The Alexandria Brief: Wednesday, December 24
Your daily guide to news and events in Alexandria
Good morning, Alexandria. Today is Wednesday, December 24, the 358th day of the year. There are 7 days left in 2025.
As we celebrate Christmas, thank you for welcoming The Alexandria Brief into your inbox since our launch in November. Your readership, feedback, and support mean everything as I work to keep you informed about the community we call home.
Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and peaceful holiday.
~ Ryan
1️⃣ Waterskiing Santa, ice skating highlight Christmas Eve in Alexandria
City offices are closed and schools are on winter break, but there’s still plenty to do in Alexandria on Christmas Eve. The day’s main attraction is the Waterskiing Santa Show at 1 p.m. at Barca Pier. Ice skating is available at Cameron Run Regional Park, with daytime skating starting at noon and the Ice & Lights: Village & Skating event opening at 5 p.m.
For those seeking evening entertainment, live music options include Kingpin at 219 Restaurant at 9 p.m., Colby Sard at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub at 8:30 p.m., and Pete Chauvette at Laporta’s Restaurant at 6 p.m. Trivia nights are scheduled at Hops N Shine at 6:30 p.m. and The Light Horse at 7 p.m.
Expect sunny skies with a high near 53 and northwest winds gusting up to 23 mph. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 36.
2️⃣ What’s open, what’s closed in Alexandria
City government offices will close for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and again for New Year’s Day, according to a holiday schedule released Tuesday.
The closures affect courts, libraries, health facilities, recreation centers, and most other municipal facilities.
Residential refuse, recycling, curbside food waste, and yard waste will not be collected on Thursday, December 25. All services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Thursday refuse, recycling, yard waste, and curbside food waste collection will be on Friday, December 26.
Friday curbside food waste collection will be on Saturday, December 27.
3️⃣ Free parking during the Holidays in Alexandria
The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces and residential permit parking districts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Parking meter payments will not be required during the suspension, though meters will remain active and accept payment if made.
The suspension applies only to legal parking spaces. All other parking rules remain in effect, including temporary no-parking zones, fire lanes, crosswalks and loading zones.
4️⃣ Police seek the public’s help in finding a missing 43-year-old man
Alexandria police are asking for help locating Terrill Jeffries, 43, who has been missing since Saturday. He was last seen at the Canterbury Square Apartments and has a medical condition that may leave him uncommunicative, according to police.
Jeffries is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black or brown fleece-style jacket, black sweatpants and black off-brand sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact the Alexandria Police Department at 703-746-4444.
5️⃣ First Night Alexandria celebrates 31 years with $10 tickets, twin fireworks shows
First Night Alexandria, the city’s signature New Year’s Eve festival, returns Dec. 31 with more than 12 hours of live entertainment, family activities, and two fireworks shows over the Potomac River.
Now in its 31st year, the alcohol-free, family-friendly event transforms Old Town and the Carlyle neighborhood into a walkable celebration featuring more than 20 acts across 12 stages, all within a one-mile radius.
Extra Extra!
Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday announced two additional cabinet appointments, tapping longtime Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of finance and public administrator Traci Deshazor as her secretary of administration, rounding out key leadership roles as she prepares to take office. (Virginia Mercury)
In the years after the Civil War, Washington became a junction between northern and southern railroads (Greater Greater Washington)