National Christmas Tree Lighting
The Ellipse, President's Park, Washington, D.C., USA
Free and wide-ranging, but a cold outdoor evening event with real lottery faff keeps it off the top tier.
How the Dad Score breaks down
Scored August 2026- Together time17/20
- You watch the same performers, then walk past all 56 state trees together afterwards.
- Low faff11/20
- A one-week online lottery, five tickets per household, everyone including children needs one.
- Value19/20
- Tickets are free, capped at five per household, for a full evening of live performances.
- Age span16/20
- Every attendee, whatever their age, must have a ticket, so any age can come.
- Weatherproof9/20
- Held outdoors on the Ellipse in December with no indoor fallback mentioned.
Editorial, never paid. How the Dad Score works
The National Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on the Ellipse at President's Park, right by the White House, each December. A free ticketed ceremony features live music and the lit National Christmas Tree surrounded by 56 trees for every state and territory. Tickets come through an online lottery, capped at five per household, and every attendee, whatever their age, needs one. Afterwards the trees stay up and lit through the month for anyone to walk past.
Why it works for a dad and child
You stand together in the cold watching the same acts, then walk hand in hand past every state's tree afterwards - a shared evening out, not a screen to watch alone.
When is National Christmas Tree Lighting?
National Christmas Tree Lighting runs 4 Dec 2026 in Washington, D.C., USA.
Is National Christmas Tree Lighting worth it with kids?
girl.dad gives National Christmas Tree Lighting a Dad Score of 72/100. Free and wide-ranging, but a cold outdoor evening event with real lottery faff keeps it off the top tier.
What should we plan for at National Christmas Tree Lighting?
It is a christmas, music event at The Ellipse, President's Park in Washington, D.C.. Best age on the listing is 2-12, and entry is free.