Pre-Show at the 2019 National Christmas Tree Lighting

This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019, during the pre-show of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Here, WUSA9 News morning anchor Annie Yu, one of the hosts of the pre-show, speaks with Drew Coker of Valley Point Middle School in Dalton, Georgia. Students from his school were selected to decorate ornaments for the Georgia state tree, one of 56 state and territory trees planted near the National Christmas Tree. Each tree was decorated by students from the each state or territory, with designs reflecting the history, architecture, wildlife, and culture of each region. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts have annually drawn hundreds of attendees.