Del Ray Tree Lighting Set for Friday

The Del Ray Business Association is hosting its annual holiday tree lighting and luminaries at 6 p.m. Friday at the farmers market lot at the corner of Mount Vernon and E. Oxford avenues.

Residents and visitors are invited to join the Kate Moran Band in holiday carols, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate from Buzz Bakery and Evening Star Cafe and await a visit from Santa Claus himself.

Children will be able to have their photo taken with Mr. Claus once the big man arrives.

Organizers are also reaching out for donations to Carpenter’s Shelter, an Alexandria nonprofit that aims to end homelessness through services, education and advocacy. There will be drop-off boxes at the tree lighting for specific items of need, including canned goods, disposable diapers, new twin sheets, towels and wash cloths as well as deodorant and razors.

Businesses along Mount Vernon Avenue will be open late on Friday for the influx of shoppers and the entire Avenue will be lit with luminaries. Businesses will offer free “spirits” for customers that evening.

For a second straight year, the tree is offered as a donation from Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn of Pork Barrel BBQ and Holy Cow restaurants.

The 200 block of E. Oxford Avenue will be closed to traffic on Friday night during the festivities. 

DRBA officer Gayle Reuter is seeking volunteers to help assemble more than 2,000 luminaries at 2 p.m., light them at 5 p.m. and extinguish them at 10 p.m. The lights set up each year in honor Nancy Dunning, a popular neighborhood realtor who was murdered in December 2003. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office will be assisting with the luminaries.

If interested in lending a hand, email Reuter at delraydrba@yahoo.com.