News Release

Visit the National Christmas Tree this holiday season

Volunteers decorate Christmas trees in front of the White House for the 2022 National Christmas Tree Lighting.

NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

News Release Date: December 4, 2023

Contact: Chelsea Sullivan, 202-297-2659

WASHINGTON— Celebrate the holidays with a nightly lighting of the National Christmas Tree and take a stroll to see the America Celebrates display on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park. The National Christmas Tree and surrounding state and territory trees are open to visitors through Jan. 1, 2024. Visiting is free and no tickets are required. 

The National Christmas Tree display is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 1, 2024. The trees are lit daily around sunset.  

The America Celebrates display features 58 small trees decorated with one-of-a-kind ornaments made by students. The trees represent states, territories, and Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. From state flowers to landmarks, American students have designed one-of-a-kind ornaments to celebrate the places they call home.  
 

The America Celebrates ornament program is a collaboration of the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Park Foundation (NPF), which funds the program. More than 300 NPS volunteers help decorate the small trees. 
 

First lit in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge, the National Christmas Tree continues to inspire people to enjoy cherished traditions and memories made with family and friends in national parks during the holiday season. Learn more about the history of the National Christmas Tree Lighting. 

58 schools designed ornaments for the America Celebrates display:  

Location	School Name
Alabama	Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
Alaska	IDEA Homeschool
American Samoa	Lupelele Elementary School
Arizona	Nogales High School
Arkansas	Little Rock West High School of Innovation
California	Nueva Vista Language Academy
Colorado	Merino Schools
Connecticut	Andover Elementary School
Delaware	Laurel Middle School
District of Columbia	Eastern High School
Florida	Tohopekaliga High School
Georgia	Heritage High School (Rockdale County Public School)
Guam	Academy of Our Lady of Guam
Hawaii	James Campbell High School
Idaho	Idaho Arts Charter School
Illinois	Betty Shabazz International Charter School
Indiana	Brown County High School
Iowa	Eagle Grove Elementary
Kansas	Leawood Middle School
Kentucky	Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School
Louisiana	Harry Hurst Middle School
Maine	Bangor High School
Maryland	Manchester Valley High School
Massachusetts	All Saints Academy
Michigan	Hanover-Horton Elementary School
Minnesota	Clover Ridge Elementary School
Mississippi	Ida B. Wells Academic & Performing Arts Complex
Missouri	Nixa Public School
Montana	Arlee High School
Nebraska	Bennington South Middle School
Nevada	Garside Junior High School
New Hampshire	Arts Academy of New Hampshire
New Jersey	Delaware Township School
New Mexico	New Mexico School for the Arts
New York	Marlboro High School
North Carolina	Greene Central High School
North Dakota	Kindred Public School District
Norther Mariana Islands	Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System
Ohio	Shawnee Local Schools
Oklahoma	Jenks Middle School
Oregon	Oregon School for the Deaf
Pennsylvania	Kutztown Area High School
Puerto Rico	Escuela Dr. Francisco Hernández y Gaetán
Rhode Island	Mary E. Fogarty Elementary
South Carolina	Saluda High School
South Dakota	Tri-Valley High School
Tennessee	West Middle School
Texas	Caldwell High School
Utah	Union High School
Vermont	Colchester High School
Virgin Islands	St. Croix Educational Complex High School
Virginia	Appomattox Regional Governor's School
Washington	Tukes Valley Middle School
West Virginia	Robert L. Bland Middle School
Wisconsin	Highland Community Schools
Wyoming	Beitel Elementary School
Bureau of Indian Education	Pine Springs Day School (Arizona)  Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School (South Dakota)  Lac Court Orielles Ojibwe School (Wisconsin)
Department of Defense Education Activity	Brussels Elementary/High School (Belgium)  Bechtel Elementary School (Japan)  Fort Campbell High School (Kentucky)

###