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The excitement surrounding Wednesday afternoon\u2019s National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse can be tempered by all of the commuters who will get stuck in traffic around it.<\/p>\n
The 4:30 p.m. ceremony leads to road closures near the White House between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
In past years, Loudoun County Commuter Buses have been delayed 10 to 45 minutes, the county warned riders. Sometimes, backups were\u00a0even worse<\/a>\u00a0across areas of the city many blocks away from the closures, especially between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Taking Metro, working from home, or simply departing work later than usual are among the best ways to avoid major delays.<\/p>\n between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue starting at noon. Beginning at 2 p.m., that closure extends across the National Mall to Independence Avenue Southwest.<\/p>\n Also starting at 2 p.m., 15th\u00a0Street Northwest is scheduled to close between H Street Northwest and the National Mall, and Constitution Avenue Northwest is scheduled to close between 14th\u00a0and 18th\u00a0streets.<\/p>\n Closures and special street parking restrictions in the area are expected to be lifted around 8 p.m.<\/p>\n Model and actor Antonio Sab\u00e0to Jr. is hosting the 96th annual tree lighting. This year\u2019s event\u00a0features<\/a>\u00a0a number of country and Christian musicians as well as tenor Anthony Kearns.<\/p>\n During this tree lighting, the festivities focus on the\u00a0permanent tree<\/a>\u00a0that grows outside the White House on the Ellipse. The first family has a\u00a0separate tree inside the White House<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tickets for this event have\u00a0already been distributed<\/a>\u00a0through a lottery.<\/p>\n Below is a map and list of the closures:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n