WASHINGTON — The sights and sounds of the season made their grand appearance Wednesday evening with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree near the White House.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were joined by entertainers and a festive crowd on the Ellipse at President’s Park. Here’s a gallery of photos from the ceremony.
![A festive crowd braved the chilly conditions for Wednesday's festivities. (WTOP/J. Brooks)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/lighting-before-2-1880x1058.jpg)
WTOP/J. Brooks
![A festive crowd braved the chilly conditions for Wednesday's festivities. (WTOP/J. Brooks)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/lightingbefore1-1880x1058.jpg)
WTOP/J. Brooks
![Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332797464286-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Donald Trump Jr. shakes hands with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, left, ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333014665504-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump and his wife Lara Trump arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333015104259.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump carries her son Eric, as she and Tiffany Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, left, arrives for the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333013437359-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Host Antonio Sabato, Jr. speaks during the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended for the lighting of the tree.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332861083736-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812190679-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812930547-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![Ffirst lady Melania Trump waves after lighting the National Christmas Tree during a ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812949306-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump waves as he and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree during a ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812672615-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332809350293-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332849776968-1660x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812252799-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, left, stands as President Donald Trump watches during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332828385556.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![From left, Tiffany Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle, arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333016482036-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![A woman and children in the front row huddle together to stay warm during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333020275933-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump attends the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. Also pictured is Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, second from left. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333019970876-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump speaks as he and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332845743090-2-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump arrive before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332802732623-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke greets first lady Melania Trump before President Donald Trump speaks during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332850343069-1779x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332851429386-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump speaks during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332851469694-1880x1254.jpg)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
![President Donald Trump waves at the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332848805025-1880x1252.jpg)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
![A festive crowd braved the chilly conditions for Wednesday's festivities. (WTOP/J. Brooks)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/lighting-before-2-260x174.jpg)
![A festive crowd braved the chilly conditions for Wednesday's festivities. (WTOP/J. Brooks)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/lightingbefore1-260x174.jpg)
![Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332797464286-260x174.jpg)
![Donald Trump Jr. shakes hands with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, left, ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333014665504-260x174.jpg)
![Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump and his wife Lara Trump arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333015104259.jpg)
![Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump carries her son Eric, as she and Tiffany Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, left, arrives for the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333013437359-260x174.jpg)
![Host Antonio Sabato, Jr. speaks during the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended for the lighting of the tree.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332861083736-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812190679-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812930547-260x174.jpg)
![Ffirst lady Melania Trump waves after lighting the National Christmas Tree during a ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812949306-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump waves as he and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree during a ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812672615-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332809350293-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332849776968-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332812252799-260x174.jpg)
![Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, left, stands as President Donald Trump watches during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332828385556.jpg)
![From left, Tiffany Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle, arrive ahead of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333016482036-260x174.jpg)
![A woman and children in the front row huddle together to stay warm during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333020275933-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump attends the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. Also pictured is Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, second from left. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18333019970876-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump speaks as he and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332845743090-2-260x174.jpg)
![Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump arrive before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332802732623-260x174.jpg)
![Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke greets first lady Melania Trump before President Donald Trump speaks during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332850343069-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332851429386-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump speaks during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332851469694-260x174.jpg)
![President Donald Trump waves at the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AP_18332848805025-260x174.jpg)