The holiday season has arrived across the country, and one of its biggest highlights is the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.. On December 4, the annual lighting ceremony took place at President’s Park. The complete event will be broadcast by Great American Family on December 5, and the site will open to visitors on December 6.
National Christmas Tree Lighting: A Century-Old Tradition Continues to Shine
Washington D.C. lit up last night as the century-old tradition continued. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony remains a cherished event, symbolizing unity, celebration, and the spirit of the nation.
President Calvin Coolidge started the tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree in 1923. Over a century ago, he lit up a 48-foot fir tree, decorated with 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. The ceremony was hosted with an aim to bring people close together and spread the feeling of hope and peace. The event was created to bring people together, a sentiment that continues to define the tradition today.
In 2007, GE, the designer, producer, and donor of the lighting and decorations of the National Christmas Tree, switched to LED lighting.
This year’s National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, led by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, sparkled with more than 63,000 LED lights.
During the ceremony, Alana Springsteen, Jillian Cardarelli, Jon Pardi, Matthew West, The Beach Boys, and several other prominent celebrities performed.
State Ornaments Representing the American SpiritÂ
Every year, the National Christmas Tree is decorated with special one-of-a-kind ornaments from each state, territory, and the District of Columbia created by students. The ornament represents the history, culture, and traditions of their respective region.
The Great American Family will air the whole ceremony on Friday, December 5, and it will also be available to stream on Great American Pure Flix until January 31, 2026.
After the lighting ceremony, visitors can enjoy the display from December 6 through January 1. The lights of the tree are turned on from sunset until 10:00 pm on weekdays and until 11:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
As the lights of the National Christmas Tree glow brightly, it continues to draw visitors with its festive atmosphere.
