Lottery for tickets to National Christmas Tree lighting opens Friday
If you have your heart set on traveling to Washington to watch President Obama flip the switch on the National Christmas Tree, you’ll need tickets, even if you want to stand. The lottery for 17,000 free tickets to the Dec. 4 lighting starts Friday.
Don’t confuse this tree with the indoor White House Christmas tree; the U.S. Capitol’s Christmas tree, which comes from a national forest and is transported many miles; or the nation’s Christmas Tree, known to many as the General Grant Tree in Sequoia National Park.
The Dec. 4 tree-lighting has been a presidential tradition since 1923, though the actual tree has changed over time. The tall Colorado blue spruce on the Ellipse near the White House makes its official 2014 holiday debut with decorations that include thousands of LED lights and ornaments.
The same species was planted in 1978 after previous trees failed to thrive, the event’s website says. It flourished until 2011 when a powerful storm with high winds blew it over. A replacement lasted a year, prompting the National Park Service to plant yet another blue spruce last year.
New blue spruce tree in place, the president and his family will be joined by performers (Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin appeared last year) though no names have yet been announced.
The lottery starts at 7 a.m. PDT Friday and ends at 7 a.m. Monday. Enter by clicking “ticket lottery” online (it won’t be live until Friday) or by calling (877) 444-6777. Three thousand seat tickets and 14,000 standing room tickets will be given away. Winners will be notified by email starting Nov. 3.
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