2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ticket Lottery NOW OPEN

Visit www.thenationaltree.org November 4th - 6th To Enter Ticket Lottery

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

What: The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation
announced today that the lottery for free tickets to the annual
National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is now open. Visit
www.thenationaltree.org by 11:59 pm (EST) November 6th to enter.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

The lottery at www.thenationaltree.org will include 2,800 ticketed
seats and 7,000 standing room tickets. Additionally, any ticket
seeker without access to a computer may also call ((877) 444-6777
or for TDD (877) 833-6777).

Once the lottery is completed, the ticket lottery winners who
submitted their request via computer will be notified via email.
Successful ticket winners who applied by calling the above-listed
number will receive a notice sent via U.S. Mail. All applicants
can check the status of their request online or through the call
center after the lottery beginning on November 9, 2009.

Please be advised that tickets are required for every attendee,
including all children.

When: The National Christmas Tree Lighting ticket lottery is open from
Wednesday, November 4th through 11:59 pm (EST) Friday, November
6th.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090630/DC40408LOGO)

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural
resources and values of the National Park System and its 392 National Park
sites for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future
generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the
benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation
throughout this country and the world.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is an independent charitable organization
chartered by Congress in 1967 to strengthen the connection between the
American people and their 392 national park sites. As the official national
non-profit partner of America's National Parks, the Foundation raises private
funds, makes strategic grants, creates innovative partnerships and increases
public awareness about the need and opportunity for park philanthropy. In its
2008 fiscal year, the National Park Foundation distributed grants and program
support of $27.3M.

For more information, visit: www.nps.gov or www.nationalparks.org.

Contact: Contact:
National Park Service National Park Foundation
Bill Line, Toni Braxton Mark Shields
(202) 619-7400 (202) 354-6480
William_Line@nps.gov Mshields@nationalparks.org

SOURCE National Park Foundation

Bill Line, William_Line@nps.gov, or Toni Braxton, both of National Park
Service, +1-202-619-7400; or Mark Shields of National Park Foundation,
+1-202-354-6480, Mshields@nationalparks.org