There’s a New Christmas Tree in Town. Three, Actually.
Washingtonians (and Americans in general) typically celebrate the start of the holiday season with the lighting of the National Christmas tree, of course! But — there are some new big shots in town who are competing for the title of “Holiday Commencer,” and not without reason!
Retail heavy hitters, Tysons Corner and newly opened CityCenterDC, are holding their Christmas tree lighting on the same day, November 29th. Tysons has become a major hot shot in the last decade, and now with the DC Metro extending a Silver Line to this major shopping destination, this arena will be more visited than ever before (can you even imagine!?). The Tysons Corner Christmas tree lighting will therefore celebrate the opening of the Silver Line, making it the official shopping destination for anyone and everyone in the DC metropolitan area. Hosted on the plaza that connects Tysons to her brand new metro line, guests can enjoy an ice skating rink…(I know, right?)…German holiday products and other craft vendors, along with German beer, gluhwein and other refreshments.
But wait a minute, with the opening of CityCenterDC, perhaps I’m calling this the official shopping destination a little too quickly. For the new downtown shopping arena, their christmas tree lighting celebrates the unofficial grand opening of the center which has gradually been seeing more and more activity. There will be another more official opening in Spring 2015 when the rest of their retail shops will be opened, which is when we expect the rivalry to officially commence. But there’s no denying that this years lighting is not only foreshadowing said rivalry, but perhaps requesting it! That said, I’m not sure how the downtown shopping center can compete with the already established Tysons Corner (this year, at atleast). But, I’m not done yet…
On November 21st, one week before Tysons Corner and CityCenterDC go head to head, City Market at O, in the Shaw neighborhood, held their own lighting! Shaw is a neighborhood almost entirely under construction. With the award winning Giant at O Street Market, a soon to be Cambria Suites Hotel, and a number of luxury buildings as well as a number of hip new bars, restaurants, and luxury apartment complexes; buzz has begun!! Their November 21st one year celebration included a santa sighting, neighborhood food vendors, face painting, balloon twisters and, of course, a Christmas tree lighting that was clearly taking place as an introduction of what is sure to be a future hip and major neighborhood.
Then, of course, there’s the National Christmas tree lighting on December 4th…a televised annual celebration on the White House lawn, with a celebrity host as well as a number of major names in the entertainment industry. (If that’s not a party, I don’t know what is!) But, that said, this is all taking place weeks AFTER major developments in our growing nation’s capital have already sparked the holiday spirit (literally…).
So…when does the Christmas season start again?
Curbside in DC 