President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff attend the 100th National Christmas Tree Lighting Wednesday, November 30, 2022, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith) President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff attend the 100th National Christmas Tree Lighting Wednesday, November 30, 2022, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attend the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, hosted by LL Cool J, Thursday, December 2, 2021, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting Thursday, December 2, 2021, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott) President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wave to guests attending the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) President Donald J. Trump waves to the crowd at the National Christmas Tree Lighting 2019 ceremony Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) First Lady Michelle Obama reads "‘Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) The National Christmas Tree is illuminated on the Ellipse in Washington D.C., Dec. 9, 2010. The White House is visible in the background. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) President Barack Obama, with mother-in-law Marian Robinson, daughters Sasha and Malia, and First Lady Michelle Obama, react as they push the button to light the National Christmas Tree during a ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) The White House and the National Christmas Tree are illuminated at dusk in Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) Jimmy Carter lights the National Christmas Tree at the Christmas Pageant of Peace on December 14, 1978. (National Archives / White House Staff Photographers) Jimmy Carter lights the National Christmas Tree at the Christmas Pageant of Peace on December 14, 1978. (National Archives / White House Staff Photographers) WASHINGTON - The century-old tradition of the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony rings in the holiday season each year in the nation’s capital.
Located on the Ellipse just south of the White House, the National Christmas Tree is lit and decorated each December.
The walkway surrounding the National Christmas Tree features 58 trees representing the 56 states and territories, and schools managed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity.
These smaller trees are decorated with ornaments designed by students from each state, territory, and school system.
The lights turn on around sunset each evening and turn off promptly at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, from early December to New Year’s Day.
Enjoy photos of past and present U.S. president celebrating the holiday season at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony!