Celebrate the season at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28th with live musical performances and the official lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse at President’s Park. This year marks the 96th annual tree lighting, first celebrated in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge. The National Christmas Tree is a living Colorado blue spruce from Virginia, which can be seen year-round in President’s Park. In addition, 56 smaller trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree will feature one-of-a-kind ornaments, representing every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
This year, performers will include Abby Anderson, Anthony Kearns, Gabby Barrett, Matthew West, and more. There will also be a special performance by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, a group of nuns with beautiful singing arrangements as well as small chamber orchestra accompaniment tracks consisting of the Sisters themselves playing the various instruments.