The Kennedy Center will unveil its first-ever Christmas tree and hold a lighting ceremony on Dec. 17 featuring an 18-foot red spruce donated by the U.S. Forest Service. The event is open to the public and will include seasonal entertainment and remarks from center leadership. Under current leadership, the center has shifted toward more traditional, faith-focused holiday programming amid criticism from some conservatives. Officials say the initiative aims to create new family traditions and boost visitor interest as the institution works to improve its finances.
Kennedy Center to Light Its First-Ever Christmas Tree on Dec. 17, Spotlighting Faith-Focused Holiday Events
The Kennedy Center will unveil its first-ever Christmas tree and hold a lighting ceremony on Dec. 17 featuring an 18-foot red spruce donated by the U.S. Forest Service. The event is open to the public and will include seasonal entertainment and remarks from center leadership. Under current leadership, the center has shifted toward more traditional, faith-focused holiday programming amid criticism from some conservatives. Officials say the initiative aims to create new family traditions and boost visitor interest as the institution works to improve its finances.
01:55 AM, 11/18/2025Culture
Kennedy Center to Light Its First-Ever Christmas Tree
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., will unveil and light its first-ever Christmas tree on Dec. 17 as part of a renewed emphasis on traditional, faith-centered holiday programming, the center announced.
Tree and ceremony: The centerpiece will be an 18-foot red spruce donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, harvested from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. The publicly open lighting ceremony will include seasonal entertainment and remarks from Kennedy Center leadership and invited guests.
"The Kennedy Center’s inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting is a milestone for America’s cultural center, one of Washington’s premier holiday attractions," said Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations. "We are grateful to partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to showcase a beautiful red spruce and create new traditions for families and visitors this holiday season."
Programming shift: While the Kennedy Center has hosted Christmas events for years, its current leadership has moved to emphasize more traditional and faith-oriented holiday presentations. This change follows criticism from some conservative commentators and officials about past programming choices. This season’s lineup includes faith-focused offerings such as a concert featuring a live nativity, and the National Symphony Orchestra has announced it will open Kennedy Center concerts with the National Anthem.
Context: Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has said he plans to promote traditional, Christ-focused holiday events as part of a broader effort to attract visitors and improve the institution’s financial health after years of operating at a loss.
The Dec. 17 tree lighting is presented as an effort to establish a new holiday tradition on the Potomac and to provide families with faith-centered and festive programming during the season.