Festival of Lights
Since 1978, the Temple annually hosts the Festival of Lights at the visitors' center, officially running from December 2 to January 1, attracting thousands of visitors from the Washington Metropolitan Area who come to view millions of lights on the temple grounds illuminate the night sky. The Festival features live performances by the Mormon Choir of Washington, D.C., at the public lighting ceremony on December 1, a narrated outdoor nativity scene, and nightly performances from various regional artists and musicians. Each year, a different ambassador to the United States is invited as a guest speaker at the Festival's opening lighting ceremony. On November 30, 2011, J. W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. and his wife Donna hosted Brazilian Ambassador to the United States Mauro Vieira, with L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding.
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