The National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and the “Pageant of Peace” are set for tomorrow night at 5 p.m. Over at City Desk yesterday, Jule Banville hit the nail on the head by dubbing the Bush Christmas tree the “National Hairnet.” Here’s hoping she’s right, and the Obamas will choose a Christmas tree decorating scheme that looks a little bit less like a “twinkling condom.”

To answer your other questions: No, there aren’t any tickets left to the lighting ceremony (they were all given out on November 1), and yes, the event is going to make downtown traffic a nightmare, just like it does every year. The MPD has sent out some road closure announcements:

Beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, the following roads will be closed to traffic in both directions: 15th Street NW between Constitution Avenue and E Street NW, and 17th Street NW between Constitution Avenue and New York Avenue NW.

Additionally, parking restrictions will be in effect from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday on 15th Street NW and 17th Street NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution.

We really don’t want to get a lot of expletive-filled emails from you asking why traffic is so screwed up downtown tomorrow night, so please, make plans to avoid the area ahead of time.