First Family to Light National Christmas Tree November 30 in President's Park
WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump accompanied by members of the first family will help ring in the holiday season by lighting the tree at the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting.
Lighting the National Christmas Tree is one of America’s oldest holiday traditions. The first lighting took place 95 years ago on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse. Since 1923, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition.
Kathie Lee Gifford and Dean Cain will host this year’s event accompanied by performances from Boys II Bow Ties, Craig Campbell, Jack Wagner, Mannheim Steamroller, The Beach Boys, three-time Emmy Award® winners The Texas Tenors, Us The Duo, Wynonna and the U.S. Navy Band led by Emmy nominated music director Steve Gibson.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Through a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, Hallmark Channel will broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting on Monday, December 4 at 7/6 p.m. CST. The event can also be viewed on the National Christmas Tree Lighting website, thenationaltree.org, starting Tuesday, December 5, 2017
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961. Visit us at: nps.gov, on Facebook: facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter: twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube: youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.