National Park Service & National Park Foundation Announce B.B. King, Maroon 5 and Sara Bareilles Will Perform at the 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting

To Attend Visit www.thenationaltree.org November 5th – 7th to Enter Ticket Lottery

Ceremony to be Streamed Live at www.thenationaltree.org on December 9th at 5 p.m.  ET and Broadcast Nationally on Public Television Throughout December

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced that blues legend B.B. King, Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter and pianist Sara Bareilles, and Grammy®-award winning band Maroon 5 will all perform at the 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting.    The event, which will be held on Thursday, December 9, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. ET on the Ellipse at President's Park in Washington, D.C., will usher in the holiday season in our nation's capital and can be viewed LIVE online at www.thenationaltree.org or on public television throughout the month of December.  Additional performers and special guests for the event will be announced shortly.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090630/DC40408LOGO)  

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090630/DC40408LOGO)

Tickets to the event for the general public will be awarded via an online lottery system, providing a chance to obtain free tickets to the ceremony.   The online lottery will be available beginning at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on Friday, November 5th.   The ticket lottery remains open through 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 7th, by going to www.thenationaltree.org and following the link to the online ticket lottery application page at www.recreation.gov.  The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony marks the opening of the four-week event sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's National Parks.  

The lottery at www.thenationaltree.org will include 3,000 ticketed seats and 10,000 standing room tickets.   The website will contain all necessary information to apply for 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony tickets.   Additionally, any ticket seekers without access to a computer may also call (877-444-6777 or for TDD 877-833-6777) beginning Friday, November 5th through Sunday, November 7th to place their names into the lottery.  

For more information about the 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting, visit www.thenationaltree.org.  

The 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation and produced by Alex Coletti Productions.  Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the premier sponsor of the event.  

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System and its 393 National Park sites for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.  The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.  For more information, visit www.nps.gov.        

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

You are the owner of 84 million acres of the world's most treasured landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites -- all protected in America's nearly 400 national parks.  Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks.  We work hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow.  Join us in supporting your national parks -- this is your land.  www.nationalparks.org.

SOURCE National Park Foundation