National Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021

This photograph was taken by Thomas Goertel on December 2, 2021, during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse. The event was hosted by rapper and actor LL Cool J and featured performances by Billy Porter, Chris Stapleton, H.E.R., Juanes, Keb Mo, Kristin Chenoweth, Maren Morris, and Patti LaBelle. The year marked the return of the event following its cancelation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, LL Cool J and National Park Service Ranger Millie Jimenez introduce Columbian singer and songwriter Juanes, prior to his performance of the holiday classic "Last Christmas," accompanied by the United States Army Band Downrange. 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.