The best holiday traditions aren’t always the ones you plan months in advance. Sometimes they’re a familiar face behind the counter, a hot sandwich after a cold morning outside, or a quick stop that lets you do something good for a neighbor while picking up dinner.
That’s what the season means to us at Rocklands. We’ve been serving wood-smoked Barbeque in the DMV since 1990, and our restaurants have become part of the routines that make these neighborhoods feel like home.
This winter, we’re celebrating the people who’ve kept us cooking, with anniversary gatherings, holiday giving, and plenty of reasons to come together over a meal.
Whether you’re hoping to visit our DC or Arlington anniversary celebrations, spend a Saturday at Alexandria’s Scottish Walk Holiday Parade or book our food truck for a winter gathering, here’s how you can spend some of the season with us.
Come Celebrate Our Anniversaries
Washington DC Location
Our original Glover Park restaurant turns 36 this year. John Snedden opened Rocklands on Wisconsin Avenue in 1990, and we’re still right there, smoking with wood and welcoming neighbors through the door.
On November 30 and December 1, we’re planning a two-day customer appreciation celebration at our DC restaurant. So make sure to stop by and see what’s happening.
Arlington Location
Arlington! On December 4, we’re celebrating our Washington Boulevard restaurant, which has been serving our Northern Virginia neighbors since 2007. Stop by and wish us a happy anniversary!
Find Us Around Alexandria’s Scottish Walk
Few mornings feel more like the holidays in Old Town Alexandria than the sound of bagpipes coming down the street. The 55th Annual Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade takes place Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11:00AM-3:00PM, with the parade running around 11:00AM-1:00PM Scottish clans, pipe and drum bands, dogs, and community groups will make their way through Old Town.
We hope to join the parade lineup in festive gear and share a few giveaways with the crowd. Wave if you spot us!
Afterward, if cold fingers and a morning on your feet have you thinking about lunch, come see us at our Alexandria restaurant at 25 S. Quaker Lane. We’re about a 10-minute drive from Old Town, with hot Barbeque sandwiches, hearty sides, and a seat waiting when you’re ready to warm up.
Bring Our Food Truck to Your Winter Gathering
A school fundraiser, neighborhood tree lighting, craft market, or family get-together feels a little more inviting when there’s a hot meal nearby. Our food trucks can serve events across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and we can talk through the menu that makes sense for your group.
Our truck favorites include chopped pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, creamy macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and other hearty sides. If you’re planning a holiday event and have seasonal dishes in mind we can offer smoked turkey or cornbread stuffing, along with some other holiday favorites. You can check our food truck schedule and rental information.
One Stop for Dinner and a Few Gifts
When your calendar is full, we’re all for an errand that does double duty. Stay for an anniversary lunch and pick up a gift for the person who puts sauce on everything. We have Rocklands Original Barbeque Sauce and rubs, plus gift cards for anyone who’d rather choose their own meal.
And on nights when shopping runs late and cooking sounds like one task too many, let us handle dinner. Order ahead for pickup, grab a family meal or your usual favorites, and take one thing off your list.
We’ll Save You a Seat
For more than three decades, you’ve made room for us in your lunches, family dinners, celebrations, and everyday stops. We don’t take that for granted.
Great Barbeque matters to us, but so does what happens around the table; old friends catching up, kids finding a new favorite side, and neighbors showing up for one another.
We hope to see you at an anniversary celebration, along the parade route, or bringing a donation through our doors this holiday season.
Keep an eye on our social channels for anniversary event posts and RSVP details, and join our email list for specials and event updates.
From all of us at Rocklands, thank you for making us part of your neighborhood traditions.
