There are two big Christmas tree lighting ceremonies in
Washington, D.C.
The oldest and most famous is held in President’s Park, behind
the White House.
The “National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” began in 1923
when then-President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse
to flip the switch on 2,500 electric red, green, and white light bulbs that lit
up a 48-foot fir tree. The president and his party were entertained by a local
choir and a Marine Band quartet.
These days, the ceremony is pure Hollywood. On Thursday,
November 30th, celebrities like Mickey Guyton, Dionne Warwick, Darren Cris, St. Vincent, and Joe Walsh will be entertaining the president and his family. There’s an annual lottery
for tickets if you want to attend, too. Unfortunately, the lottery ended November 8th. You can, however, watch it on TV. CBS will be broadcasting the event
on Sunday, December 15th. If you are visiting Washington, the tree (and all the little trees representing the 50 states) will be on display until New Year's day.
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