NPS / Nathan King About the National Christmas TreeThe beloved tradition of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony began Christmas Eve in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit a 48-foot Balsam Fir from Vermont decorated with 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. Learn more about the history of the National Christmas Tree. This year's National Christmas Tree is a 35 foot red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. The 2025 National Christmas Tree lighting was Thursday, December 4, 2025. For information on how to watch the event, visit thenationaltree.org. 
NPS / Kelsey Graczyk Visit the National Christmas Tree and the Student Ornament DisplayThe National Christmas Tree is located south of the White House on the Ellipse. Surrounding the National Christmas tree is the America Celebrates display, a collection of 59 trees featuring student-designed ornaments that represent the United States' 56 states and territories, schools managed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity, and winners of the America250 America’s Field Trip contest. There is no fee to visit either attraction. The White House Historical Association’s Official 2025 White House Christmas Ornament will also be for sale at the National Christmas Tree site. The National Christmas Tree site will be open starting December 6, 2025, through January 1, 2026. Hours for visiting the National Christmas Tree site are Sun–Thurs, 10 am–10 pm; and Fri–Sat, 10 am–11 pm. The trees will be lit around sunset each evening during this time.
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Last updated: December 18, 2025