It rained. It snowed. They drank Scotch

Sen. John W. Warner of Alexandria (with wife Jeanne Warner in background) braves the elements Saturday while pulling duty as Honorary Grand Marshal of the 39th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk in Old Town.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - With a hearty appetite for bad weather and good Scotch that might have made even the stoutest Scotsman blush, Alexandria kicked off its 39th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend with its "Taste of Scotland" Friday evening at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.
 

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Left to right: Event co-chairs Nicole Duncan, Anna Kucera and Adrienne Fox Luscombe at the Taste of Scotland.

Given the rainy/snowy/sleetish/bitterly cold weather, The Taste of Scotland was one of the weekend's pure delights, perhaps given the fact that it was held indoors, out of the elements.
 
The event featured bagpipers, carolers and guests from Alexandria's sister city of Dundee, Scotland attired in traditional Scottish kilts and clothing, bottomless hors d’ oeuvres and fine Scotches from the finest of Scotland's distilleries -- not to mention the ever-charming Christmas vendors which even the men in kilts perused.
 
There was nearly every varietal of liqour and Scotch known to English-speaking man:   Cragganmore, Dewar’s White Label, Drambuie,  Hendrick’s Gin and for the most discerning Scotch drinker, the old standby, Glenlivet of the 12 year, 15 year, 16 year and 18 year vintages.
 
Over 350 volunteers made the annual event such a festive occasion and success, said Campagna Center President and CEO Karen Hughes.
 
Adrienne Fox Luscombe recognized the weekend’s co-chairs, Nicole Duncan and Anna Kucera, for their exceptional effort.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Coldwell Banker's Donnan Wintermute of Old Town, a principal sponsor of the 39th annual Scottish Walk Weekend.

General Admission tickets went for $100 and patron tickets for $150 per person and $250 per couple, helping the Campagna Center continue to serve more than 1,500 children and families daily. Attendees dressed festively for the occasion, with one attendee sporting the most charming nutcracker earrings for the occasion.
 
A few of the event’s supporters included the Alexandria Choral Society, Bread and Chocolate, DC Rental, Firehook Bakery, Mango Mike’s, Saint Andrew’s Society Pipe Band, Maker's Mark and Southern Wine and Spirits.

For me, after 12 years of living in Alexandria, there's nothing more intoxicating than waking up on a Saturday morning to a parade in Old Town.

Bundling up my kid and dressing him up in his 7T-sized kilt, mittens and hat, in anticipation of seeing the piping bagpipers, wailing fire engines and parading public officials:

This town, you have to love it.

The Scottish Walk sets the holiday season off to a brisk pace with the annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, hosted by the Campagna Center and the Saint Andrew’s Society of Washington.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Mason George Washington presides over a room full of Scotch drinkers Friday night.

The Walk has grown from a small and informal parade 39 years ago to a full weekend of raucous revelry and festivities for all demographics and age groups.

Each first Saturday in December, the Historic District bustles with tens of thousands of people, all here to take in the Scottish military regiments, highlanders, school bands, citizen groups and associations, Scottish clan societies, floats filled with volunteers and children, the Lord Provost of Dundee (Alexandria's Scottish sister city), and local and regional political leaders, who ride in vintage cars loaned by antique car club members.

The Walk celebrates the unique Scottish heritage of the City of Alexandria, and has become such a winner that it is ranked by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the top 20 events in the South.

Scottish Walk is not a fundraiser, but more a celebration of the season. The dedicated staff at the Campagna has worked hard to make it a fun winter festival.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Erin Dwyer, owner of the "Murphy and Me" boutique sports the latest in Holiday couture.

But there is a serious side.

For over 50 years, The Campagna Center has provided safe havens for families in Alexandria. It is a not-for-profit human services organization serving children and families in need.

Among other things, the Center supports the full life-cycle of the family: providing pre-school care for low-income families through Alexandria Head Start; day-care for primary grade students through Campagna Kids; tutoring assistance through Wright to Read and meaningful volunteer opportunities for seniors to enhance their later years through RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program).

There is little doubt that Campagna Kids, Head Start, Early Head Start, Wright to Read, the 21st Century Community Learning Center all make Alexandria a better place for the less privileged.

Alexandria could be just another white-bread suburb, with bumper-to-bumper SUV's and mighty McMansions.

It is not. This town has a soul and one of the vital pieces of that soul is The Campagna Center.

Email the writer at jarundel@localkicks.com.
 
To View a SLIDE SHOW of Friday night's Taste of Scotland, Click Here:

Steve Hunt and Marlene Miller of The Mount Vernon Voice.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks John Vickers-Smith of Maker's Mark

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Michael C. Clements, Executive Editor of Washington Life magazine, a Media Sponsor of Scottish Walk Weekend.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Alexandria Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tina Leone.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks The Campagna Center's Karen Hughes and supporter Mary Sterling of Old Town.

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Cassie McLaughlin, Lonnie Rich and Shawn McLaughlin.