James Taylor Added to 94th National Christmas Tree Lighting Talent Lineup

Date: October 6, 2016
Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles (NPS), 202-619-7177
Contact: Alanna Sobel (NPF), 202-796-2538
Contact: Pam Slay (Hallmark), 818-755-2480

WASHINGTON– James Taylor has been added to the lineup for the 94th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Find out who else has been announced so far at www.thenationaltree.org.
 
Taking place on Thursday, Dec. 1, on the Ellipse at President’s Park (White House), the special event wraps the National Park Service centennial year and celebrates the launch of a second century of stewardship. Through a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, the National Christmas Tree Lighting will be telecast exclusively on the Hallmark Channel on Monday, December 5, and simulcast on DirecTV 4K Ultra HD. *

Free tickets for the 94th annual tree lighting ceremony presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation are awarded through an online lottery, which opens tomorrow, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. EDT and closes at 10 a.m. EDTon Monday, Oct. 10. To enter the lottery, visit www.thenationaltree.org and click the “TICKET LOTTERY” link. Those without computer access may call 877-444-6777 (TDD 877-833-6777) to enter the lottery. Lottery winners will be notified on Oct. 27.
 
Dates to note:

• Tomorrow, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. EDT: Free ticket lottery opens 
• Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. EDT: Free ticket lottery closes 
• Oct. 27: lottery winners will be notified 
• Dec. 1: National Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on the Ellipse in President’s Park 
• Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET/PT: National Christmas Tree Lighting telecast exclusively on the Hallmark Channel and simulcast on DirecTV 4K Ultra HD 

 
An American holiday tradition started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923, the National Christmas Tree Lighting is a great example of the countless ways there are to #FindYourPark. Launched in March 2015, Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque is a public awareness and education movement to inspire people to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. Celebrating the National Park Service Centennial and setting the stage for the Service's next 100 years, Find Your Park invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation's natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. 
 
Keep up with the National Christmas Tree on Twitter at @TheNationalTree, follow #NCTL2016 on social media, and visitwww.thenationaltree.org for more information about the event and its history. 
 
Additional information, more talent announcements, and coverage logistics for news media will be released at a later date. 
 
*Please note that a previous release said it would be broadcast on December 2. The broadcast is now confirmed for December 5.