Community Corner

DC Traffic Alert for National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Several roads closed ahead of 4:15 p.m. ceremony Thursday.

President Barack Obama will light the National Christmas tree on the White House's Ellipse from 4:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday. With the ceremony comes road closures and traffic restrictions around the White House.

This year's tree, a 28-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce from Virginia, is new. The previous tree died of transplant shock.

According to the District Department of Transportation, begining at approximately 4:15 p.m. Thursday through the completion of the ceremonies, there will be no northbound or southbound traffic allowed on the following streets:

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  • 15th Street NW, between E Street/ Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue NW.
  • 17th Street NW, between Constitution Avenue and New York Avenue NW.

The National Park Service will offer a live stream of this year's ceremony at this designated website.

Are you attending the ceremony? Send us your photos!

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Click the green "Upload Your Photos and Videos" button above and upload your image (but first make sure you’re a registered Patch user).

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