First Family to Light National Christmas Tree December 5 in President's Park
WASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will help celebrate the 2019 holiday season by lighting the new National Christmas Tree at the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at President’s Park on Dec. 5.
Lighting the National Christmas Tree is one of America’s oldest holiday traditions. The first lighting took place 96 years ago on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree on the Ellipse (White House). Since 1923, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition. The ceremony today inspires visitors and viewers from around the globe to #FindYourPark/#EncuentraTuParque during the holiday season.
This year’s ceremony will include performances of your favorite holiday tunes by host Jessie James Decker, Chevel Shepherd, Colton Dixon, Max Impact, Spensha Baker, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, and the West Tennessee Youth Chorus.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Through a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, Ovation and REELZ will broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting on Monday, Dec. 9. Viewers can tune in to watch the broadcast at 8 p.m. ET on REELZ and 9 p.m. ET on Ovation.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961. Visit us at: www.nps.gov, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter: www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
ABOUT OVATION... AMERICA'S ONLY ARTS NETWORK
Art has the power to inspire us, elevate our thinking, and awaken our senses. As an independent television, production and digital media company, OVATION has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically-acclaimed premium dramas, arts-related specials and documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION salutes innovative storytelling, lives for the art in entertainment, finds beauty in the everyday, and applauds art in unexpected places. OVATION is available to nearly 50M subscribers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Xfinity from Comcast, AT&T/DirecTV, Spectrum TV from Charter, Verizon FiOS, as well as on VOD. Through THE OVATION FOUNDATION, the company is committed to advocating for the arts, nationally and locally, and has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. You can follow OVATION on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.
ABOUT REELZ—REAL LIVES. REAL STORIES. REAL CELEBRITIES.®
REELZ is a leading independent cable and satellite general entertainment network that is home to factual entertainment, television events, miniseries, movies and series featuring big stories and big stars. Programming ranges from the critically acclaimed and award-winning miniseries The Kennedys to Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…, Scandal Made Me Famous, Behind Closed Doors, Geraldo Rivera's Murder In The Family and much more that connects directly to the world of entertainment. REELZ also provides specific on-air recommendations for movies viewers can watch at home. REELZ is available in 70 million homes on DIRECTV channel 238, DISH Network channel 299, Verizon FiOS TV channel 692HD, AT&T U-verse channels 799/1799HD and cable systems nationwide. Find REELZ in your area by visiting www.reelz.com.