The sound of bagpipes filled the streets of Old Town as the annual Scottish Walk Parade celebrated its 53rd anniversary Dec. 7 to kick off the holiday season across the city.

“This is always the best day of the year in Alexandria,” said Mayor Justin Wilson, who served as parade Grand Marshal. “From morning until night we have nonstop events, the type of events that make this a great community.”

The parade and related Scottish Walk Weekend events benefit the Campagna Center, which has been serving

children and families in the city for 78 years.

Campagna Center CEO Tammy Mann, who announced that she will be stepping down next April, was emotional

as she spoke about her 13 years at the center.

“I am just grateful to be here today,” Mann said. “It’s been a tremendous honor to be able to serve in a community that is as special as Alexandria, and of course the Campagna Center, the people and the work. It’s hard to characterize what it has meant.”

Colin Meehan, dressed as Buddy the Elf, attended the parade with his family from Philadelphia.

“We come down from Philadelphia every year for the parade,” Meehan said. “This is our 18th year – it’s a tradition and we love it.”

Gary Langlands and Enne Cant, chair and vice chair of the Dundee-Alexandria Twinning Association, attended the parade from Dundee, Scotland.

“We are here to build relationships and understanding between the two cities,” Langlands said.  “We come just for the Scottish Walk and to meet people.”

Added Alexandrian Jimmie McClellan, “We’ve established a link now between their schools, Alexandria City public schools and Saint Stephen’s & Saint Agnes and  they will be doing collaborative educational activities together.”

Pipes and drums from the East coast joined Scottish clans, reenactment groups, Scottie dogs and classic cars.

Serving as the unofficial start of the holiday season, the Scottish Walk Weekend celebrates the Scottish heritage of Old Town Alexandria while benefiting Campagna Center programs that serve more than 2,000 children and families daily across the city.

Said Mann, “It’s bittersweet but the Campagna Center is in a great place and I can’t wait to see what it will accomplish in the years ahead.”

www.campagnacenter.org