0 4 min 12 mths

Volunteers decorate Christmas trees in front of the White House for the 2022 National Christmas Tree Lighting. NPS/ Kelsey Graczyk

Celebrate the holidays with a nightly lighting of the National Christmas Tree and take a stroll to see the America Celebrates display on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park. The National Christmas Tree and surrounding state and territory trees are open to visitors through Jan. 1, 2024. Visiting is free and no tickets are required.


The National Christmas Tree display is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 1, 2024. The trees are lit daily around sunset.

The America Celebrates display features 58 small trees decorated with one-of-a-kind ornaments made by students. The trees represent states, territories, and Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. From state flowers to landmarks, American students have designed one-of-a-kind ornaments to celebrate the places they call home.

The America Celebrates ornament program is a collaboration of the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Park Foundation (NPF), which funds the program. More than 300 NPS volunteers help decorate the small trees.

First lit in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge, the National Christmas Tree continues to inspire people to enjoy cherished traditions and memories made with family and friends in national parks during the holiday season. Learn more about the history of the National Christmas Tree Lighting.

58 schools designed ornaments for the America Celebrates display:

Location

School Name

Alabama

Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies

Alaska

IDEA Homeschool

American Samoa

Lupelele Elementary School

Arizona

Nogales High School

Arkansas

Little Rock West High School of Innovation

California

Nueva Vista Language Academy

Colorado

Merino Schools

Connecticut

Andover Elementary School

Delaware

Laurel Middle School

District of Columbia

Eastern High School

Florida

Tohopekaliga High School

Georgia

Heritage High School (Rockdale County Public School)

Guam

Academy of Our Lady of Guam

Hawaii

James Campbell High School

Idaho

Idaho Arts Charter School

Illinois

Betty Shabazz International Charter School

Indiana

Brown County High School

Iowa

Eagle Grove Elementary

Kansas

Leawood Middle School

Kentucky

Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School

Louisiana

Harry Hurst Middle School

Maine

Bangor High School

Maryland

Manchester Valley High School

Massachusetts

All Saints Academy

Michigan

Hanover-Horton Elementary School

Minnesota

Clover Ridge Elementary School

Mississippi

Ida B. Wells Academic & Performing Arts Complex

Missouri

Nixa Public School

Montana

Arlee High School

Nebraska

Bennington South Middle School

Nevada

Garside Junior High School

New Hampshire

Arts Academy of New Hampshire

New Jersey

Delaware Township School

New Mexico

New Mexico School for the Arts

New York

Marlboro High School

North Carolina

Greene Central High School

North Dakota

Kindred Public School District

Norther Mariana Islands

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System

Ohio

Shawnee Local Schools

Oklahoma

Jenks Middle School

Oregon

Oregon School for the Deaf

Pennsylvania

Kutztown Area High School

Puerto Rico

Escuela Dr. Francisco Hernández y Gaetán

Rhode Island

Mary E. Fogarty Elementary

South Carolina

Saluda High School

South Dakota

Tri-Valley High School

Tennessee

West Middle School

Texas

Caldwell High School

Utah

Union High School

Vermont

Colchester High School

Virgin Islands

St. Croix Educational Complex High School

Virginia

Appomattox Regional Governor’s School

Washington

Tukes Valley Middle School

West Virginia

Robert L. Bland Middle School

Wisconsin

Highland Community Schools

Wyoming

Beitel Elementary School

Bureau of Indian Education

Pine Springs Day School (Arizona)
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School (South Dakota)
Lac Court Orielles Ojibwe School (Wisconsin)

Department of Defense Education Activity

Brussels Elementary/High School (Belgium)
Bechtel Elementary School (Japan)
Fort Campbell High School (Kentucky)

About The Author