Bagpipes reverberate through streets decked in holiday finery, the pitter-patter of terriers in plaid close behind. Crowds in clan tartans and crests swell around you, and for a moment, Alexandria feels uncannily like Edinburgh.
Allison O’Keefe, communications manager at Visit Alexandria, recalls her first Scottish Christmas Walk: “I felt instantly transported into a Hallmark Christmas movie.”
It’s easy to see why—the music, the community, the parade of tail-wagging pups from various local nonprofit groups who soak up the attention. The Walk kicks off Alexandria’s holiday season, ushering in lighted boat parades, Christmas markets, and Santa visits.
At the heart of it all are those marching themselves: bagpipers and drummers from groups like the Kiltie Band of York and the City of Alexandria Pipes & Drums, lugging their pipes, oversized bass drums, and sonorous snares. Their skirls, rolls, and barks (yes, real bagpipe terms) link today’s revelry to the Scottish merchants who founded the city, including namesake, John Alexander.
“My favorite part of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is the joyful, festive feeling that fills the city,” O’Keefe says. “Since that first visit, the event has become a tradition I eagerly anticipate.”
This year’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is Dec. 6. More at VisitAlexandria.com.
Featured photo by Joy Asico. This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue.
