Hundreds turned out Dec. 8 for the lighting of the Del Ray Christmas Tree in Pat Miller Neighborhood Square.

Mayor Justin Wilson and Santa joined together to count down to the lighting of the 32-foot-tall tree. They were joined by Mayor-elect Alyia Gaskins and members of City Council.

The festivities included holiday carols and photos with Santa. Windows along Mount Vernon Avenue were hand-painted with holiday art, and Mount Vernon Avenue was illuminated by thousands of luminarias in honor of the late Nancy Dunning. Dunning, wife of then-Sheriff Jim Dunning, was an active member of the Del Ray community and conceived of the idea of luminarias along the Avenue but died before seeing her idea come to life.

Performances by the Del Ray Youth String Ensemble and the Alexandria Children’s Chorus were part of the evening’s entertainment along with a community sing-a-long.

The event also served as a fundraiser for Carpenter’s Shelter as attendees were encouraged to bring donations of various goods for the facility. Participants also brought new, unwrapped toys for the Alexandria Sheriff’s department Operation Elf.

A menorah in the square will be lit during the days of Hanukkah, which runs Dec. 25, 2024 - Jan. 2, 2025.

The Christmas tree lighting is one of the signature events sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association.

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