National Harbor Treelighting

We started our official Christmas celebrating this by trying out a new Christmas activity - the National Harbor Christmas Treelighting. We were originally going to go to the Old Town Alexandria Treelighting being held the same night - which we have attended the past two years. But we saw this one online and thought we would give it a try because it promised FIREWORKS!

While everything else about it wasn't too exciting. We hated the incredible bumper to bumper traffic that we endured to even get into town. We even had a minor potty disaster that was only averted when we let Ellie get out of her carseat and pee in one of Annie's diapers. At least the traffic was so bad and we didn't move during that tricky maneuver. The little dance and singing entertainment portion of the show was impossible to see because the stage was not elevated and if you weren't in the first three rows you might as well have not been there. And the weather was really cold, exacerbated by the blustery wind chill.

But the treelighting itself was great. They played a bunch of Christmas music over loud speakers and the tree kept changing colors. Then the fireworks show started and that was awesome too. I've never seen fireworks in the winter, but it was totally cool. I've posted a video clip of the last part of the show. It kind of gives a flavor of what it was like.

The girls were pretty good sports about the whole thing. They seemed to really like watching the tree change colors and the fireworks, though Ellie thought they were too loud at the end.

Our friends, the Nielsons, joined us and we were happy to head out for dinner (away from the crowds, more towards our neighborhood) when the show was over.