The annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony returns to Union Station on November 28 at 6 p.m. A consortium of partners, including the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce—Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Washington Performing Arts, and Union Station, will present the annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting to the people of Washington, D.C. This beloved holiday event kicks off the Christmas season with festive music, special guests, an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Clause, and of course, the lighting of the magnificent Norwegian Christmas Tree. This year’s performance line-up – presented by Washington Performing Arts and Mars Arts D.C. – includes performances by D.C.’s youth steelpan ensemble East of the River Steelband, D.C.-based all-female Americana trio Wicked Sycamore, D.C.-based cross-genre vocalist Rayshun LaMarr (recently featured on The Voice) and the 10-piece all-female Norwegian brass band tenThing led by trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth.

In one of Washington’s most popular holiday traditions, which began in 1997, Norway will present a Christmas tree to the people of Washington, D.C., in recognition of the strong friendship between Norway and the United States, and in gratitude for America’s assistance during and after World War II.

This event is free to the public.

For ADA accommodations, please contact PatronServices@washingtonperformingarts.org.

The Artists

East of the River Steelband
The vision of the late Dr. Gladys Whitworth Bray, the East of the River Steelband was founded in 1993 to bring this unique, cultural, and musical experience to youth living east of the Anacostia River. Over the years, the program has provided music training and arts and cultural education to hundreds of children and youth through its core steel pan and youth development programs.

Wicked Sycamore
Wicked Sycamore is an all-female trio, consisting of Juliette Bell on guitar, Lainie Gray on mandolin, and Madeline Waters on cello. Their sound can be described as contemporary folk with a mischievous edge that is grounded in traditional roots, Americana, and bluegrass. No matter the genre, their music relies heavily on intricate vocal harmonies, thoughtful arrangement, and instrumental prowess. By growing their presence as a collaborative force, they hope to increase female representation as both musicians and songwriters throughout the modern music landscape.

Rayshun LaMarr
Rayshun has appeared in stage productions and tours around the U.S. Life changed for him in 2012, when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. During his fight against cancer, he temporarily lost his hearing and voice. By way of faith, perseverance, and passion for his art, LaMarr had a comeback, and in2018, he made it all the way to the semi-finals of season 14 of NBC’s The Voice. Since then, he has performed at NFL half-time shows, NBA opening games, and stages nationwide. During the pandemic, he released three singles, “Time 4 Change”, “Can’t Hold Back”, and “Still in Love”, available on all streaming platforms. Currently, he is working on his debut album.

tenThing
Formed in 2007 by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth as a fun and exciting collaboration between musical friends, the ten-piece, all-female brass ensemble tenThing have firmly established themselves on the international scene to great acclaim. A breakout hit at the 2011 Norwegian Grammy Awards, tenThing went on to delight audiences at the BBC Proms in London and have gone on to perform in many of the world’s most prominent venues and festivals. Throughout the world, their performances have been celebrated for equal parts astounding artistry and infectious fun–as you can discover for yourself this November, right at the start of the holiday season.