Christmas at the White House: National Tree Lighting/ Pagent of Peace

Seeing the White House is an enriching experience but seeing the White House with the National Tree is just unbelievable! Come and see the National Tree lighting ceremony on December 4, 2008 at 5 pm. This event is also known as the Pageant of Peace. This will be the 85^th lighting ceremony. Festivities include traditional holiday music and a fusion of urban beats. This is a ticked event. There are 2,800 tickets that will be available on a first come first serve basis on November 1, 2008. There is no charge for the tickets and they are not for sale. You can get tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (15^th and E Streets NW).

Here is a time saving note; the line runs counter-clockwise around the Ellipse from the Visitor Pavilion at the northeastern part of the Ellipse. So if you're entering from Constitution Ave or 17th Street, walk clockwise to find the end of the line quicker. If you receive a pass, you are guaranteed to get tickets. Each person is allowed to get 4 tickets. This includes children so be sure to add them to your headcount! If you are not fortunate enough to get tickets, you can inquire with a Park Service employee to see if any standing room only tickets are being distributed and where you can get those. This means that you won't be seated during the festivities but at least this does mean you'll have a good spot to watch the ceremony from.

On the day of the event it is best if you take the metro because there isn't much parking available near the White House and with the volume of traffic public transportation might be the easiest. The Metro Center and Federal Triangle are the closest stations. Furthermore, don't forget that seating is general admission so make sure you arrive well before the gates open to get a good spot and be sure to check the weather and dress accordingly as the event is outside.

The tree stays lit and decorated until January 1^st and this is a popular tourist attraction during this time of year. The current tree that is decorated and lit is a Colorado Blue Spruce and is object of the Ellipse since 1978. With the focus on the tree, there are smaller trees that surround it representing the 50 states and US territories. Each tree is decorated with ornaments made by people from that state/territory. The tree also has model trains running around it.

This is a wonderful experience for adults and children alike, especially considering you will see the President giving a live speech. If you didn't get tickets for this year, I highly recommend putting this on your things to do and see list for next year- it is well worth it!

Happy Holidays!