The Pageant of Peace and National Christmas Tree

We went downtown to catch the annual Pageant of Peace on the Ellipse in front of the White House today. Drey spotted an open parking spot in the oncoming lane and executed a perfect bootlegger turn on Constitution Ave. That's my girl..



On the way (at 18th and Constitution), I had to ponder... who the heck is Jose Artigas? Oh! That's him...
Man, that guy got around.



Garrett says: "Hey look, Dad! This Gatorade bottle costs 3 dollars!"



George??? Laura?? Are you home??? Wooo Hoo! Sorry to barge in like this...



There's a group of smaller "state" trees that have been clustered around the big Kahuna from time immemorial. Each state decorates their own tree with thematic ornaments. Various civic or educational institutions provide the ornaments. In Virginia, my state, it's usually an elementary school. Last year's ornaments were made by a school in Springfield (about five miles from here). I would consider it quite an honor, myself.



One of the features of the Pageant of Peace is how local train enthusiast clubs drop by and set up G-scale rail layouts around the Big Kahuna. This year's layout wasn't as complicated as the ones in the past. I wonder if the lads are getting old.





And here's the Big Kahuna.. didn't get the stats on this beast, but it was hay-yuge...



And here it is, all lit up in its Sunday go to meeting suit...







Here's the mighty Virginia tree. Decorated by the good folks at an elementary school down in the Tidewater area, I think.





Given how cold it was, one tradition of the Pageant was very much appreciated.. the gigantic Mutant Yule Log, make that a Yule tree...





Woo hoo! No kidding it was this high!



Nodody's stealing this baby Jesus..



It started getting freezing out; and as we will be back tomorrow for Annie to perform with the Girl Scouts, we bid the Pageant farewell...



Merry Christmas, everyone!