No Selfie Sticks at Thursday’s Tree Lighting, Please

Selfie sticks, backpacks, umbrellas, folding chairs, stun guns and drones. These are a few of the prohibited items at this Thursday’s National Christmas Tree Lighting, the 94th, which will begin at 5 p.m. on the Ellipse in President’s Park. Strollers and wheelchairs are okay, but may be searched.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will light the tree, Eva Longoria will host and (in alphabetical order) Yolanda Adams, Afro Blue, the Airmen of Note, Marc Anthony, Garth Brooks, Chance the Rapper, Kelly Clarkson, the Lumineers, Simone Manuel, James Taylor and Trisha Yearwood will perform. The event will be televised on the Hallmark Channel on Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.

The entrance for invited guests and the winners of last October’s ticket lottery is along 17th Street NW across from E Street NW. But what you really want to know is what streets will close and when.

Between 2:30 and 7 p.m., the following stretches are no-drive zones:

* 17th Street NW from Independence Avenue NW to New York Avenue NW

* 15th Street NW from Independence Avenue NW to E Street NW

* Constitution Avenue NW from 14th to 18th Street NW

* Madison and Jefferson Drives NW from 14th to 15th Street NW

* C, D, E and F Streets NW from 18th to 17th Street NW.

At 4:30 p.m., there will be two additional closures until 7 p.m.:

* Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 14th to 15th Street NW

* 15th Street NW from Independence Avenue NW to New York Avenue NW.

More information is available at [thenationaltree.org](http://thenationaltree.org/).