Christmas in Washington D.C. is beautiful and wondrous! Christmas on the White House Ellipse is a site to see, day or night.
The National Christmas Tree sits within view of the White House, on the Ellipse. It is surrounded by 56 state and territory trees, all of which are decorated with handmade ornaments. Closer in, the tree is circled by a large model train set which includes buildings, train trestles, and more. The train does not run constantly. In fact, it wasn’t running at all during our visit.
You can visit the National Christmas Tree any time between 10:00am and 10:00pm. Check their website, as times do vary on weekends and holidays. The trees are lit around dusk (4:30pm) every day. It is free to visit, making this a great activity for the entire family.
Beginning the night of the tree lighting, there is nightly musical entertainment. You can hear school and scout groups, choirs, and individual musicians. Again, check their website for listings and times. We visited on the Day of Mourning for President George H.W. Bush, so there was no entertainment.
Make sure to look around! The White House makes a spectacular background to the north. On the south side, Washington Monument creates another stunning backdrop.
We were pleasantly surprised to find a nativity included in the National Christmas Tree display. It was at the end of one walkway and kind of tucked away. We were very thankful for the acknowledgment of Jesus’ birth being the reason for Christmas.
Finally, a trip to the White House Ellipse is not complete without seeing the White House from both sides. Walk north on 15th Street or 17th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue to view the northern side of the White House.
Other Sites in Washington D.C
Looking for other sites to see in Washington D.C.?
- 4 Days with Kids in Washington D.C.
- Museum of the Bible with Kids
- National Postal Museum & Union Station with Kids
- United States Air Force Memorial with Kids
- National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial with Kids
- What you need to know about the Smithsonian National Zoo with Kids
- What you need to know about the International Spy Museum
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I did not receive compensation for this post.
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