Musical Performers Announced for 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting

Date: November 13, 2012

Washington, DC - Today, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced that 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 will perform at the 90th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting. Additional performers and special guests for the event will be announced shortly.  

The 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 6 on the Ellipse at President's Park in Washington, DC. The ceremony will kick off the holiday season in our nation's capital and can be viewed online LIVE at www.thenationaltree.org beginning at 4:30 pm ET with the exclusive National Christmas Tree Lighting pre-show. The event also can be seen on public television throughout the month of December. Broadcast times can be found by checking local listings or by visiting www.thenationaltree.org.  

The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is the first event in a four-week holiday celebration in President's Park presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, and produced by Bounce. This year's ceremony marks the 90th National Christmas Tree Lighting, an American holiday tradition started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923. More information about  the 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting can be found at  www.thenationaltree.org.  

The premier sponsor of this year's National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global safety organization. Now in its fourth year, UL's premier sponsorship of the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is part of its national safety campaign to educate consumers on how they can make their homes safer during the holidays. More information can be found at www.SafetyAtHome.com. Oher event supporters include GE Lighting, Amtrak, Guest Services Inc., Hargrove Inc., Hudler Carolina Tree Farms, United Airlines,and the Willard InterContinental Washington, DC. 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System and its 398 National Park sites for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service works with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. For more information, visit www.nps.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
You are the owner of 84 million acres of the world's most treasured memorials, landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites -- all protected in America's nearly 400 national parks. Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks. We work hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. Join us in supporting your national parks -- this is your land. www.nationalparks.org.