Win tickets to National Christmas Tree Lighting event

Enter the online lottery for a chance to win free tickets to the 100-year anniversary celebration at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C, on Thursday, Nov. 30. 

Organized by the National Park Service/National Park Foundation, the lottery opens at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 and closes at 3 p.m. on Nov. 8. 

Visit www.recreation.gov and click on “Ticket Lottery.” People can also call 877-444-6777 to enter. Lottery applicants will be notified on Nov. 15.

 

The big event takes place at The Ellipse in President’s Park South, a 52-acre park located directly south of the White House. Approximately 10,000 people typically attend, including members of the First Family. Celebrity entertainers are scheduled to perform.

 

The National Christmas Tree site opens to the public on Dec. 2 and continues through Jan. 1, 2024. One interesting component is the “America Celebrates” display of 58 smaller Christmas trees, representing each U.S. state and territory. 

These trees are 7-foot Fraser firs grown in North Carolina that are decorated with ornaments contributed by students that symbolize the uniqueness of their home state or territory.

 

For the past four seasons, Mountain Top Fraser Fir, a wholesale Christmas tree farm near Newland in North Carolina’s Avery County, has donated all of Fraser firs for this project, reported Annie Brackemyre, a National Parks Foundation staff writer. 

Mountain Top Fraser Fir is owned by brothers Larry and Lynn Smith, along with business partner Dale Benfield. Their farm has been growing and selling Christmas trees since 1977. 

Brackemyre reported that during the first week of November, Larry Smith walks the farm hand picks each tree that will go to Washington for the display. “Each tree needs to be the same size and able to hold the 20+ ornaments decorated by the school children,” she wrote. 

Larry Smith said he “got the bug” in 2018, when one of his trees was selected to be displayed inside the White House in the famous Blue Room.

 

“It’s pretty neat any time you can do anything for the White House,” he said. “It’s an honor to think something that a small-town farmer grows gets to go to the White House.”

 

Now, Larry Smith regularly attends the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Brackemyre wrote. “I get so excited,” he said. “It’s a time to enjoy each other and be together. 

That’s why I love being part of this. You just see the joy on everyone’s faces. It’s just so magical and such a special experience.” 

The White House has selected Fraser firs from North Carolina to grace the Blue Room 15 times – more than any other state. 

Most recently, a Fraser fir from Peak Farms, owned by Rusty Estes and his son Beau Estes of Jefferson in Ashe County, was chosen in 2021, making it a “three-peat” for this family tree farm. Other Peak Farms trees were displayed in the Blue Room in 2008 and 2012. 

This year’s 2023 Blue Room tree is yet another North Carolina Fraser fir. It is coming from Cline Church Nursery near Fleetwood in Ashe County, owned since 1977 by Cline and Ellen Church. The 19-foot tree will be cut on Nov. 15 and delivered by truck to the White House.

 

Furthermore, it’s already been decided that the official White House Blue Room Christmas tree in 2024 will be supplied by Cartner Christmas Tree Farm, which was established in 1959 and is located north of Newland in Avery County.

 

Founders Sam and Margaret Cartner

Let’s all celebrate a Tar Heel State Christmas tree dynasty. Fraser firs forever.