# National Christmas Tree & Pathway of Peace > Event for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Dec 3 – Jan 1 · 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM - Where: President's Park (The Ellipse), 1450 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230 - Ages: All ages (infants and toddlers in strollers welcome; paved pathways throughout the Ellipse) - Price: Free admission (Free ticket lottery required only for Dec 3 lighting ceremony; open public walk-through with no tickets required Dec 5 – Jan 1). - Organizer: National Park Service & National Park Foundation - Official page: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/250006 - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/national-christmas-tree-and-pathway-of-peace--listing-f10c8f49fd8bdf4725e7b990 ## About The premier national holiday tradition at President's Park features the majestic living National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse surrounded by the Pathway of Peace—58 smaller evergreen trees representing every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Each state tree is decorated with one-of-a-kind handmade ornaments designed by youth artists from across the nation, making it a wonderful scavenger hunt for children to locate their home state or family roots. Paved walkways wrap around the entire display, accommodating strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs with ease. Little ones will be mesmerized by the outdoor model train layout circling the base of the towering main tree, where miniature freight trains and passenger cars loop through snow-dusted tunnels and bridges. Bundle up warmly against the winter breeze off the Potomac, and visit at twilight to see the dazzling musical light show that synchronizes the trees to classic holiday melodies every 30 minutes. ## Similar picks in Washington, DC - [U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/u-s-capitol-christmas-tree--listing-aac34af70de7aa6c371bcc32) — Nov 20 – Jan 1 · 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM · West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol · All ages · Free · checked Nov 7. 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