An annual Shirlington holiday tradition is fast-approaching with festive music and family-friendly activities.
The Village at Shirlington’s annual tree lighting celebration begins at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 5. The event includes horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, face painting, a makers market and live holiday tunes.
Signature Theatre will start the celebration with a musical performance before the tree is lit at 6:30 p.m. Carriage rides begin shortly after, and photos with Santa run from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hardwood Artisans, 2800 S. Randolph Street. Students from Bishop O’Connell High School will also perform some holiday music.
As the celebration continues, the village’s “sip and stroll” policy will allow guests to purchase and carry alcoholic beverages outdoors.
Attendees who RSVP will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $150 gift card to a Village business of their choosing — from AMC to Taco Bamba.
In the spirit of giving, attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or monetary donation for the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Additionally, shoppers at Dogma Bakery & Boutique can purchase discounted pet food during the event to be sent to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Setup for the event begins around noon Thursday, leading to some nearby road closures throughout the day and night.
More information on these closures is available from an Arlington County Police Department release, below.
The annual Light Up the Village at Shirlington will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Set-up for the event will begin at approximately 12:00 p.m. and clean-up is expected to be completed by 9:00 p.m.
The Arlington County Police Department will conduct the following road closures to accommodate the event:
From 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.:
- Campbell Avenue, from Harris Teeter to S. Randolph Street
Beginning at 3:30 p.m.:
- Campbell Avenue, from S. Arlington Mill Drive to S. Quincy Street
- S. Randolph Street, from S. Arlington Mill Drive to the alley behind the businesses on the South side of Campbell Avenue
Additionally, vehicles will not be allowed to enter or exit the Harris Teeter parking structure on Campbell Avenue after 3:30 p.m. Harris Teeter customers can access the parking garage via the alternative entrance behind the store.
Traffic is expected to be impacted in and around the immediate area and motorists are reminded to anticipate extended travel times and seek alternate routes to reduce road congestion. Attendees are also encouraged to utilize multimodal forms of transportation, as street parking around the event will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed, please use the online portal to find out the status of your vehicle and where it is located. The online portal is updated in real time. If you cannot locate your vehicle or need additional support using the online portal, call the County non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.
