Special Announcements

---

• The 2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, Decemebr 3, 2009, at 5:00 p.m., on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. This year, the event has introduced a new lottery system for the general public.

• The new online lottery was available November 4th to November 6th, by going to www.thenationaltree.org . The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony marks the opening of the four-week event sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of America’s National Parks.

  The lottery at www.thenationaltree.org distributed 2,800 ticketed seats and 7,000 standing room tickets.

  The tickets are free and may not be sold.
  

   

• President’s Park accepted National Christmas Tree Evening Music Program applications between Tuesday, September 1 , 2009 and Friday, September 18, 2009. The evening schedule will be posted soon.

---

---

The annual National Christmas Tree Program takes place each year from early December through January 1, on the Ellipse south of the White House grounds.

• Lighting of the National Christmas Tree Ceremony
  
  
• National Christmas Tree Program Activities
  
  
• National Christmas Tree Nightly Performances

---

Lighting of the National Christmas Tree Ceremony

The tree lighting ceremony begins each year’s National Christmas Tree Program. Nationally known entertainers and a military band add to the celebratory evening in which the President brings a message of peace to the nation and the world. The culmination of the evening is the illumination of the National Christmas Tree.

---

National Christmas Tree Program Activities

Seasonal displays include a Yule log and a large-scale model train. For the 15th consecutive year, the National Christmas Tree Railroad will provide model trains that surround the base of the National Christmas Tree. The trains will run from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily through January 1st.

For the second time this year, the seasonal displays will include a Santa’s Workshop sponsored by UL. The Workshop will be open at select times for children to visit with Santa.

In what becomes the "Christmas Pathway of Peace," the National Christmas Tree and 56 smaller trees--one for each state, five territories and the District of Columbia--serve as the event focal point. All 57 trees will be lit each evening at dusk until 11:00 p.m. and will be lit each night through January 1st. Sponsoring organizations in each state provide the tree decorations and each decoration is encased in a protective plastic globe to shield it from the weather.

---

National Christmas Tree Nightly Performances

Musical entertainment, featuring musical performances by volunteer choirs, bands and dancers, will be held nightly on the Ellipse stage during the month of December.

To print out this year's schedule: TBA

Weeknight performances will be performed between 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekend performances will be performed between 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

It's free, no tickets required!

Applications for the 2009 evening music program were accepted from Tuesday, September 1 until Friday, September 18.  2009.  The evening schedule for activities will be published soon.