President Obama And First Family To Light The National Christmas Tree December 6 From President's Park

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced that President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family will officially light the National Christmas Tree on Friday, December 6 at the 91st annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in President's Park, one of America's more than 400 national parks.  The ceremony will be streamed online LIVE at www.thenationaltree.org  beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET with the exclusive National Christmas Tree Lighting pre-show.

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

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, this year's National Christmas Tree Lighting features a talented line-up of performers including: The Avett Brothers, Grammy award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, multiple Grammy award-winning superstar Mariah Carey, acclaimed soprano and musical ambassador Renee Fleming, multicultural operatic trio Forte, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, singer/songwriter Janelle Monae, Latin music superstar Prince Royce, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, the multiplatinum, Grammy-winning band Train, and Nolan Williams, Jr. and Voices of Inspiration.

This year, folk Americana duo Aberdeen Green, singer/songwriter Del Travar, and The U.S. Army Blues will perform in the pre-show co-hosted by 94.7 FRESH FM's Tommy McFLY and ABC7/WJLA-TV's Jummy Olabanji. The event can also be seen on public television throughout December.  Broadcast times can be found by checking local listings or visiting www.thenationaltree.org.

Presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, and produced by Bounce AEG, the National Christmas Tree Lighting is the first event in a four-week holiday celebration in President's Park. This year's ceremony marks the 91^st annual National Christmas Tree Lighting, an American holiday tradition started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.

For the sixth consecutive year, UL is the premier sponsor of the National Christmas Tree Lighting.  As an independent safety science company, UL's mission is to promote safe working and living environments for all people. More information can be found at www.UL.com. Other event supporters include GE Lighting, Amtrak, Guest Services Inc., Hargrove, Hilton Garden Inn – Washington DC Downtown, Hudler Carolina Tree Farms, Loews Madison Hotel Washington D.C., Mesh Int'l, Nicolas Holiday, Uber, United and Willard InterContinental Washington D.C.

More information about the 2013 National Christmas Tree Lighting can be found at www.thenationaltree.org and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thenationaltree. Follow the conversation using the hashtag #NCTL2013.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice 
YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice 
TWITTER www.twitter.com/natlparkservice

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, raises private funds that directly aid, support and enrich America's more than 400 national parks and their programs.  Chartered by Congress as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation plays a critical role in conservation and preservation efforts, establishing national parks as powerful learning environments, and giving all audiences an equal and abundant opportunity to experience, enjoy and support America's treasured places.

JOIN US – This is Your Land. www.nationalparks.org
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TWITTER http://twitter.com/goparks

SOURCE National Park Foundation