The first National Christmas Tree lighting was nearly a century ago, in 1923, when Middlebury College gifted President Calvin Coolidge a 48-ft. tall Basam fir tree, a momento from his home state of Vermont. It was propped up on the White House lawn and lit with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green, while a local choir belted out holiday favorites.

Free tickets for this year’s lighting — the 100th! — and accompanying concert are available via lottery, which is open tomorrow, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m., through Nov. 1 at 10 p.m.. The lottery can be found online, and lottery winners (and losers) will be notified on Nov. 8.

The lighting ceremony will take place on Nov. 30 on the White House Ellipse. Those who don’t win the lottery can visit the tree anyway, from Dec. 2 through Jan. 1, 2023, or watch the broadcast of the tree lighting event on Dec. 11.

While the tree lighting has been a staple of the holiday season in Washington for generations, it has been interrupted by history a number of times. During World War II, for example, the tree remained unit, due to wartime restrictions, and was decorated with used or donated items. In 1963, the tree lighting was postponed following the assassination of President Kennedy on Nov. 22. After a 30 day period of national mourning, President Johnson presided over the lighting, saying, “Today we come to the end of a season of great national sorrow, and to the beginning of the season of great, eternal joy.”

In 2020, history once again intruded on the holiday spirit, with the COVID-19 pandemic nixing the live lighting ceremony and concert. Instead, organizers streamed a somewhat depressing virtual version with pre-recorded, socially distant musical performances. However, in the pantheon of sad virtual holiday celebrations, the tree lighting was easily eclipsed by the speeding ZooLights Express of 2020.

The list of performers this year has not been announced yet. Last year’s lineup included LL Cool J, Chris Stapleton, H.E.R, Juanes, and the Howard University Gospel Choir.

This story was updated to correct the date that this year’s ceremony will take place.