9 and younger. Visit www.metropolitanarts.org.

Live Music

Saturday/Dec. 12

Chanukah Concert. 7 p.m. at Congregation Etz Hayim, 2920 Arlington Blvd., Arlington. Ein Lanu Z'man is the official band of Agudas Achim Congregation, located in Alexandria. Ein Lanu Z'man's music comes from the Jewish tradition, with a diverse repertoire that features folk, classical, and rock influences, among others. Tickets are $15 in advance for adults, $18 at the door, $10 for students, and $5 for preschool-aged children. Visit www.focusmusic.org for more.

Sunday/Dec. 13

Music in the Gallery: The Mount Vernon Flutes. 2 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. The Mount Vernon Flutes perform holiday classics. Free. Visit www.nvfaa.org.

Colonial Handbell Ringers. 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Lyceum–Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington St. The Colonial English Handbell Ringers features performers from across the Maryland/D.C./Virginia area clad in colonial attire, bringing a five-octave set of nearly 80 handbells from the world-famous Whitechapel foundry in London. Free. Visit www.alexandriahistory.org for more.

Holiday Shopping

Through Dec. 20

Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market. Various times at Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Del Ray’s annual Holiday Market offers handmade fine arts and crafts from local artists (including pottery/ceramics, photography, jewelry, fiber, paper crafts and glass). Find different artists each weekend. Free to attend. Visit www.thedelrayartisans.org/holidaymarket.

Through Dec. 23

Alexandria’s Holiday Market. Various Times at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St. Visitors can enjoy live entertainment, traditional European food and sweets, wine and beer, while shopping for arts and crafts. Free. Visit www.alexandriaholidaymarket.com.

Food & Drink

Thursday/Dec. 10

All That Glows. 7 p.m. at Woodlawn, 9000 Richmond Highway. The Woodlawn Council invites the public to a holiday open house with a “reimagined” 19th century menu. Tickets are $200. Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/all-that-glows-tickets-19335619358.

Sunday/Dec. 13

Cookie & Beer Tasting. 1-6 p.m. at Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave. Herndon’s Noshy cookie company pairs up with Port City beer. Tours are $10. Visit www.portcitybrewing.com for more.

Friday/Dec. 18

Holiday Wine Tasting. 7-9 p.m. at The Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. The Factory Society, the official young-professionals group of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, hosts an after-hours holiday wine tasting. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with resident artists in their studios and watch them work while meeting and networking with other young-professionals. Wines and light desserts will be paired with each studio along the tour. Tickets are $30. Visit www.torpedofactory.org/holidaywine.

Saturday/Dec. 19

”Downton Abbey Christmas Tea.” 1 p.m. at The Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St. Discuss what may happen in the show’s final season over a traditional tea. Take a private tour of the house showing the connections between the people and places of Downton Abbey and those of the Lee-Fendall House. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit www.leefendallhouse.org for more.