Capitol Christmas Tree Lit for 2022

Capitol Christmas Tree Lit

The 78-foot-tall red spruce will light up the Capitol grounds every night through January 1. Photo by Phi Nguyen and Brendan O’Hara.

Capitol Christmas Tree Lit

Speaker Pelosi and this year’s official tree lighter, Catcuce Micco (Coche) Tiger, delivered remarks at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by Phi Nguyen and Brendan O’Hara.

Capitol Christmas Tree Lit

Various members of the North Carolina delegation and other distinguished guests also attended the tree lighting. Photo by Phi Nguyen and Brendan O’Hara.

78-Foot Red Spruce Lights Up the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol

On Tuesday, November 29, Congressional leadership and other representatives gathered to watch the 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree flicker on and illuminate the night for the first time this year.

“Each year, this cherished tradition unites Americans from all corners of the country,” said Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. “From the communities it encounters as the tree travels from a national forest to the Capitol, to the families who make the pilgrimages here for the lighting of this dazzling tree, to all of those who made these beautiful ornaments.”

The 78-foot red spruce was harvested from Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, traveling almost five hundred miles to become "The People’s Tree." During its journey by truck, the tree stopped in communities along the way.

Per tradition, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, lit the tree with the help of this year’s official tree lighter, nine-year-old Catcuce Micco (Coche) Tiger, who had said he wanted to “go to Washington, D.C. to light the tree so I can represent the Tribe and my community and so everyone can have a good year.” Coche traveled to D.C. from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in Cherokee, North Carolina, to light this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree.

Various members of the North Carolina delegation also attended the tree lighting, including Representatives David Price (NC-04) and Patrick McHenry (NC-10), and Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

“This is a great natural treasure,” said Rep. Price, “And it’s entirely fitting as we look at this beautiful tree and what it symbolizes...We are honoring the spirit of the season, the good will, the diversity, the inclusion that are the values we hold dear.”

Arriving on the West Lawn on November 19, the tree was installed and decorated by the Architect of the Capitol’s ground team.

The tree will be lit from dusk through 11:00 p.m. each night through January 1, 2023.