25th Annual Parade of Lights and Amidon Fundraiser on Saturday!

The 25th annual Parade of Lights will take place along the Southwest Waterfront on Saturday, starting at 5pm. The parade features boats decorated with lights which will make their way up the Potomac River from Old Town Alexandria towards the Washington Channel and the District Wharf. There will be other activities as well, including photos with Santa, a bonfire, gingerbread cookie making, and sailboat crafting. Although the current forecast high for Saturday is 48 degrees, event planners guarantee there will be snowfall. The event will end at 8pm and the location is 600 Water Street.

Also on Saturday, there will be a fundraiser at All About Burger for Amidon-Bowen Elementary, so you can grab a burger before or after the Parade of Lights for a good cause. Below is the flyer that must be presented to the cashier when ordering food so Amidon-Bowen receives the proceeds. 

Don’t forget about the Christmas tree giveaway on Saturday morning at the St. Matthew’s lot (3rd and M streets).

Parade of Lights This Saturday!

The annual Parade of Lights will return to the Southwest Waterfront this Saturday. This year, the event will be held at Water Street Park/Gangplank Park (600 Water Street) starting at 6pm. The annual event includes the lighting of the Southwest Christmas Tree, photos with Santa, a bonfire, s’mores making, and live jazz. Houseboats and other vessels will be decorated for the holidays and will parade along the Washington Channel between Old Town Alexandria and Southwest starting around 7pm with the winners announced at 7:45pm.

A Couple Quick Items: Parade of Lighted Boats, Buzzard Point Photo Tour

The annual Parade of Lighted Boats will take place on Saturday, December 7, from 6pm to 8pm at 7th Street Landing, co-produced by the Washington Waterfront Association and the Old Dominion Boat Club. Activities include live music by Nadine Rae and the All Stars; lighting of the Southwest Christmas Tree; photos with Santa; bonfire with s'mores and marshmallow roasting; hot chocolate and warm apple cinnamon cider; gingerbread cookie decoration; and the parade of boats. In order to register a boat in the holiday parade, visit this website. Boat registration ends on November 29. 

Capital Business has a photo tour of Buzzard Point around the area where a new DC United stadium is proposed.

Rendering courtesy of Gensler

20th Annual Parade of Lighted Boats - December 1

The 20th annual parade of lighted boats will be this Saturday at 7th Street Landing with festivities beginning at 5pm.  This year’s parade will start from the Alexandria waterfront and will make its way north to the Washington Channel. Events include the lighting of The Wharf Christmas Tree at 5:30pm, pictures with Santa, music from the Earl Wilson Quintet, and the lighted boat contest. In addition, there will be s’more-making and marshmallow roasting by the bonfire and holiday cookie decorating. “Snow” will fall during the event, although the forecast temperature is supposed to be in the mid-50s during the day on Saturday.  

Blessing of the Fleet This Weekend

The Port of Washington Yacht Club will be hosting the annual "Blessing of the Fleet" flotilla this weekend along the Washington Channel. From the press release:

For the last 36 years, the Washington Channel has been the focus of the annual “Blessing of the Fleet”. First organized by the Washington Waterfront Association, the Port of Washington Yacht Club took over the ceremony five years ago to enhance the tradition on Washington’s Southwest Waterfront. Today, nearly 100 boats participate in a parade that features individual boats passing by a reviewing stand and being blessed by clergy before then sailing or motoring back to their home ports. The ceremony features a flag‐raising event and live music. This year’s event is Saturday, May 14, 2011. Festivities will begin at 12:00 noon...Interested people are encouraged to view the flotilla as it comes up the Washington Channel toward the Blessing platform. Views are best from Hains Point and East Potomac Park (north side) and 7th Street Landing (7th & Water Streets, SW).

The Port of Washington Yacht Club is an organization comprised of liveaboard and recreational boaters, Washington, DC residents, and associates members from across the country, with its headquarters located along the Southwest Waterfront. Its mission is to promote clean river and boating safety initiatives along the Potomac River, its tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Parade of Lighted Boats

On Saturday, the holiday season gets underway in the neighborhood at 7th Street Landing with the tree lighting ceremony and Parade of Lighted Boats along the Washington Channel. The festivities get underway at 4pm and last until 7pm. Music will be provided by Strykers Pose, refreshments by District Doghouse (owned by the proprietors of Cantina Marina) and there will be complementary photos with Santa, so bring the kids!

Update: Included are a couple of photos from the event. The photo at the top of the post is the Christmas tree that was lit up in the middle of 7th Street Landing. One of the lighted boats in the parade passes by in the background. There was a large fire pit installed to help keep people warm as they enjoyed the festivities. Free smores were provided as well. In case you didn't get a chance to see the parade, throughout the holiday season, some boat owners will keep their lights on in the evenings.

Two Upcoming Events

- Parade of Lighted Boats: The Washington Waterfront Association invites all to attend the annual Parade of Lighted Boats in the Washington Channel on Saturday, December 6th, 4:00pm, Flotilla at 5:00pm. Come join Santa Claus as he lights the Christmas tree in the park between Channel Inn and Gangplank (The 600 block of Water Street SW). Enjoy refreshments, music and photos with Santa! Toys for Tots collection boxes are available from the waterfront businesses Note: Please bring brand new unwrapped items for toddlers through 17 year-olds.

Imagine it's night time and the boats are lit up...that's what the parade will look like on Saturday.

- ANC 6D meeting: The next meeting of ANC 6D will be held on Monday, December 8th at 7pm. The meeting is located at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church (600 M Street). Southwest-related issues include street closing for the Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers Race for Hope in May 2009, a thank you letter for lighting at the Arena Stage construction site, support for the SW Child and Family Services Walk-In Screening Clinic, and an update on the community benefits provided by the Corcoran.