The Land of the Free?

On Friday, December 6, 2013, the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on the Ellipse at approximately 4:30 p.m.  The gates will open to ticketed guests only at 3:00 p.m. and all ticket holders will enter from the west side (17^th Street, NW) of the Ellipse.

The following security measures will be in place for the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony:

• Street Closures: The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Park Police will put the following street closures affecting vehicular traffic into effect on December 6, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. and will lift these street closures when this event has concluded:

• 15^th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
• 15^th Street, NW and New York Avenue, NW
• 15^th Street, NW and G Street, NW
• 15^th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 15^th Street, NW and F Street, NW
• 15^th Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
• 17^th Street, NW Northbound from Constitution Avenue, NW to State Place/New York Avenue, NW
• 17^th Street, NW from C Street, NW to E Street, NW
• 18^th Street, NW Eastbound from D Street to E Street, NW

• No Truck Zone: Constitution Avenue, NW between 14^th Street, NW & 18^thStreet, NW

• Security Screenings: All attendees will be subject to thorough security screening before entering the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.  Please allow for additional time for this security screening, as it is expected that lines may be long.  Due to the expected inclement weather, the use of umbrellas is authorized for this event.  Please dress accordingly.

• Prohibited Items: As a security precaution, the following items will be prohibited from the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony:
  • Firearms
  • Weapons of any type
  • Hazardous materials
    • Chemical materials
    • Radiological materials
    • Biological materials
  • Knives
  • Toy guns/toy weapons
  • Fireworks
  • Pepper spray/mace
  • Scissors
  • Razor blades
  • Needles
  • Leatherman brand tools (or similar)
  • Screwdrivers (or similar)
  • Glass bottles
  • Tripods
  • Coolers
  • Air-horns
  • Laser pointers
  • Aerosol containers
  • Soda cans
  • Sticks/poles
  • Baseballs, softballs, etc.
  • Animals (other than helper/guide dogs)

EDITOR’S NOTE: For questions about this event, please contact the U.S. Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs (202-406-5708); Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (202-727-4383); or the U.S. Park Police (202-556-9181).

Source

h/t Hans