The White House and President's Park

The White House and South Lawn
The White House is owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service. It is more than the President's residence; it is a site for protests and national discourse about what it means to be American. As one of the most iconic sites in the country, the White House and President's Park seeks to tell the stories of all people who have lived, worked, and visited.
Map showing location of park.
Aerial view of the United States Capitol
Updated National Park Service area closures for Inauguration Day
Due to forecasted severe weather conditions, significant updates have been made to the schedule and location of the upcoming 60th Presidential Inauguration.
President to light National Christmas Tree at The White House and President’s Park
President Joe Biden will help celebrate the 2024 holiday season by lighting the National Christmas Tree at this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will also attend the lighting. The ceremony will take place on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park on Dec. 5. The tree is a cut, 35-foot red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia, a gift from the USDA Forest Service.  
Stage with a tall lit up Christmas tree with a band playing with the South view of the White House behind. An audience cheers on under blue lights.
Revel in the holiday spirit at the National Christmas Tree Lighting with musical performances by Mickey Guyton, Adam Blackstone, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, Trombone Shorty, James Taylor, The War And Treaty and Trisha Yearwood
Kick-off the 2024 holiday season with the National Christmas Tree Lighting! This beloved American tradition, presented by the National Park Service (NPS) and the National Park Foundation (NPF), will feature musical performances and the official lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park in Washington, D.C.
A nighttime scene with a large Christmas tree with white lights and a star on top in front of the Washington Monument.
Ticket lottery to open for the 2024 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Oct. 23
Free tickets are awarded through an online lottery, which will open on Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. ET and close on Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. ET.
Inauguration preparations at Lafayette Park and White House sidewalks underway
The National Park Service (NPS) has instituted a partial closure in Lafayette Park and along the White House sidewalks for public safety in support of preparation and activities associated with the presidential inauguration. Closures will remain in place through February 2025. The northern part of Lafayette Park remains open for visitors and First Amendment activities.
The White House and South Lawn.
Photo by NPS
Andrew Jackson Statue and view of North Side of the White House
Photo by NPS
National Christmas Christmas Tree with the view of the south side of the White House.
Photo by NPS/M. Reese
White House model and exhibit cases inside the visitor center
Photo by White House Historical Association
A tall stone column with a golden, winged figure on top.
Photo by NPS / Nathan King