Did you know that one of Alexandria City’s signature events was established to benefit the needs of low income mothers and children in the City of Alexandria? Since 1969, the Campagna Center, along with the Saint Andrew’s Society, The Scottish Government, and the City of Alexandria have sponsored the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend and parade. We too are proud sponsors of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend! The proceeds from the weekend’s events benefit six educational programs for children of all ages, including early childhood education, before and after school programs, community learning center for middle schools and a building better futures program for at risk high school students. These programs have provide stability for over 2,000 children and families in our City.
The Campagna Center was originally founded in 1945 as a branch of the YWCA. It was in the forefront of the civil rights movement in the 1950’s and started one of the first Head Start programs in the nation in the 1960’s. In order to focus more completely on the local needs of the community, the independent Alexandria Community Y was spun off in the 1970’s. It secured their own building in the 1980’s at 418 S. Washington Street. In the 1990’s, the name was changed to honor the director of the Center, Elizabeth Anne Campagna. We now know it as the Campagna Center.
We are proud to be the presenting sponsors of the Taste of Scotland which is Friday night the before the walk. We love this event, which features friends, food and drink, most notably a Scotch tasting menu, with offerings direct from Scotland’s distilleries. The walk itself kicks off at Saturday morning at 11 at St. Asaph and Wolfe Streets and ends in Market Square. Other events include the Heathers and Greens sale for fresh wreaths, garlands, and heather bundles to outfit any home or office for the holidays. Allison has chaired this event twice, so it is near and dear to our hearts! The Holiday Homes Tour is another favorite event, in which we get to peek at some of Old Town’s finest homes decked out for the holidays by well known local interior designers and florists. The local kids love Deck the Halls with Santa at St. Paul’s Church, where they can visit the big man himself and also enjoy holiday crafts and music.
Visit The Campagna Center website to buy tickets, order greens, donate to this fine organization, or volunteer your time. I love Alexandria and who doesn’t love a parade?
