News Release

2018 National Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities Continue At President’s Park

Finale of the 2018 National Christmas Tree Lighting at President's Park

NPS Photo/Rachel Hendrix

News Release Date: November 29, 2018

Contact: Katie Liming, 202-619-7156

Throughout the month of December, join friends and family on the Ellipse in President’s Park to enjoy musical entertainment and visit the 56 state and territory trees along the Pathway of Peace. All holiday activities are free and open to the public.

The park will host daily performances Dec. 5 through Dec. 22, and the National Christmas Tree will remain lit daily 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Follow @TheNationalTree and @PresParkNPS on Twitter or visit www.thenationaltree.org for the most up-to-date information on the month-long holiday celebration in President’s Park, one of America’s 418 national parks. 

Musical Entertainment: Listen or sing along to holiday performances featuring jazz, choral music and dancers, starting Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m., and continuing through Saturday, Dec. 22. Visit www.nps.gov/whho for the daily schedule. The full performance schedule is attached and available online.

Pathway of Peace & State Trees: Fifty-six trees – one for every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia – surround the National Christmas Tree. The ornaments on each of the trees are a beautiful part of the holiday tradition in President’s Park. Fifty-six schools across the country created one-of-a-kind ornaments for the 2018 National Christmas Tree experience on the Ellipse. The ornaments are on display from November 29, 2017 through January 1, 2019 as part of the America Celebrates display. The Pathway of Peace is open 10 a.m.- until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through January 1. For safety while some areas of the set are broken down, some areas along the Pathway will not be open until Sunday, December 2. 

National Christmas Tree Railroad: For the 24th year, the model National Christmas Tree Railroad, always on time to deliver good cheer, will chug around the National Christmas Tree. Volunteers donate their time each year to assist in the construction and maintenance of the National Christmas Tree Railroad. The Pathway of Peace is open 10 a.m.- until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through January 1. For safety while some areas of the set are broken down, some areas along the Pathway will not be open until Sunday, December 2.