The Lighting of the National Christmas Tree

Last Thursday, December 4, CJ and I (plus some staff members at Matrix Group) had the privilege of attending the ceremony on the Ellipse for the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree. 

We had been given tickets by a client because of our work on the national tree site and boy were we excited.  Nicole, one of the designers at the office who worked on the site, said she and her boyfriend had been trying to get tickets (unsuccessfully) for years!

We had a great time!  Maki dropped us off on the Mall coz we knew parking would be crazy and I just didn't know how reliable Metro would be.  Other staff members took a cab, which took forever, but thank goodness they arrived on time as well.

We had great seats, the weather was gorgeous (clear, cold, but not too cold), and the program was amazing but not too long for a 4-year old.  We especially enjoyed:

• Step Afrika, a dance troup from Washington, DC
• Kaitlin Maher from America's Got Talent; CJ just loved her
• Country music singers Rissi Palmer and Phil Vassar; I'm a country music fan so it was a treat to see them

As per tradition, President and Mrs. Bush attended the entire event.  Surprisingly, security to get into the event was not crazy, although the President and Mrs. Bush were behind bulletproof glass (when did that start?) and there were security forces on the tops of all buildings.  

After the hour-long program, President Bush gave a few remarks then asked his wife to help him light the tree.  The tree is gorgeous, but we understand that it's not doing so well after 30 years as the national tree.  The tree itself is wearing a kind of net; the ornaments hang off the net so as not to strain the tree.  And it looks like the star at the top of the tree is on a steel pole, not the tree.  Regardless, the tree is mighty impressive; it's almost perfectly straight, neatly trimmed and majestic in the middle of Presidents' Park on the Ellipse.  I just wish this year's tree had more color; last year's tree had red bows which, I think, made the tree look more festive.

After the event, CJ had to go potty, so we did not exit right away -- and a good thing, too!  We walked the Pathway of Peace, which is a pathway of tree decorated with ornaments donated by each state and territory; there is one tree per state and territory.  We also got to see Santa's Workshop (it was closed but very pretty) and enjoy hot chocolate.

The highlight of the evening for CJ was the trains running around the national tree.  There are 9 sets of trains running around the tree, including two immediately surrounding the tree, two on the perimeter, three small villages, and a set of bridges.  We talked to a man who looked to be in his late teens.  He said he and his dad have been setting up the trains for the last 14 years.  The train set that goes around the tree is the official train set and takes about three days to set up.  The tracks, towns and bridges are really pretty, and the trains really are neat as they run around the tree.  CJ could have stood there for hours!

After the tree lighting, Maki joined me, CJ and Andrew for dinner at Ten Penh.  CJ was pooped from being in the cold and from all the walking, but that didn't stop him from wolfing down an order of vegetable tempura and tuna sashimi.  Needless to say, CJ was asleep not two minutes after we got into the car to go home.

The lighting of the national tree is one of those quintessentially Washington experiences and I'm really glad we got to experience it.