Tree safely arrives in D.C.; Lighting Ceremony to take place Nov. 28

Each year, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) selects the annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in consultation with the United States Forest Service. This year’s tree is a 63-foot Norway spruce from the Greenbrier Ranger District in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.

The tree traveled to Washington, D.C., by truck making stops in communities along its route before arriving at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, November 17, 2023. A team of employees from the AOC will secure and decorate the tree, ensuring it is ready to spread holiday cheer to visitors from all over the country and around the world. 

The lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, a time-honored tradition of more than 50 years, will take place Tuesday, November 28, 2023, during a ceremony on the West Front Lawn beginning at 5 p.m. It will then be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. each evening through January 1, 2024. Visiting the tree is free and open to the public.