The free ticket lottery for the National Christmas Tree Lighting closes Wednesday, November 4, at 3 p.m. Eastern, or noon Pacific. The ceremony takes place December 3 on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.
People hoping to attend can enter through the event page on Recreation.gov. The National Park Service says there is no charge to enter or receive tickets. Entering does not guarantee a place.
What happens after the drawing
Winners will be notified November 12, and each winner may receive up to five tickets. Tickets cannot be sold or transferred for commercial gain.
Ticket holders will receive arrival details, accessibility information, security screening requirements and prohibited-item rules before the ceremony. The Park Service has not supplied those details in its lottery announcement, so applicants should wait for the event's instructions before planning their arrival.
The lighting ceremony and ordinary visits to the tree grounds have different access arrangements. The event's official website lists public visits from December 5 through January 1, with lights coming on near sunset. Winning a ceremony ticket is not the only way to see the tree during the holiday season.
Recreation.gov permits one application per household and says additional applications will be voided. All attendees, including infants, need a ticket. Applicants should use current contact information because results and ticket instructions arrive by email.
For people watching from home, the ceremony will premiere December 5 on the National Park Foundation's YouTube channel, according to the event's official website.
