If fighting horrific traffic and crowds to see the National Christmas Tree Lighting tonight in D.C. isn’t your thing, there’s an Arlington alternative to consider.
The Village at Shirlington will be hosting its annual Light Up the Village event tonight, from 6-8:30 p.m. along Campbell Avenue.
The event will feature a tree lighting hosted by NBC 4’s Adam Tuss. Also on the agenda: “holiday musical performances by Signature Theatre and Bishop O’Connell High School, plus horse and carriage rides with a donation to Arlington Food Assistance Center, photos with Santa, merchant specials, and so much more.”
The schedule is as follows:
- 6 p.m. — Musical performance by Signature Theatre’s cast of Motown Christmas
- 6:30 p.m. — Tree lighting hosted by Adam Tuss
- 6:40 p.m. — Horse and carriage rides
- 7 p.m. Photos with Santa (located inside Hardwood Artisans)
The event will also necessitate a number of road closures and parking restrictions. From Arlington County Police:
The annual Light Up the Village at Shirlington is being held on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM. Set up will begin at approximately 12:00 PM and cleanup should be completed by 9:00 PM.
The Arlington County Police Department will close the following roadways to all vehicular traffic to accommodate the event:
- Campbell Avenue, from the Harris Teeter to S. Randolph Street — closed beginning at 12 PM
- Campbell Avenue, from Arlington Mill Drive to S. Quincy Street — closed beginning at 4 PM
- S. Randolph Street, from Arlington Mill Drive to the alley behind the businesses on the south side of Campbell Avenue — closed beginning at 4 PM
Additionally, vehicles will not be allowed to enter or exit the covered Harris Teeter parking structure onto Campbell Ave after 4 PM. Harris Teeter customers can access the parking garage via the alternate entrance behind the store.
Traffic is expected to be impacted in and around the immediate area. Motorists are advised to allot extra travel time and seek alternate routes to reduce road congestion. Attendees are encouraged to utilize multimodal and public transportation options to reduce vehicular congestion.
Street parking in the area will be restricted and motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222.