Alexandria: 24th Annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights and Fireworks at National Harbor!

For the past 24 years, Alexandria has kicked off a festive Holiday season with the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. WPS will visit historic Jones Point Park, south of  Old Town on the afternoon of December 7 to photograph the fireworks across the Potomac River at National Harbor, and then turn our attention to the boats brilliantly decorated for the holidays as they make their way down the Potomac River toward the Wilson Bridge.

Jones Point Park is the perfect location to photograph both events, since you can go to the south side of the Wilson Bridge and capture the fireworks directly across the Potomac River at National Harbor, complete with reflections in the water, and then walk back up the Mount Vernon Trail – along the Potomac – to the north side of the Wilson Bridge to photograph the boat parade before it turns around at the Wilson Bridge. It’s a win-win!

The fireworks at National Harbor start at 5:30, and shortly after they end, we’ll start seeing the first boats as they make their way toward the Wilson Bridge turn-around.

First, we’ll work on settings to capture multiple bursts of fireworks, and after the fireworks finish, we’ll take a short walk north on the Mount Vernon Trail for a better vantage point for photographing the boats where we will work on the best settings for photographing the moving decorated boats and experiment with freezing motion as well as panning to create motion in our images. There may be time after the Parade of Lights for additional night photography if safarians wish.

While the safari will start later in the afternoon, you might want to come to Alexandria earlier in the day to photograph 51st Annual Campagna Center Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, which is at 11 am, with dozens of Scottish Clans dressed in colorful tartans, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, in addition to terriers and hounds. It promises to be a morning filled with “photographic opportunities”!

What equipment do you need?

Your favorite lens – if you have one, a versatile zoom would be best; tripods are optional (if you bring a tripod, don’t forget the remote release!)

Here is what one client had to say about the safari: “Lots of patience for a beginner. The instructor took time to explain the basics for me and provide more stylistic advice to those more experienced in my group. I would do another tour in a heartbeat.” Devin T.

Photos courtesy of Sherryl Belinsky