National Christmas Tree Lighting
- When:
-
December 3 : 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Program starts at 5 p.m., and the tree is lit at 6 p.m.
Daily (December 3 through January 1) The tree is open to the public and lit from dusk until 11 p.m.
- Price:
- Free
- Event Phone Number:
- 877-444-6777
- The Ellipse, South of the White House
- 15th and Constitution Ave.
- Washington, DC
Celebrate the lighting of the National Christmas Tree with celebrities, President Obama, the United States Marine Corps Band and a few thousand of your closest friends. While the exact list of performers has yet to be announced, we do know how you can get tickets for the District's biggest holiday event!
Starting on Wednesday November 4, log on to http://www.recreation.gov and enter their lottery for tickets. The lottery will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday November 6. (You can also call 877-444-6777) Everyone who puts their name in will be elligible to win one of 2,800 ticketed seats and 7,000 standing room tickets. If you've won, you'll be notified by email.
If you do manage to score a ticket, make sure to get there when doors open at 3:30 p.m. on December 3 to secure your seat. If you don't have tickets, you can take a chance waiting for the inevitable empty seats to be filled!
And don't forget, even if you miss the ceremony, you can always stop by any time in December to check out the tree. It will be lit up from dusk until 11 p.m. every night until January 1, 2010.
Getting There
- Parking:
- Nearby, Paid Lot, and Street Parking Difficult
- Public Transportation:
- Federal Triangle Metro station
The Basics
- Holiday:
- Christmas
Features
- Atmosphere and Personality:
- Area Classic and Tourist Spot
