News Release

National Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities Continue At President’s Park

Date: December 4, 2017
Contact: Shelby Galvin, 202-619-7186

WASHINGTON — 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. 6 through Dec. 21, and the National Christmas Tree will remain lit daily from dusk to midnight  Dec. 1 through Jan. 1.

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 417  national parks. 

Musical Entertainment: Listen or sing along to holiday performances featuring jazz, choral music and dancers, starting Wednesday, Dec. 6  at 5 p.m., and continuing through Thursday, Dec. 21. Visit www.nps.gov/whho for the daily schedule.

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. The handcrafted ornaments are created and donated by volunteer groups or individuals who are chosen to represent their state or territory. The ornaments are on display from December 1, 2017 through January 1, 2018 as part of the America Celebrates display.  

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 8 a.m.- midnight daily through January 1. For safety while some areas of the set are broken down, some areas along the Pathway will not be open until Monday December 4.

Please find the complete performance schedule on the National Christmas Tree Lighting page.