Lottery tickets for National Christmas Tree

National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The National Park Service is offering more free tickets for this year’s national Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Washington than in years past.

The ceremony will be Dec. 1 in front of the White House. The Park Service will distribute 3,000 tickets for seats and 14,000 standing-room tickets through an online lottery.

The ticket lottery opens at 10 a.m. Thursday and runs til 9:59 p.m. Nov. 7. Tickets will be mailed to the winners.

The president traditionally lights the tree, along with his family. Tickets are required for all who attend.

December 1, 2011, 5 p.m. Tickets for the event are free and awarded via an online lottery system. The online lottery will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on Thursday, November 3, 2011 and will remain open through 9:59 a.m. EST on Monday, November 7, 2011. The lottery will include 3,000 ticketed seats and 14,000 standing room tickets. To participate in the lottery, visit www.thenationaltree.org. Individuals without access to a computer may also call Tel:  (877)444-6777  to place their name into the lottery. Successful ticket seekers will receive an email notice or one sent via U.S. Mail