Boehner to light Capitol Christmas tree Tuesday evening

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) will officially start off the holiday season Tuesday evening with the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree.
 
The ceremony, set to begin at 5 p.m. on the West Front of the Capitol grounds along D.C.'s First Street, NW, will be open to the public. Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers will serve as master of ceremonies, with Boehner pressing the switch to light the tree at dusk.
 

The lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree has been an annual tradition since 1964. This year’s tree, a 65-foot Sierra white fir from California, is decorated with 10,000 LED lights and nearly 3,000 ornaments reflecting the theme “California Shines,” according to an AoC statement Tuesday.
 
The tree will be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. each evening through Jan. 1, 2012.

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