So, your application to attend the 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony wasn’t picked in the special lottery. Don’t despair. When the tree is illuminated on Thursday, December 6th, on the Ellipse behind the White House, the time-honored tradition will be televised nationally on public TV and shown live online. Not a bad deal because traffic in Downtown will be hideous immediately after this event ends.
But let’s focus on the merriment. The Christmas Tree ceremony was started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923 and kicks off the holiday season with warm and fuzzy fanfare. It includes 56 smaller trees representing each state, the U.S. territories and D.C., thus creating a “Christmas Pathway of Peace.” Through Tuesday, January 1st, this pathway will be lit each evening at dusk until 10:00 p.m. Also catch Santa’s Workshop—the little ones will be able to get a photo with Santa—and the National Christmas Tree Railroad, model trains around the base of the National Christmas Tree. And don’t miss free nightly entertainment by regional artists.
Opening night entertainment will be spectacular as usual this year with a star-studded lineup, which will include singer James Taylor, multiple Grammy-award winner singer/songwriter/producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, two-time Grammy-award winner Colbie Caillat and American Idol Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips.
The ceremony will be streamed live at www.thenationaltree.org, beginning at 4:30 p.m. and carried on public TV. The Public Broadcasting Service stations also will air the nightly performances through December.
For more information on this event, visit www.thenationaltree.org.