Finale at the 2019 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019, during the conclusion of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. For the grand finale, the performers from throughout the night were joined onstage by Santa Claus to sing a final Christmas song: "Up on the Housetop," by Benjamin Russell Hanby. The host for the evening, country singer Jessie James Decker, was also joined onstage by her husband, former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker. Also captured in this photograph is Christian rock singer and former "American Idol" contestant Colton Dixon, and members of the West Tennessee Youth Chorus. 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.