National Christmas Tree Lighting Lineup Announced

Thursday is the National Christmas Tree's big day and organizers have secured a top-notch lineup including Sheryl Crow, Common, Ray LaMontange, Jordin Sparks, Celtic Woman, Brad Mehldau, and Joshua Redman to help get this Christmas party started right.

Apparently, Crow and Common are the headliners, with the other performers set to "join the stage," according to the AP's press release. I'm not sure if that means all of the performers will take the stage together in one big Christmas caroling free-for-all (what would that sound like?), but I kinda hope so.

As for the actual lighting, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will do the honors, flipping the light switch that illuminates the 42-foot-tall Colorado blue-spruce and kicks off the month-long string of festivities known as the Pageant of Peace.

This year's tree-lighting marks the 86th anniversary of the National Christmas Tree tradition, started in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge. The tree itself was taken from York, Pennsylvania in 1978 and planted in the Ellipse (between the White House and the Washington Monument) where it's enjoyed celebrity status ever since.

This year, the tree will be sporting its greenest, most energy-efficient lighting rig ever. Inspired by the nation's efforts to reduce energy consumption, the GE-designed lighting setup will feature all LEDs, consuming only 6,000 watts, as opposed to last year's 18,000 watts.

For those wanting to tune in and watch the jamboree, you have two choices. You can tune in to watch the live webcast on Thursday, December 3rd at 5pm ET. Or, you can wait until Friday and catch the broadcast when it airs on your local PBS station.