NPS / Nathan King 2017 Performers/Celebrity Involvement: Performers at the event included: Kathie Lee Gifford; Dean Cain; Craig Campbell; Wynonna; The Beach Boys; Boys II Bow Ties; The Texas Tenors; Mannheim Steamroller; Jack Wagner; the U.S. Navy Band; Steve Gibson; and Us The Duo. 
NPS / Rachel Hendrix 2018 Performers/Celebrity Involvement: Performers at the event included: Antonio Sabato Jr.; Anthony Kearns; Dominican Sisters of Mary; Abby Anderson; LOCASH; Matthew West; Gabby Barrett; Spensha Baker; Thompson Square; Paul Cardall; the US Army Band; and John Driskell Hopkins. 
NPS / Liz Macro 2019 Performers/Celebrity Involvement: Performers at the event included: Jessie James Decker; "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band; Spensha Baker; Colton Dixon; Chevel Shepherd; Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus; U.S. Air Force Max Impact; and West Tennessee Youth Chorus. 
NPS November 30 Trump President and Participants: President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lit the tree. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, and Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director for the National Park Service Margaret Everson, also participated in the ceremony which due to the COVID-19 pandemic was held virtually with no in-person audience. The Tree: Living Colorado blue spruce from Pennsylvania (2019). GE Lighting donated the patriotic design of red, white, and blue opaque LED lights. Performers/Celebrity Involvement: Performers at the event included: Colton Dixon, Jerrod Niemann, Jillian Cardarelli, Jillian Edwards, Kellie Pickler, Laine Hardy, Leaving Austin, Lynda Randle and Michael Tait, Matthew West, Melodie Malone, NPS Arrowhead Jazz Band, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, US Navy Band Sea Chanters, “The President’s Own” US Marine Band. 
NPS / Meghan Reese December 2 Biden President and Participants: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr and Dr. Jill Biden lit the National Christmas Tree. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, along with National Park Service Ranger Millie Jimenez, also participated in the event. The Tree: Living white fir from Pennsylvania (2021). GE Lighting donated the design and lights for the tree, which consisted of warm white lights with red and white sphere accent ornaments in a cascading pattern. Performers/Celebrity Involvement: LL Cool J hosted the 99th National Christmas Tree Lighting, which included performances of beloved holiday tunes by Billy Porter, Chris Stapleton, H.E.R., Juanes, Keb’ Mo’, Kristin Chenoweth, Maren Morris and Patti LaBelle performing alongside the US Army Band Downrange and the Howard Gospel Choir. 
NPS / Claire Hassler November 30 Biden President and Participants: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr and Dr. Jill Biden lit the National Christmas Tree. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Director of National Park Service Charles F. Sams III, President and CEO of National Park Foundation Will Shafroth, and Ranger Kelli Jones, participated in the event. The Tree: Living white fir from Pennsylvania (2021). GE Lighting donated the design and lights for the tree, which was created specifically for the 100th lighting of the National Christmas Tree. This design included strings of white lights along with strands of gold string lights, white sparkling twinkle spheres and white Bethlehem stars interspersed throughout. Performers/Celebrity Involvement: LL Cool J hosted the 100th National Christmas Tree Lighting, which included performances by Yolanda Adams, Ariana DeBose, Gloria Estefan and Family, Andy Grammer, Joss Stone, and Shania Twain performing alongside "The President's Own" US Marine Band. 
NPS / Kelsey Graczyk November 30 Biden President and Participants: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr and Dr. Jill Biden lit the National Christmas Tree. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Director of National Park Service Charles F. Sams III, President and CEO of National Park Foundation Will Shafroth, and Ranger Jerome Fouché participated in the event. The Tree: The 2023 tree is a cut, 40-foot-tall Norway spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. This is the first time the NPS and USDA Forest Service have partnered to bring a tree to the Ellipse. The previous tree, planted on October 30, 2021, was removed on Nov. 11 after developing needle cast, a fungal disease that causes needles to turn brown and fall off.Before 1973, the National Park Service used cut trees as National Christmas trees. The NPS and event partners will evaluate whether to continue using a cut tree or to plant a new tree, after the holiday season. Performers/Celebrity Involvement: Mickey Guyton hosted the 101st National Christmas Tree Lighting, which included performances by Darren Criss, Mickey Guyton, St. Vincent, Samara Joy, Joe Walsh, Ledisi, and Dionne Warwick performing alongside U.S. Coast Guard’s Guardians Big Band. |
Last updated: February 8, 2024