President Joe Biden and his family, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and her family, will attend the National Tree Lighting in Ellipse Park at the White House.
The event starts at 5:30 pm ET. Watch the ceremony on the turntable above.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress gathered outside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday night to light up the Capitol’s official 2021 Christmas tree.
This year the tree is an 84-foot-tall white spruce from the Six Rivers National Forest in California.
Affectionately dubbed “Sugar Bear,” the tree traveled 4,500 miles from California to Washington last month and has since been adorned with over 15,000 designs created by California communities.
In comments on tree lighting, minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who hails from California, said the Sugar Bear tree has “the most decorations because it comes from the most populous state.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the tree is “our symbol of hope.”
“It has earned the endless nickname ‘The People’s Tree’, a testament to its special ability to unite us in comfort and joy, no matter who we are or where we come from. And that spirit inspires us tonight, ”added Pelosi.
The Capitol Christmas tree tradition began in 1964.
