Thanksgiving is just under a week away, and the holiday season is just around the corner! Everyone has their own pace for making that transition, but nothing marks it quite as definitively as one of the holiday tree lighting ceremonies taking place around town!
Fortunately, several unique lighting ceremonies are happening around the D.C. area over the coming weeks on various dates and at various times, which means that you have no excuse not to attend at least one of these incredible festive events this holiday season.
1. CityCenterDC’s Holiday Tree Lighting
The holiday season is descending upon the District—and CityCenterDC is helping kick it off with its 12th annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Saturday, Nov. 29th!
Days after Thanksgiving, as Washingtonians begin to swap out their autumn ornamentation for winter decorations, CityCenterDC will be helping the transition as it alights its 75-foot tree, complete with more than 150,000 lights and 4,500 ornaments.
It will stop you in your tracks!
2. Attending the annual lighting ceremony of the National Christmas Tree
The annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is taking place on Thursday, Dec. 4th, on the Ellipse in President’s Park.
Just one week after Thanksgiving, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will help Washingtonians and visitors alike kick off the holiday season.
3. Holidays at the Harbor—National Harbor
National Harbor kicked off the holiday spirit on Nov. 8th, lighting its Christmas tree to kick off its Holidays at the Harbor series.
It was the inaugural lighting for National Harbor’s 60-ft. RGB tree, which now will illuminate the evening skies each night—every 30 minutes from sunset to 9 p.m.—alongside the sounds of a “holiday medley performed by the United States Air Force Band.”
4. U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting
This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, otherwise known as”The People’s Tree”, comes from Nevada’s Carson Ranger District in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and is embarking on a long journey to reach the district.
The festive lighting ceremony of this stunning 53-foot tree is taking place on the Capitol’s West Front Lawn during the first week of December.
Find out more information about the exact date here.
5. Library of Congress Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thursday, December 4th, head over to the Library of Congress for a gorgeous tree lighting ceremony set in the Great Hall.
The lighting will start at 4:30 pm with live speakers, and afterwards, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building is open for extended hours.
Every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 pm, visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour snacks and drinks available for purchase in the Great Hall while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections, and programs.
Where: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington