White House Tree Lighting Ceremony

[Anonymous]

I won 2 tickets to the White House Tree Lighting Ceremony and was going to take my son (7yo). Does anyone have any tips, other than taking the Metro (duh!). What time should we plan on arriving, can I bring in a bag with snacks? etc.

[Anonymous]

If your child cannot manage an hour in a park without snacks, you should not bring him to see the tree lighting ceremony. He would be disruptive to others around him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child cannot manage an hour in a park without snacks, you should not bring him to see the tree lighting ceremony. He would be disruptive to others around him.

He definitely can. My office's message when I won the tickets was extremely vague and just said "Gates open: 2:00 pm Gates close: 4:30 pm Additional instructions are on the ticket. " But I have to pick up the ticket at the office tomorrow, so I was going to take my kid out of school early and head down via metro.

If the best practice is to get there when gates open at 2:00, then how long will we be standing around until the event starts? When does the event end? Can I bring a bag in? I'd like to have these details before I pull kid out of school and head downtown. It will take me about 40 min to get from kid's school to my office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child cannot manage an hour in a park without snacks, you should not bring him to see the tree lighting ceremony. He would be disruptive to others around him.

He definitely can. My office's message when I won the tickets was extremely vague and just said "Gates open: 2:00 pm Gates close: 4:30 pm Additional instructions are on the ticket. " But I have to pick up the ticket at the office tomorrow, so I was going to take my kid out of school early and head down via metro.

If the best practice is to get there when gates open at 2:00, then how long will we be standing around until the event starts? When does the event end? Can I bring a bag in? I'd like to have these details before I pull kid out of school and head downtown. It will take me about 40 min to get from kid's school to my office.

Wow you are much nicer than I am as I would've put the rude PP in their place. I have no advice about the ceremony but I hope that you and your son have a great time tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

I went about ten years ago. Unless you won seated access, you get wanded down to stand in a big field at the back of the tree/bandstand. Prepare to stand, not have extra bags with you (for searching) and it will probably be muddy bc tomorrow’s forecast looks rainy - at least in the morning. But, it’s a good check the box DC holiday activity,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went about ten years ago. Unless you won seated access, you get wanded down to stand in a big field at the back of the tree/bandstand. Prepare to stand, not have extra bags with you (for searching) and it will probably be muddy bc tomorrow’s forecast looks rainy - at least in the morning. But, it’s a good check the box DC holiday activity,

Me again- recreation.gov should have the event details. If you get in by 4 you’ll probably be standing for a couple hours. Lighting is at 5:30. Oh and there’s a whole ton of road closures if you plan to drive in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went about ten years ago. Unless you won seated access, you get wanded down to stand in a big field at the back of the tree/bandstand. Prepare to stand, not have extra bags with you (for searching) and it will probably be muddy bc tomorrow’s forecast looks rainy - at least in the morning. But, it’s a good check the box DC holiday activity,

Thanks! Ugh I forgot it was going to rain!

[Anonymous]

We’ll take your tickets if you don’t want to deal with the rain!

[Anonymous]

Another question- should I bring a blanket to sit on? Recreation.gov has no details on what we can/can't bring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another question- should I bring a blanket to sit on? Recreation.gov has no details on what we can/can't bring.

I’d operate on as little as possible with the assumption it may hold up security or they may make you dump it.. definitely no camp chairs but I think people had blankets. This might be where, depending on your job, it’s time to reach for that branded blanket you got from your company five years ago and lives in yours cars trunk (in place of a raise 🤣🤣🤣) and if they make you leave it, there’s no guilt…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another question- should I bring a blanket to sit on? Recreation.gov has no details on what we can/can't bring.

No you are squeezed in and your child is unlikely to see anything except the back of the people in front of you. Standing seats are really far back and it’s hard to see the stage. It is hours worth of standing and quite boring to be honest. I wish it was a more family friendly event like the egg roll, but it’s not. If it’s going to rain, I’d honestly skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question- should I bring a blanket to sit on? Recreation.gov has no details on what we can/can't bring.

I’d operate on as little as possible with the assumption it may hold up security or they may make you dump it.. definitely no camp chairs but I think people had blankets. This might be where, depending on your job, it’s time to reach for that branded blanket you got from your company five years ago and lives in yours cars trunk (in place of a raise 🤣🤣🤣) and if they make you leave it, there’s no guilt…

oh yes, we all have that trunk blanket