Chance to see National Tree Lighting now online
November 4th, 2009 | by |
Residents across the country now have a better chance to win a ticket to one of Washington’s oldest traditions — the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.
The days of waiting outside in line — usually overnight — have been replaced this year with an online lottery.
The tree-lighting ceremony on the Ellipse, behind the White House, began in 1923 when first lady Grace Coolidge allowed schoolchildren to erect a Christmas tree on the grassy plot, also known as President’s Park.
The lottery will be open Nov. 4-6 for a chance at the 9,800 tickets, including 7,000 standing-room ones added this year.
The White House this year switched to an online lottery for its children’s Easter Egg Roll, which resulted in criticism that the event now favored people who could afford computers.
“We want to make the tree lighting more accessible to a wider audience of people,” said Mark Shields, spokesman for the National Park Foundation, which is hosting the event with the National Park Service.
Entrants can check the status of their requests starting Nov. 9. The free tickets will be mailed by Nov. 15.
The president lights the towering, decorated tree every year. This year’s event will be held Dec. 3. The twilight event marks the beginning of the three-week-long Pageant of Peace and includes caroling, military bands, a Santa Claus, performances by national recording artists and a Christmas message from the president.
The entertainment lineup for this year will be announced in the coming weeks.
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